NEW YORK -- China and Russia are not the main causes of the weakening of democracies around the world; rather, most of the backsliding has been caused by erosion within the world's democracies themselves, including the United States and many of its allies, reported The Washington Post last week in its Outlook column.

As to the United States, it "has a glass-house problem, and it needs to promote its democratic virtues with considerable humility," said the article titled "Biden is right that global democracy is at risk. But the threat isn't China."

"Rarely has America's democracy crusade abroad contrasted more with its commitment to democratic practices at home," and "it is hard to take seriously the notion that the United States can restore its 'soft power' by virtue of the example it is setting at home," said the article.

According to Freedom House's annual country-by-country assessment of political and civil rights, the United States continued to experience erosion in democratic practices in 2020; over the past decade, America's score dropped from 94 to 83 out of 100, among the steepest falls of any country during this period.

Besides, due to differences in history, geography, culture, political ideology and material interests, America's democratic allies and partners do not see eye to eye on how to deal with China or Russia, and these are also why they should not be forced to choose sides between the United States and some other countries, noted the article.