A Bush at the Olympics…
Although criticized by many for attending the Beijing Olympics, Bush has at least come through and taken the opportunity to make clear, as clear as diplomacy will allow, to the Chinese that if they want to play economically with the rest of the world, that they have to put their “human rights house” in order. Of course the Chinese government rebutted with the usual communist denial rhetoric, ” The Chinese government puts people first, and is dedicated to maintaining and promoting its citizens’ basic rights and freedom,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said. What an original piece of propaganda.
Never mind that when awarded the Olympics back in 2001, China promised to make improvements in human rights, health and education, and media freedoms. Never mind that suppressing the march anti-government uprising by Tibetan monks, ended in the killing at least 19. I guess that doesn’t count.
Never mind the ongoing human rights and religious freedom protests throughout the world. In Kathmandu just this Thursday, in Nepal, 1500 Buddhist monks protested China’s ongoing violations of religious freedom in Tibet. In Tienanmen’s square three US Christian were dragged away by the police, for demonstrating in support of religious freedom and another 4 British and American pro-Tibetan protesters were also held, for protesting close to the Olympic Stadium.
Bush’s speech in Bangkok covered many of China’s digression from it’s promise on improving on it’s human rights record.
“…being a global economic leader carries with it a the duty to act responsibly in matters from energy to the environment to development in places like Africa.” A reference to the known fact that China has been a flagrant violator of the Sudan arms Embargo. It has provided most of the Sudan’s small arms and weapons it has used for the mass murders it has committed in the Darfur province.
“…the United States believes the people of China deserve the fundamental liberty that is the natural right of all human beings, America stands in firm opposition to China’s detention of political dissidents, human rights advocates and religious activists,” he said. in reference to what continues to happen in Tibet.
“We press for openness not to impose our beliefs but to allow the Chinese people to express theirs…”
“…those who aspire to speak their conscience and worship their god are no threat to the future of China…”
Watch your back…
on August 18th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Never call the Chinese communists. They are Maoists, and the one is not like the other, as Nikita Khrushchev would have told you. Although Maoism may have developed out of some of the core ideas of Marxism, it had morphed beyond all recognition by 1949. If you’re interested in the details, compare the Marxist-Leninist view of the role of science and the revolutionary significance of the proletariat vis a vis the peasantry to Maoist thought on the same issues, among many other differences.