Apr
5
Why the West always Misread China?
April 5, 2008 | | 1 Comment
by Maggie ZUO Yitong
Recently, the world has turned the focus from US election to China, due to the recent Tibetan Unrest in Lhasa. I think it is not necessary to criticize the misleading repots from western media, because you could find that in almost every TV program in mainland China, without doubt, the western media is the biggest failure in this propaganda war in Tibet.
I would like to get into the issue from the different angle; the ideas come from the reporting exercise this evening. The US government, the most significant example in western world, always showed their peaceful position and said that “We think it’s appropriate for Chinese officials to engage in dialogue and discussion with the Dalai Lama.” The western media and the public always said that Beijing government should have a dialogue with Dalai Lama, actually, in the past six years; there are at least six meetings between the Chinese government and the representatives of Dalai Lama. However, what is the exact meaning of “dialogue”? Could “Dalai Lama” instead of the whole Tibetan people? Whether the Tibetan problems will be solved just after the dialogue with Dalai Lama? They never consider these possible results and potential problems and just push Chinese government to communicate with Dalai Lama, from my point of view, it is rude and unreasonable.
A friend of mine, who ever interviewed Dalai Lama there years ago in India, the interview lasted for 3 hours. Although the interview could not be published then, my friend shared a lot content of the dialogue with Dalai Lama, and he told me that Tibetan crisis could not be solved only by the dialogue between Chinese government and Dalai Lama. There are huge conflicts between Dalai and his groups.
The Tibetan Government-in-exile is always described as being leaded by Dalai Lama, however, the reality is that they have controlled the power and even control Dalai Lama. The members in the government-in exile are young, bad temper and rude, they are against with Dalai’s peaceful policy and consider the violence is the only way to fight for the equal rights with Han Chinese. From my point of view, we should divide Dalai Lama and the violent Tibetan government-in-exile.
Dalai Lama, on first hand, he is a religious figure, on the other hand, he is moderate and non-violent. At least I believe he is such kind of person. That’s why he could become the aga in Tibet. During the interview, Dalai never deny the improvement of Tibet in these ten years with the help of Beijing government. Actually, over these years, especially since the reform and opening up, the Chinese government have took a very relaxed policy in Tibet’s religion, and a kind of policy of religious freedom. On the economy, in support of Tibet’s economic development, the government has done a lot of work. In fact, in last six years, the growth of Tibet’s GDP in excess of 12%. It should be said that Tibet’s economic, cultural and other aspects have been improved a lot by the Beijing government. However, all these work has not had a good effect of communication in the international community.
For the western media, they only hear one unilateral voice, which is to sympathize with Tibet. After this crisis, the government should consider why we did achieve a better communication on this issue. Why there are so many people sympathize with the riots in the international community? I think it could help us to understand why the international media is one-sided views. This is a must reflect on the issue, not only because it is the West, including the United States, imposed some political forces behind the background manipulation. Why the voices of people from China could not be believed by the world?
I think that if Dalai Lama has the sincere, we must first support. Negotiations should always require a process; both of Beijing and Tibet should have to show some sincerity and patience, eventually all these problems could be satisfactorily resolved. It is good for the Tibetan people; it is good for the entire Chinese nation. I hope it is not only a dream.
(Week Seven Post)
Comments
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You’ve raised an important point about why the Chinese point of view is never believed..Part of the reason, though probably not the entire reason, is that anythng that the Chinese government or media says is thought to be propaganda because of lack of an open press. But what is interesting,is how little coverage there was of the violence against Han Chinese in Lhasa.