The Foreign and Commonwealth Office called on China to 'respect its commitment to freedom of expression' Photo: AFP
Posted on 08/24/2008 5:05:54 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
US disrupts Olympic party with human rights attack on China
America has openly attacked China for failing to live up to its Olympic promise to improve human rights after eight US citizens were arrested and imprisoned without trial for their part in a pro-Tibet demonstration.
By Peter Foster in Beijing
Last Updated: 12:20PM BST 24 Aug 2008
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office called on China to 'respect its commitment to freedom of expression' Photo: AFP |
In an unusually candid statement issued on the eve of the Olympic closing ceremony the US Embassy in Beijing expressed mounting frustration with China's refusal to give ground on basic freedoms during the Games.
"We are disappointed that China has not used the occasion of the Olympics to demonstrate greater tolerance and openness," the statement said.
"We encourage the government of China to demonstrate respect for human rights, including freedom of expression and freedom of religion, of all people during the Olympic Games and beyond."
The statement appeared to be timed to inflict maximum embarrassment on the Chinese government which, despite the sporting success of the Games, has faced continued criticism of its human rights abuses.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
(snip)
In fact, I sometimes wonder if many on the FR are more offended by the Beijing games than by the Berlin games.
It's as though, ......to put it bluntly, a certain old order it being rocked, and many on the FR do not like it.
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With respect to the Olympics, the MSM that matters most in the US is NBC. It virtually ignored China's human rights abuses, political prisoners, labor camps, anti-Christian policies, one child policy, repression of minorities, widespread poverty outside camera range of the Olympic Village. Such coverage would not have helped their ratings.
As for an old order being rocked, I submit that that is a bad thing, and we should not like it. As China's economy and military strengthen, they become an increasing potential threat. Some threats become real menaces, then real enemies. Enemies must eventually be appeased or defeated, and either option is expensive.
Bull. The rest of the world has been exposed to what a polluted, cheating, authoritarian piece of $hit of a country China is. How you're not completely embarrassed by what a joke your country is baffles me.
I am not a troll. I have nothing to gain by provoking anyone. I just want to narrow down what makes ya’ll tick. What is at the core of this Hawkish view of China.
Well, that does appear to be the core of the FR perspective.
As China's economy and military strengthen, they become an increasing potential threat. Some threats become real menaces, then real enemies. Enemies must eventually be appeased or defeated, and either option is expensive.
I don't fault you for that view. However, the problem is, China is typically alerted on the FR as the only threat. And then something like Russia invading Georgia seems to prove that the threat is somewhere else. I believe, that scenario of another country taking hostile action in the backdrop of the perceived China threat will continue play out in the next couple of decades.
Not embarassed at all. There's alot of good things happening in China. Changes need to continue to be made of course, but they are making them.
But I'm curious, why do my comments seem to provoke such visceral responses from you? Just as you have asked what motivates me, I want to know what motivates this overriding negative focus on China by you and many like you. From my perspective (and I admit, it is a perspective on my part), it does appear there is an anger against China, that has at it's core, a fear of a potential shift of an old order.
It's not you in particular. It's anyone who defends China.
Just as you have asked what motivates me, I want to know what motivates this overriding negative focus on China by you and many like you.
I can't speak for anybody else, but personally I happen to be a libertarian and consider personal liberty and freedom to be about the most important things in life. So when it comes to a country like China which stands for everything I am opposed to at the core of my being, I speak out, and yes, admittedly, at times it can be visceral.
How's this for starters?
Does that include ordinary citizens who live there?
I can't speak for anybody else, but personally I happen to be a libertarian and consider personal liberty and freedom to be about the most important things in life.
I can buy into that. So why then, do countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia, and many many more, not get the same attention as China? Certainly, not all of the other 5+ billion people in the world that live outside of China be beacons of democracy. So, why aren't those who are so Hawkish about China, include other countries? There must be more than just standing up for "Life, Liberty and the Puruit of Happiness" as a reason for focusing on China..
Tienanmen square did occur almost 20 years ago. Your concern for human rights is commendable. So, why isn't the energy also directed at other parts of the world? I mean, I'm sure I could go on the web right now and find pictures like that somewhere in the world (and definitely more recent than 20 years). Why, for people like you, China is such a focus? I'm sure your energies would be appreciated standing up to tyrrants in Africa or the Middle East or other parts of Asia. And would be much more appreciated there than in China. So, why China?
I can only draw the conclusion of disrupting the old order.
Because China is a clear threat to the national security of the United States and security of the entire western Pacific.
More news that you apparently missed...
I'm more than happy to rip them apart too. But for the last month, the media has been fluffing the heck out of China, so I've concentrated on letting people know how horrendous of a country they are as an attempt at a counterbalance.
“I’m sure your energies would be appreciated standing up to tyrrants in Africa or the Middle East or other parts of Asia.”
We focus on China and its shameless enablers because you claim to be better than everyone else while oppressing and slaughtering people like no other evil force on earth.
I, for one, would hope that Pres. Bush and his gang of free traitors would actually put their money where their mouths are and do something concrete about the barbarians that rule your country.
Honestly, I believe Russia is more of a national security to the United States. They are more willing to take military action when it suits them.
Pacific Choke Point
I'm willing to bet that China will not initiate hostile action. So far they haven't. Other countries have. In fact, in the future, China will contribute to the security of sea lanes. Because the US will get tired of always paying for it.
The media does say alot of good things about China, but they also say alot of negatives as well. So, to counterbalance, you should also include positives. Here on the FR, it'all negative by those with a Hawkish view of China.
Remember that skirmish called, "The Korean War?"
President Bush has a good approach. He respects China for all her accomplishments, while at the same time exhort her to respect human rights. I appreciate what he did. His motivation isn't the same as those on the FR. He wants to change the country as it industrializes. Many on the FR just wants to bring her down behind the cloak of human rights.....because she is industrializing.
How is that a pertinent arguement for today? Have you ever heard of WWII? If you want to condemn Germany and Italy for what they did 63+ years ago, I'll back you up.
“Many on the FR just wants to bring her down behind the cloak of human rights.....because she is industrializing.”
You’re wrong - yet again. The reason why we oppose your masters, the Chicoms, was explained in my post above but you conveniently ignored it:
“We focus on China and its shameless enablers because you claim to be better than everyone else while oppressing and slaughtering people like no other evil force on earth.”
“We focus on China and its shameless enablers because you claim to be better than everyone else while oppressing and slaughtering people like no other evil force on earth.”
I didn't ignore it. How am I suppose to reply to it? It's a blanket statement. My only reply would be "no it's not". Are you talking about the way they touted the Olympics as evidence they feel they are better than others? Confront others in disputes such as territorial claims as indication they are evil? Since you basically said "China is evil and arrogant" (without specific clarification), I would have just said "no, it isn't".
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