Mao Bites Dog

contentions ^ | 8.7.2007 | Gordon G. Chang

[Contentions]

A pet shop owner in Yongin, Korea, about 25 miles south of Seoul, set off an international incident recently with an advertising sign featuring . . . a puppy. In the sign, a dog’s head replaces that of Mao Zedong in the portrait hanging at the northern end of Tiananmen Square. Last Tuesday, China’s Foreign Ministry summoned a South Korean diplomat to protest, and the shop’s owner immediately pulled down the sign and apologized to Beijing.

What’s wrong with this picture? First, China’s authoritarian state tried to censor an image appearing in a democracy—and the democracy bowed. Yet there is something even more far-reaching and disturbing in this incident. Since 1954, the People’s Republic has maintained that the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence—mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in others’ internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence—are essential to its foreign policy.

[Greg F]

Wow.

[Little Ray]

Someone should make T-shirts!

[madvlad]

China’s neighbors know the score.

Asia is in play and the US will remain the major player. Watch for
SKorea, Taiwan and severall nations of SE Asia eventually
attempt to strengthen defense ties w/ the US as Japan as now
doing. Vietnam, Philly-pines and Indonesia have all expressed
varying degrees of interest in doing so. Why? They know the score.

“Just like Saigon, ay Slick!?” (Spec Agent Johnson)

“I was just a kid, you dickhead!” (the other Spec Agent Johnson)

MV

[monday]

The shop owner got it wrong. Mao was not a dog. He was a mutant strain of fungus in the shape of a man. I can see why Chinese would be upset. It was a terrible mistake.

[rockinqsranch]

“But if its definition of ”non-interference” includes right to ban advertising for a pet shop in a backwater location in another country, then the world is in for a load of trouble.”

What have we got here!? Monkey see, Monkey do? Is there some Muslim influence here? Give in to the Muslims, why not cave to the Chinese as well. Works for them.

[meandog]

Wow.

Bow-Wow!

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“The shop owner got it wrong.”
The shop owner did get it wrong! In Mandarin Chinese, Mao means “the animal that makes the “mao” sound. In English, we would say, “the animal that makes the meow sound. Mao means cat. I have a cat named Mao, and another named Xiao Hu, which means “little tiger.” And yes, my cats are named after two chi-com dictators!

[oyez]

Mao made Stalin look tame.

[colorado tanker]

Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence—mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in others’ internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence—are essential to its foreign policy.

Sounds like China honors this about as much as Captain Kirk obeyed the Prime Directive.

[RedStateRocker]

But, but, but... doing business with China is vital to OUR economy- how else can we buy cheap, lead painted toys and electronics at Wal-Mart? It’s all about not offending a business partner in the New World Order
/sarc

[RedStateRocker]

I still have not had a good answer as to why we treat Cuba one way and China another (except the sleazy realpolitic line) if we trade with one group of commies we should trade with them all, if we embargo one we should embargo all, anything else is hypocrisy. Mao was the greatest mass murder ever; at least Fidel was merely power hungry, as opposed to completely insane in the love of chaos for its own sake.