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At Large
Imperious China
The Chinese government doesn’t like to be insulted — something Prime Minister Cameron recently learned the hard way. U.S. diplomats take notice.
The Chinese have a very interesting device in controlling political relations. They let everyone know that unless they are treated with what they consider a full appreciation of the righteousness of their state — and in consequence their bargaining position — they hold that they and their nation have been insulted.
This reaction can range from mere pique to full-blown outrage. Prime Minister Wen Jiabao of China most undiplomatically and antagonistically attacked the UK government of his host, PM David Cameron, during a joint press conference in London. The issue of such great importance to comrade Wen was last year’s statement by Cameron during his own Beijing visit in which he criticized China’s human rights policy. The clear implication of Wen’s remarks was that this was none of Britain’s affair and that this type of “interference” could impede China/UK trade relations.
This is hardly a new stance by the still one party communist system that rules China and insists the rest of the world treat their exploitation of the Chinese people as strictly an internal matter. Wen Jiabao’s spokesman made clear that he preferred the demeanor of France, Germany and Italy — nations that have carefully avoided any similar condemnation and thus would benefit commercially in their dealings with Beijing.
It has been suggested that the Chinese were especially upset over the fact that David Cameron decided to “attack” Chinese governmental handling of human rights issues while on his visit to their country. Cameron’s statement was deemed “personally insulting to all Chinese,” as one Chinese diplomat explained. The Chinese have taken pains to emphasize that the “honorable and respectful” treatment of Chinese matters will result in a positive reaction from Beijing on all affairs.
In other words, the ancient Chinese custom of showing obeisance or deference, i.e. kowtow, continues to this day. In contemporary terms the Chinese communist government just does not accept what they judge to be criticism in any form from foreign officials — or even journalists. This restriction includes everything from China’s perceived “natural” borders (Tibet, Xinjiang, Taiwan, South China Sea) to any adverse comment on social matters. Political life of the Chinese is virtually sacrosanct.
The award of the Nobel Peace Prize last year to the imprisoned Liu Xiabo, the longtime advocate for peaceful democratic change, was characterized by the Chinese Foreign Ministry as an “obscenity,” and threatened “retaliation” against Norway. Some said the detention of famed artist Ai Weiwei after he expressed disagreement with the government’s human rights policy was a follow-up to Beijing’s reaction to the Liu Xiabo affair. Art-world pressure eventually resulted in his release after three months, even though he remains under indictment for tax evasion. Making an example of the outspoken artist was an essential display of power by Beijing’s political security agency and a warning to other home-grown critics.
It’s amazing how effective this imperious manner has been in disciplining Western governments in their dealings with Beijing. Other Asian countries, such as Pakistan, have been very successful in currying favor with China (in spite of the fact that China has a long record of exploiting its Moslem minorities). The strong anti-US reaction in Pakistan for supposedly “waging war on Islam” apparently is not applied equally to the Chinese. It is now convenient for Islamic radicals to play the “enemy of my enemy is my friend” line.
Of course the history of the West toward China is marked by the scars of past wounds and attempts at foreign domination during the 19th and early 20th centuries — a fact that Beijing’s representatives arrange to bring up at almost every international conference. By any valuation, however, this is ancient history. It certainly doesn’t justify the outrage generated self-servingly by a regime in the act of continued subjugation of its people.
The insistence by Chinese officialdom on acceptance of all aspects of their policies may not appear that much different than other countries. But that is the practice of diplomatic courtesy not political approval. They might want to, but they can’t deny freedom of expression to the rest of the world. For the prime minister of China to give what the Financial Times referred to as “a public dressing down” to his host, the British PM, in front of the press at 10 Downing Street occurred because of China’s refusal to accept international criticism of its patently totalitarian actions dealing with the civil rights of its citizens.
China retains the sense of superiority that existed throughout its imperial dynasties. David Cameron brought up the issue of China’s human rights abuses publicly during his Beijing visit and the Chinese PM now has sought to punish him and the UK — as well as provide a warning to other politicians and countries that would seek to do the same. Mr. Wen Jiabao’s leverage is a threat to restrict trade. Britain needs that commerce, and for its prime minister to speak out for human rights in spite of the danger of receiving an economic blow may not be wise in business terms. But it does remind us of the guiding role Britain has played in the evolution of the protection of individual rights — and that these rights are inalienable.
Carry on, Cameron. Nothing is worth letting you and Britain be muzzled by the world’s largest communist state. It’s a lesson to be well learned also by the current Washington administration.
About the Author
George H. Wittman writes a weekly column on international affairs for The American Spectator online. He was the founding chairman of the National Institute for Public Policy.
