Partisan fight at play in US impeachment drama

The US House of Representatives adopted two articles on Wednesday to impeach President Donald Trump. The Democrats have argued that Trump, to strengthen his chances of being re-elected, has abused his power by pressing the government of Ukraine to launch an investigation into Hunter Biden's business deals in Ukraine to thwart the presidential bid of his father and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, and obstructing the Congress to investigate this controversial case.

Truly speaking, impeachment is part of US domestic politics. However, since the US is a self-proclaimed "model democracy" and always tries to lecture other countries, the ongoing political drama gives the world a glimpse of the true color of US democracy.

Trump has become the third US president to be impeached, and divided the Congress with the Democrats opposed to him and the Republicans, who control the Senate, vowing to defeat the Democrats' design to have him removed from office.

Ironically, the Democrats' move has raised Trump's public rating to a new high. No wonder House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not decided when and if she would send the impeachment articles to the Senate. She knows that it is almost impossible to get the articles passed by the Republican-controlled Senate.

Why have the Democrats made a move that would divide the American public?

This is more of an ugly political farce leading up to the presidential election. By defending Biden, the Democrats hope to increase his chances of defeating Trump in next year's presidential election. The strategy is to charge Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of investigation by the Congress into the Trump-Ukraine scandal.

However, any such investigation will potentially benefit the incumbent president.

The US president allegedly adopted the most controversial of approaches to seek "favor" from his Ukrainian counterpart, even withholding US arms sale to Ukraine, according to some, until Kiev launched a probe against the Bidens. It is because of this reckless move that he is facing one of the toughest challenges of his presidency.

Between delivering justice to Biden and ensuring Trump does not benefit from the case, the Democrats have started a fierce partisan flight, which shows the characteristics of US democracy.

This may raise a moral question on Trump's presidency, especially when the Democrats are acting to defend the US Constitution, but does not necessarily mean the Democrats will succeed in removing Trump from office.

The world is watching the US pierce itself and divide its public into two distinct political camps in the name of protecting democracy.

The author is a professor at and former executive dean of the Institute of International Studies,Fudan University. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.