Beware An Angry China...

[Purveyor]

HONG KONG: Tibetans have a strong case against Beijing. But mixing it in with the Olympics and Darfur is a red rag to a wounded young bull.

Nationalism is more often aroused by setbacks than success, so the Tibet problems and the possible threats to a triumphal Olympics are stirring it in China.

On the horizon is the possibility that these will combine with high inflation, stagnating exports and trade tensions with the United States to create a perfect nationalistic storm.

The Chinese leadership faces a difficult balancing act.

As its legitimacy is now based on national achievement, not communist ideology, it must appear in step with popular feeling. Yet stability at home and good relations abroad require keeping nationalist emotions in check. The paranoia about evil foreign designs that thrived under Mao and was discarded by Deng Xiaoping is still close to the surface.

Almost all of China is offended that foreigners are so keen to lecture them and to encourage the petty boycotts that could spoil the Olympic party. It genuinely infuriates the Chinese that they are blamed for Darfur while their Western critics occupy Iraq. Beijing is happy to let such nationalist resentments vent in the sometimes violent language of Internet blogs and chat rooms.

The anger, in turn, makes it easier for the government to pin the Tibetan problems on foreigners and Tibetan exiles headed by the Dalai Lama, to arrest human-rights advocates and crack down on foreign media.

Beijing plays up the foreign threat - much like the U.S. government used the Al Qaeda threat as a justification for invading Iraq. For example, Beijing has raised the specter of Tibetan suicide squads organized by the "Dalai Lama clique" attacking the Olympics.

---EOE---

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/08/opinion/edbowring.php

[alarimer]

1. Fuck them.

We should not appease these murdering bastards, nor their complicit populace.

[pretzel4gore]

3. murdering bastards? they're angels compared to us....

China has comported itself with greater maturity then anyone should expect-the country (PRC) was born in revolution at same time as Israel, and lookit the trouble Israel has been in! 4 wars and 3 intifadas! China has scrapped with 'Nam and India, and settled in both cases w/out too much bloodshed. China also puts up with Taiwan. The Gov of Taiwan used to be the Gov of China until the revolution forced them out, and the Nationalists were claiming authority as late as 15 years ago, which meant Beijing had no legal basis. This could have been a huge problem (also, 'Formosa' was a Chinese province until '49) if the PRC was not thick skinned and able to overlook the insult, yet we heap disrespect upon them!) Had China not occupied Tibet, India surely would have anyway. People just wanna be dense about global realities, i guess. The Chinese government is improving EVERYDAY, and we should give them time.

[Ian David]

2. Bush is trying to goade China into attacking us over Iran.