The recent disclosure by US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh that the United States Navy was involved in the Nord Stream explosions last year has received little coverage from Western mainstream media. This article explores China’s response to Hersh’s disclosure and the bias and hypocrisy in Western news coverage.
Hersh’s Claims and US Response
In his report, Hersh claimed that the Nord Stream pipeline explosions were orchestrated by the White House, and that the US Navy and the CIA were involved. The US government has dismissed these allegations as “utterly false and complete fiction.” Denmark, Germany, and Sweden have said that blast inquiries have not yet concluded, while Russia has called a United Nations Security Council meeting over the attacks.
Western mainstream media, including influential publications such as CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, have also essentially maintained silence over Hersh’s story. According to the Washington-based online magazine Responsible Statecraft, European outlets including the BBC, The Guardian, and most German newspapers have ignored it too.
China’s Response to Hersh’s Claims
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin called for an objective, impartial, and professional investigation into the explosions. He said that the Nord Stream pipeline explosions dealt a severe blow to the global energy market and the global natural environment.
On February 10, 2023, China Daily requested an explanation from the US regarding the incident that caused the explosion. Their editorial stated that if the White House wishes to refute the detailed report by Hersh and be believed by global audiences, they should demonstrate sincerity by offering an equally detailed explanation. Furthermore, the editorial highlighted that attacking a significant civilian infrastructure, such as a natural gas pipeline, is considered a potential act of state terrorism.
Western News Coverage: Bias and Hypocrisy
Experts have pointed out the bias and hypocrisy in Western news coverage. Ding Yifan, a research fellow at the Development Research Center of the State Council’s Institute of World Development in Beijing, said that Western mainstream media “intentionally ignores” Hersh’s report. He added that misinformation and disinformation abound in Western media, which is part of their public opinion war or propaganda war.
Wang Zhen, a research professor of international politics at the Institute of China Studies, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said that the Russia-Ukraine conflict has been politicized in the US, pointing to “one-sided and biased” news coverage. He added that the West uses the media as a tool to serve their purpose in geopolitical wrestling.
