The Chinese sympathy for terror

Taipei Times ^ | October 23rd, 2001 | Wang Dan

[Tai_Chung]

The terrorist attacks on New York and Washington were not only tragedies for the US, but acts which, sadly, tell us something about today's China. These attacks will influence the course of Chinese history. Both official and unofficial responses to such events tell us much about China's government and society.

As soon as the tragedy occurred on Sept. 11th, the whole of the US was gripped by grief and anger. Heads of state the world over immediately issued statements condemning terrorist violence and expressing sympathy and support for America. Countries and organizations which usually regard the US as their enemy also made statements, one after another, as they sought to distance themselves from the terrorists. Each denied having any connection to the attacks. Even Muammar Qaddafi of Libya pledged to offer assistance to the US. This shows that the attacks were so inhuman, so beyond the pale, that even America's enemies refrained from supporting them in public.

After watching on television a group of Palestinians celebrate the attacks by firing shots into the sky, people around the world immediately identified them as evil, a label that will go down with them in history. This prompted an immediate crackdown by Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat on public displays of support for Osama bin Laden.

Reaction to these events in China, however, was worrying. Although it strains credulity, in the wake of this devastating human tragedy, the Qiangguo Forum, an official Web site run by China's state-run national newspaper, The People's Daily, displayed dozens of postings from visitors to the site hailing the terrorist attacks. According to media statistics, about two hours after the tragedy occurred, the Qiangguo Forum displayed a total of 47 postings on its homepage, including as many as 20 praising the attacks. Only seven messages urged people not to take pleasure in the tragedy. Three of those messages, however, were written by the same visitor to the site.

It is noteworthy, that foremost among those who regularly visit the Qiangguo Forum are young Chinese students and scholars, as well as people who are concerned about, interested in, or eager to discuss current issues in world affairs. Such people are by no means weak or neglected. Nor are they people without influence in Chinese society. Rather, they form a key part of the group at the heart of China's current social development and economic progress. Yet, this group of people seems to be the one group in China to celebrate the terrorist outrages, without the slightest trace of human compassion.

"The Americans," one wrote, "who have betrayed themselves, deserve this!" Their postings on the Web site also turned a blind eye to the fact that the victims involved in the tragedy were civilians like themselves. One posting even read: "After watching this, Wang Wei may rest in peace!" Another read: "This is good! Blasting Yankees to death!" or even suggested: "This should be celebrated with firecrackers!" Here is a mindset, it seems to me, that is little different from that of the terrorists. For people holding such views, human life holds no value whatsoever. Nor does it matter very much how many people were killed or injured, provided that the US was wounded.

Seeing the messages posted at the Qiangguo Forum and realizing how much this form of Chinese nationalism resemble the ways od thinking of the terrorists, I couldn't help but worry more than ever about China's future.

It seems to me that by falling under the spell of a "strong" China, the country could move toward fascism in the future, bringing ruin upon the nation. But it is too simple to condemn these young Web site visitors for their lack of humanity and compassion, for their feelings are the product of long-term, official government manipulation of their nationalist sentiments.

Indeed, the manner in which the Chinese government reacted to the attacks on New York and Washington was little better than that offered by those hysterical Web site visitors. President Jiang Zemin (¦¿¿A¥Á) sent a telegram of condolence to US President George W. Bush and the American people on the night of Sept.11th. In a break from his usually verbose prose, Jiang's message was not only brief, but half-hearted, and without human feeling. In covering the tragedy, CCTV (the official government television network) focused on Arafat as he issued statements intended to distance himself and his movement from the terrorists. Without doubt, such subtle tactics lay bare the mindset of China's rulers. But no matter how subtly manipulative China's rulers are, I feel compelled to condemn any Chinese who has taken pleasure in the terrorist attacks on the US. Such people tarnish the image of all Chinese, reducing us to a status approaching barbarism.

Wang Dan was one of the leaders of the Tiananmen Square demonstrations of 1989 and is currently studying at Harvard University.