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LMajito| 7.8.11 @ 8:20AM
hmmm....it took just about three hundred grand to have the us government forget about the link between trade and human rights with china...does anybody remember when bill clinton removed the human rights requirement from treating china as a most favored nation status and thus releasing low interest loans so china could build junkets to sell the us...
talk about having the western world at its knees...thing is without the western world markets china is nothing...go try to sell chinese made sneakers, lip stics and perfume to the mob in the streets of kabul or nairobi...
Alan Brooks| 7.8.11 @ 10:23AM
White face, black heart.
Alan Brooks| 7.8.11 @ 10:26AM
oops, in case anyone thinks the above is a race reference, it is not; it is about asian public relations-- appearances.
Alan Brooks| 7.8.11 @ 10:29AM
(whew, that was a close one, Sharpton and Reverend Wright might have filed a lawsuit)
pineapple| 7.8.11 @ 10:59AM
Got a chuckle out of this one.
Alan Brooks| 7.8.11 @ 11:44AM
Jesse himself might have got wind of my comment on "black heart"!
O' Tool's Cam| 7.9.11 @ 12:04AM
LMajito you present a great memory jog for all Americans. Yes, I for one remember President Clinton's uncalled for initiative designating communist China as America's "most favored nation trading partner." This status exceeded anything necessary at that time to engage in Global trade - a concept, itself, not quite what Clinton presented it to be. The promise of opening new markets for American goods was never realized. Meanwhile, Texas billionair H. Ross Perot is now vindicated for his then warning America of "that giant sucking sound" of vanishing American jobs on fast track to China. Clinton, so proud of himself these days, while America's economy implodes, needs to be in a prison jump suit for high crimes, not enjoying a lavish pension for his ruiNation.
Alan Brooks| 7.10.11 @ 6:23PM
At least the '90s was not a total loss as the last decade was. But you can't admit it, too embarrassing for you, such as waste of time; and time you can't get back. No, it is not about Bush, it's about the time-waster you will elect next year if things go on as today. The economy wont improve; you might vote Obama out of office; and install another nothingburger as POTUS.
Rich Lowry says it is time to ditch compassionate conservatism. Boy, he is one step ahead of the curve isn't he? he is a mean motor scooter-- a tough customer.
masly | 7.11.11 @ 2:16AM
Guess the STASI deserve their reputation as
the wizards of opression and mind control-
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Bob K.| 7.8.11 @ 10:23AM
Don't know how Communist it is anymore except in name only. Even the Heads of the Communist states of Eastern Europe did not act like these new chinese rulers who seem to be looking back to China's feudal empires.
diviz| 7.8.11 @ 11:18AM
Go figure, the chinese believe in Chinese exceptionalism.
diviz| 7.8.11 @ 11:18AM
Go figure, the chinese believe in Chinese exceptionalism.
cicero| 7.8.11 @ 11:20AM
The Chinese have a point. The West whines about "human rights", and then does nothing about it. It is strictly posturing. If the West was to be deserving of respect, they would simply tell the Chinese that, unless and until they decided to act in a way acceptable to the West, there would be a reordering of trade policies. The Chinese know better. They can spit in our soup, and we will lap it up, and tell them how wonderful it is.
The Chinese have stolen our technology, undercut our trade, supported our enemies, and have tried to sabotage our internet. We, on the other hand, pretend that they are justlike we are, and play by the rules that we have set for ourselves. How foolish.
CalMark| 7.8.11 @ 5:37PM
Too true.
O' Tool's Cam| 7.9.11 @ 12:06AM
Amen! cicero, you tell it like it is!
Richard Baker| 7.8.11 @ 5:08PM
Imperial China lives! The Communist version is just the latest Dynasty. This time, instead of a Terracotta Army buried in figurines, the Communists will put real people underground...oops, I forgot about the Cultural Revolution. These thugs want a brawl with the US, as evidenced by the writings of their Admirals and Generals in their military press. The Chinese are nobodys friends.
CalMark| 7.8.11 @ 5:39PM
"Prime Minister Wen Jiabao of China most undiplomatically and antagonistically attacked the UK government of his host, PM David Cameron, during a joint press conference in London."
So I guess the Chinese only consider their own tender feelings of ego. Impossible for us white devils to lose face, because we're an inferior race.
Oh, yes. That's exactly where it's coming from. Until recently the Chinese always had spitoons in the room (maybe still do, for all I know), whenever a Western official visited, to emphasize what barbarians we white devils are.
BTW, white devil is an Oriental (yes, I said Oriental--call the P.C. police!) term of affection for white folks. Really, it is.
POST American| 7.8.11 @ 11:45PM
---Gobalist-front tool RED China steams onward.
