Thought Archive

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Hands Off China!

Emotions always carry the day - especially if these emotions are about China, which Westerners can not live without but still fear.

Chinese leaders are in angry denial of the criticism of their handling of the cituations that is so untimely - just before olymplics. "There is ample fact and plenty of evidence proving this incident was organised, premeditated, masterminded and incited by the Dalai clique," Chinese leaders say.

But even if this is not true, and recent events were just sporadic protest aganst the Chinese, the following is true. What right have other countries to interfere criticise and object to the way most populous country in the worlds conducts its internal affars. Of course, Tibetan independence is fashionable in many Bohemian or not so Bohemian circles in the West, but - despite equally gruesome persecution of Uighur Muslims in Xinjang region - barely a squeak comes from the West on treatment of Uighurs in China. I empatise with Tibetans, but I see that Tibet is highlighted in the West for two reasons: 1) Presumed cultural affinity of liberals with Tibet and 2) desire of conservatives to see China's wings clipped.

Almost every ethnic minority in China is discriminated against simply because of the cultural incompatibilty of the Chinese with those minority cultures. China is not intent on forcing people to adopt to Chinese way of life but the assimilation is happening anyway, because China dominates these regions, and it is through China that people in these remote regions gain access to the World.

But China is an empire which took hold of those territories in fair conquest. It has thus a right to govern those as long as it exercises a fair judgement and does not commit mass murder. No evidence of the Nazist policies has been observed and China brought prosperity to otherwise backward regions. Only by internal force, this great country should break apart violently or without violence.

1 comment:

NoolaBeulah said...

I think part of the fear of China, which is not entirely irrational, is what you mention in your last sentence. When powerful countries come apart, it's not just their concern, it tends to affect a lot of other places. China is attempting to do what has never been done: establish and mature a market economy without political liberalisation or the rule of law. China will grow increasingly powerful in all ways, including military, but if the political system doesn't hold (and it is generally only poor countries that can be held down for a prolonged period), then we will all 'feel their pain'.