Dear Editor,
The perpetual rising hegemonic behemoth known as China has been on a modern day international crusade to assert its ever burgeoning status.
While this development is certainly a welcome one, especially the prospect of China prevailing as an effective counterbalance to the present hegemonic champion, the United States (even though Al-Qaeda might have something to say about that), the Chinese government has shown in true Machiavellian style that it is willing to achieve this end by any means necessary—- even if it means crushing grossly mismatched maroon-clad monks in Tibet. The Tibet-China conflict has been an ongoing one with China claiming sovereignty over Buddhist dominated territory for decades. The most recent conflict has a very strong cultural origin in its orientation.
The Chinese government has embraced capitalism and modernity (railways, highways, skyscrapers, glass towers, shopping-malls, enormous brothels, discos, etc.) and has been leaving this impression on Tibet. Contrast this with traditional Tibetan amenities and lifestyle of sacred temples, meditation, basic gowns and garments and we have a strong recipe for disagreement. Heck, even the traditional Tibetan language is under threat of vanishing.
Responding to this invasion of cultural identity, Tibetans took to the streets and seized minor household items from Chinese shops that had set up businesses in Tibet. The Chinese’s response? The use of excessive force by its security forces to quell this small uprising.
The conflict is ongoing and the Chinese government is releasing videos showing Tibetan monks and nuns attacking civilians and damaging property, but it is revealing little about what its actions have been.
This situation represents a mismatch of epic proportions and all the international community can do is watch and in some instances mumble their disapproval, but that represents the sum total of their response to this crisis. President Sarkozy of France has shown some courage and has made known his country’s willingness to boycott the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics this August if dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama (the spiritual leader of Tibet) does not commence.
This is not the only incident that has put the Chinese Empire in the international spotlight. Its support (and providing of weapons) of the Sudanese government has turned off many observers of the Darfur crisis. It took renowned filmmaker Steven Spielberg to quit as the artistic director of the Olympic Games’ opening ceremonies for the Chinese government to ask the Khartoum officials to get their act together.
The world wants a mighty and influential China, but one that is responsible in its actions. Please don’t follow the George Bush route.
Yours faithfully,
Clinton Urling
