Beware an angry China

International Herald Tribune ^ | Tuesday, April 8, 2008 | Philip Bowring

[indcons]

Tibetans have a strong case against Beijing. But mixing it in with the Olympics and Darfur is a red rag to a wounded young bull.

Nationalism is more often aroused by setbacks than success, so the Tibet problems and the possible threats to a triumphal Olympics are stirring it in China.

On the horizon is the possibility that these will combine with high inflation, stagnating exports and trade tensions with the United States to create a perfect nationalistic storm.

The Chinese leadership faces a difficult balancing act.

As its legitimacy is now based on national achievement, not communist ideology, it must appear in step with popular feeling. Yet stability at home and good relations abroad require keeping nationalist emotions in check. The paranoia about evil foreign designs that thrived under Mao and was discarded by Deng Xiaoping is still close to the surface.

Almost all of China is offended that foreigners are so keen to lecture them and to encourage the petty boycotts that could spoil the Olympic party. It genuinely infuriates the Chinese that they are blamed for Darfur while their Western critics occupy Iraq. Beijing is happy to let such nationalist resentments vent in the sometimes violent language of Internet blogs and chat rooms.

[PeterFinn]

This conflict is going to go on for a long time, until it explodes IMHO. One of the historical trends of the 20th Century that is continuing into the 21st is the breaking down of empires and polyglot states into smaller states, e.g., the breakup of the Austrian Empire, Russian/Soviet Empire, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, etc. Places are being given autonomy nearly equal to independence, like Catalonia and Scotland. China is swimming against this tide in trying to piece back together the Chinese Empire and it will continue to cause unrest.

Indeed. China is concerned about Tibet breaking away because right after Tibet leaves then so will Western (and Muslim) China along with Taiwan. It is further possible that China may devolve into the city-states that were essentially the China of just a century ago.

[I. M. Trenchant]

The behaviour of China in this situation is no different from what it would be if it existed under precisely the same Constitution as the one that the U.S. aspires to adhere to. The notion of American exceptionalism, often wrongly thought to have been coined by de Tocqueville during his examination of America in The Age of Jackson, had existed in analgous form in China for tens of centuries, when the only human inhabitants of the Americas were the New World Indians. Chinese exceptionalism is no different in quality from American exceptionalism, is independent of political systems, and as this columnist correctly notes, it is rooted in nationalism. Just as the rest of the globe has had to 'live with' the concept (and reality) of American exceptionalism, so it will have do the same with Chinese exceptionalism, which is no less justified and justfiable than American exceptionalism now that it has shaken its colonial past, before which, Tibet always was and will forever in the future, subject to China's dominance. As that old Nazi, Valter Kronkite, used to remind us on a regular basis, "That's the way it is."

[Brilliant]

“The Chinese leadership faces a difficult balancing act.”

If China wants respect of the West, it should get out of Tibet and allow its people to vote in free elections.

[JoJo Gunn]

A transcript from Radio China?

[Carry_Okie]

Places are being given autonomy nearly equal to independence, like Catalonia and Scotland.

This is a trend designed to empower global government. Support a "free Tibet" and we may reap an "independent Aztlan."

[indcons]

The comparison is not valid...the Tibetians did not sign a treaty and receive money in exchange for territory. They were subjugated about 50 years ago against their wishes.

What’s happening in Tibet is ethnic and cultural genocide. That’s not the case in California and Arizona (at least, the last time I checked).

[Carry_Okie]

The comparison is not valid...the Tibetians did not sign a treaty and receive money in exchange for territory. They were subjugated about 50 years ago against their wishes.

This has NOTHING to do with whether the claim is valid or just, only about how it will be used.

[Carry_Okie]

What’s happening in Tibet is ethnic and cultural genocide. That’s not the case in California and Arizona (at least, the last time I checked).

If the left continues to get its way, you have only to wait.

[Travis McGee]

How many “extra” Chinese males are there in the military age group, as a result of the one-child policy?

[Trailerpark Badass]

How many “extra” Chinese males are there in the military age group, as a result of the one-child policy?

I've seen estimates ranging from 18-25 million.

[Candor7]

Boycott the Beijing 2008 Olympics !

Yes!

Hoo Flungdung?

China did. Now they wear it.

Who cares how angry they are.

[GunnyHartman]

The last Olympics I ever watched.

[cmdjing]

Actually, they did sign a treaty recognizing Chinese sovereignty of Tibet... but then again don’t let inconvenient facts get in the way.

[CDFingers]

Beware a China that is getting what it wants.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

It genuinely infuriates the Chinese that they are blamed for Darfur while their Western critics occupy Iraq.

Tough luck. Iraq is nothing at all like Darfur, and they know this, which makes them liars, as well as despots.

[mulan]

Chinese people should be aware of the difference between what US does in Iraq and what China does in Tibet. What Puerto Rican did (voting in favor of becoming Americans) was the best example to tell what US is doing in other countries. If Chinese people know what US is doing in Iraq and how people in Iraq think about US being present in Iraq and then compare to what CCP does in Tibet, they will know why US has the position to talk about justice and liberty in this world. It’s the same thing as you would want to get involved if you know your neighbor is abusing his/her children.

[indcons]

Pray - Comrade Jing - tell us about this wonderful treaty that the ChiComs forced the Tibetans to sign (after they send the ruling Head of State into forced and involuntary exile).

A certified ChiCom troll like you has no business lecturing others about “inconvenient facts.”

Pinging VR for a troll alert - we need one on this thread now that you've made your appearance.

[indcons]

Forgotr to ping you, Comrade Jing.

[Max in Utah]

That’s not the case in California and Arizona ...

And New Mexico, and Texas, and Nevada, and Utah, and Colorado...

[PGR88]

The Chinese Communists have inculcated extreme-nationalism, as justification for their own rule. It is 100% promoted and encouraged by the Gov’t.