Bases on BOTH coasts, and in the Carribean,
and the Panama Canal/ 'the first of several'
MASSIVE, sovereign RED Chinese 'eco zones'
now being opened south of Boise/
a VAST tunnel project, one of 4?, connecting Pidgeon Lake
B.C. with Asia------to say nothing of demographics
and the in broad dayight handover of the entire
American economy----
We wil right here, right now, bet a full steak
dinner in the best restaurant in your city that
by 2020--if not 2015, the POST U.S. will
be under 'friendly' management and occupation
by the MOST awesomely genocidal regime
history has ever seen.
-----------The Globaists KNOW this.
That's WHY their so cool.
SAVE THIS POST.
We sincerely hope its us who's proven wrong.
And BTW, you insult the good people of China
by refusing to apply the label RED to the still
in power, MAO revering, Globalist installed and maintained,
outlaw regime.
davelnaf| 7.9.11 @ 12:06AM
The Chicoms’ behavior reminds me of Soviet behavior: respect us or else, unless you don’t know what’s good for you. The Soviets, of course, were all puffed up about their military. The Chicoms are puffed up about the world economy helping them put millions of their people to work at slave wages making things for the same foreigners who continue to fuel their growth while borrowing and stealing a lot of technology from the same. But if they can keep this up they will have discovered a path to great power status no one else has ever thought of before and my hat is off to them. More than likely some kind, or kinds, of chickens will be coming home to roost for the Chicoms before too long.
POST American| 7.9.11 @ 2:02AM
----TAVISTOCK Institute undermining
terminoogy ALERT!
'Chi-coms' = Chai --CALM
Designed to lead the mind away from vital
verbaized meaning.
'RED China' is the one and only term to use
for the duration of the current, Globalist created
regime.
DON'T let Tavistock gunk up your terms!
Skippy| 7.9.11 @ 7:38PM
The Red Chinese are doomed by their own policies. Their leaders..er...jailers fear the future more than we can imagine.
With a birthrate well below the 2.2 required for survival, and several tens of millions more young men than young women, only war on a massive scale can reset the demographic endzones and sidelines.
In other words, if you want peace with Red China, prepare for war with Red China.
Eventually, they will be on their way over here for a little visit.
POST American| 7.10.11 @ 12:26AM
THE Globalists know their RED China op
is ALMOST complete. -----ALMOST.
They know RED China will be providing their
30 MILLION man bull dog and 'world enforcer'
--along with nearly all equipment.
THAT'S WHY they stand in the light and walk
abroad with such utterly unheard of impudence.
The U.S. will be under 'friendly' occupation
--uh, we mean 'management', by 2020 ---as
our demographic collapses on top of our
picked clean economy.
WE predict it will be done with no fanfare
at all. They'll just simply be there, on the
landscape, 'helping out'. We're betting that's
what those huge tunnel projects in Pidgeon
Lake B.C. are ultimately all about.
BTW ---we like our steaks well done.
POST American| 7.10.11 @ 12:39AM
---AND
for those who cavalierly fluff the point that
'oh well, China's not REALLY communist anymore'.
FACT IS, it's a command economy with a
Globalist-bankster corporate overlay.
---------------DO we prefer the term FASCIST?
FACT IS, MAO's picture still has pride of
place in RED Chinese culture, and on their
currency.
FACT IS, North Korea remains a RED China
supported and directed front op and EUGENICS
paradise, much like RED China itself.
FACT IS, Tibet and Inner Mongolia have
been earmarked for cultural liquidation
(now underway).
FACT IS, many of the 'hands o'n perpetrators
of the 50's-60's and 70's open Halocaust, and
their direct, ancestor worshiping descendants
comprise MOST of the controlling elite.
TAKE NOTE, much like the Soviet, East European and East German aftermath ---NONE
of these were ever brought forward on charges.
--------------------NONE.
We now know, IN FACT, that many of the
former STASI are working as consultants,
advisors ---and worse? ----right here in 'homeland
security'.
Somehow these telling facets never get much
attention.
Guess the STASI deserve their reputation as
the wizards of opression and mind control-----
ManassasGrandma| 7.12.11 @ 12:43AM
I don't think the Obama administration really considers China's human rights record all that bad. The Obama administration has never seen an abortion it didn't like- forced or not- and they seem to think the Chinese (and US citizens) should be happy to give up a few rights to futher the nanny state. Didn't Pr. Obama say something about envying the leaders in China?
weddingdress | 7.12.11 @ 5:15AM
FACT IS, North Korea remains a RED China
supported and directed front op and EUGENICS
paradise, much like RED China itself.
FACT IS, Tibet and Inner Mongolia have
been earmarked for cultural liquidation
(now underway).
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