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April 16th, 2008

(L) China (H) Human Rights Violations


Apparently today Chinese internet users are saying “enough” to international bullying. Here’s my tuppence worth.

I don’t see any bullying going on. Western governments are doing everything they can to do business with China in the same way that they do with the United States. As a result, there is minimal criticism from the Western regimes.

The Western media is obviously highlighting human right violations. It makes for good news. This however is not bullying or even a criticism of China, simply a criticism of their government’s actions. Charities like Amnesty International are also making the same accusations, so it seems a fair cop to me. Amnesty is also very quick to level criticism at Western governments for their human rights violations so you can be pretty sure there is no bias there. China made some very serious promises to the International Olympics Committee that they would put an end to their human rights violations in order to get the Olympics in Beijing. These promises don’t seem to have been kept.

The other side of this is that a lot of people are accusing these kids of blind nationalism. The thing is that blind nationalism is by no means a trait unique to the Chinese. We in the west are equally of nationalism. It’s a stupid thing, but it’s natural to support “your team.” In the UK we do nothing but bitch and moan about our country until some “johnny foreigner” makes the same accusation. All of a sudden we are patriotic without question.

I think it’s great these kids are proud of their country, but just like the people of any country, they should be under no allusion that they have a responsibility to not let their government get away with committing human rights violations.

I am in no way against China. It’s a country I would love to visit one day. I am however, strongly against torture, capital punishment and organ harvesting. I’m strongly for freedom of speech, freedom of movement, and freedom to practice religious beliefs (as long as that doesn’t harm others). I’m not against China. I wish I could criticise the Chinese government without having to clarify that, just like when I criticise my own government.

Yours Aye.


In: justice, opinion | tags: , , , , , , , . | #

  • if you talk with average educated chinese, they can give u many examples about china's defect in human rights, corruptions and media censor. they read english well and check western news often, they are aware of information from both sides.so don't think chinese are so stupid as to lick the as of the government.
    they just can not stand distortion or rumors on purpose, such as abusing Tibetans. for most westerners, the stupid BBC and CNN maybe the only information resource about china, and chinese people. that's very sad. chinese simply love their country, and don't wanna be distorted as living in hell.
  • Bin Li
    "I am however, strongly against torture, capital punishment and organ harvesting."

    Please pick up a Tibet history book and spend 5 minutes reading it. Before Communists took over Tibet, the legal social system in Tibet was SLAVERY. The guys who are yelling for "free tibet" now were guys who owe slaves, including Da Lai Lama.

    If you read the history, you will understand how much distortion the western media is playing on tibet and china. And the point is, they know the history, they know what these guys have done in tibet, and yet still support them.
  • zingel
    good comment, saying everything i wanted to say :)
  • Mag
    Glad this "heart" China Event caught your eyes so quickly. If you like to know more about why Chinese people are so united to against Western media's Tibet roit reports, you can check out this website www.anti-cnn.com.... From the very beginning, I knew western media were using fake images to report Tibet roit (because those polices were not Chinese at all in the images), but after I visited this anti-cnn.com website, still, i was very shocked by the MASSIVE amount of fake and false information that some western media have present to their viewers. Some Western Media, such as CNN and BBC etc, knowingly lied to people. Shame on them!
  • HUMAN
    Do enough research before you comment on something you don't know!!
  • N
    No international bullying? See http://www.anti-cnn.com/

    Ignore the text and look at the photos and the obvious manipulations. What is that? Free press?

    Reminder: more people died in Iraq in March or April than in Tibet in 15 years. There are 4.5 MILLION refugees in Iraq, TWICE as many as in Darfur. So why are Tibet and Darfur headlines? Because everyone is tired of listening about Iraq? So to feel better, we'll just pick on China.

    That's bullying.
  • maeve
    Good Post Chris. I completely agree with your point of view.
    You might be interested to learn that a counter chat statement already goes round:
    Love (L) China & Human Rights. (Created by Dutch media company Boomerang, and Amnesty International.)
    It is made for all who love China BUT also want to speak out for human rights.
    Let 's hope as many people will respond to this statement as to Love China.

    Alle the best!
  • Thanks Maeve. I had a wee look and found that at http://tinyurl.com/45errr I've so far been unable to find an English version of that. If anybody can find that, link me up.
  • maeve
    Yes, because this action kicked off only last friday no English links were yet available. But herewith an English link:
    http://www.boomerang.nl/boomerang/humanrightsen...

    More links will follow soon. Amongst other parties Amnesty International will support this action world wide.
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