President Hu's Visit Series: East Meets West--Friend to Friend?
By Hou Dong
President Bush said that he regarded President Hu as his friend. So if there was conflict and disagreement, they were able to talk about them in a spirit of friendship and cooperation, just as two friends do. It is common sense that friends should protect each other when facing difficulties and troubles in life.
When President Hu was welcomed with full military honors and walked with President Bush, as CNN put it, "He desperately wanted to show his people back home the respect he had received from the United States, but that President Hu certainly didn't want the world to see a female protestor shouting into the camera, waving a flag with Fa Lun Gong on it." Almost at the same moment, Bush was saying: "China can grow even more successful by allowing its people the freedom to assemble, to speak freely, and to worship."
Meanwhile, outside the White House, thousands of protestors were shouting, "Stop prosecuting Fa Lun Gong." In their hands were banners with slogans such as, "Thousands of Fa Lun Gong practitioners tortured to death." CNN addressed Fa Lu Gong as a "banned religious movement in China."
What a coincidence! It renders me into thinking it was a show scheduled beforehand. The United States and China are two major countries in the world today. The visit was of vital importance in terms of its aim and the possible consequences it might bring. I wonder how this could happen. At the very moment President Hu was talking in front of the White House through the media to people all around the world? Or rather why America allowed this to happen? I also don't think the "thousands of protestors" were all witches and wizards who miraculously emerged in the blink of an eye.
So I cannot help asking what a friend should do under such circumstances. Friendship is not something on the lip but something deep in the heart.
President Bush said that he regarded President Hu as his friend. So if there was conflict and disagreement, they were able to talk about them in a spirit of friendship and cooperation, just as two friends do. It is common sense that friends should protect each other when facing difficulties and troubles in life.
When President Hu was welcomed with full military honors and walked with President Bush, as CNN put it, "He desperately wanted to show his people back home the respect he had received from the United States, but that President Hu certainly didn't want the world to see a female protestor shouting into the camera, waving a flag with Fa Lun Gong on it." Almost at the same moment, Bush was saying: "China can grow even more successful by allowing its people the freedom to assemble, to speak freely, and to worship."
Meanwhile, outside the White House, thousands of protestors were shouting, "Stop prosecuting Fa Lun Gong." In their hands were banners with slogans such as, "Thousands of Fa Lun Gong practitioners tortured to death." CNN addressed Fa Lu Gong as a "banned religious movement in China."
What a coincidence! It renders me into thinking it was a show scheduled beforehand. The United States and China are two major countries in the world today. The visit was of vital importance in terms of its aim and the possible consequences it might bring. I wonder how this could happen. At the very moment President Hu was talking in front of the White House through the media to people all around the world? Or rather why America allowed this to happen? I also don't think the "thousands of protestors" were all witches and wizards who miraculously emerged in the blink of an eye.
So I cannot help asking what a friend should do under such circumstances. Friendship is not something on the lip but something deep in the heart.
6 Comments:
At 9:56 PM , Anonymous said...
When Jiang Zemin visited London a few years ago there was a demonstration by Tibetans which was obstructed by the police.
But the police were criticised because they have no legal right to prevent non-violent protests.
So, when Hu Jintao visted recently, the protesters were allowed to stand (shouting) by the road as he passed by.
Perhaps this could be interpreted as Britain showing an unfriendly attitude to China.
Or perhaps there is another way of interpreting it.
At 6:20 AM , Sendover said...
Yes, the same situation occured last year too when Hu Jintao visited the UK.
The problem is that in Westtern democracies free speech is allowed, which means that people can get together and say what they want in public. Very inconvenient.
It's not a case of orchestrated witches and wizards: in fact Tony Blair and George Bush probably resent them just as much as Hu Jintao.
At 1:02 PM , Anonymous said...
You people need to get over it. This was in no way orchestated by the White House, and to even entertain this idea just demonstrates your total ignorance of American politics. Bush is treated to protests against him EVERYWHERE he goes, both INSIDE and outside the US. It's just a fact of life: in free societies, people protest what they don't like. So what? Who cares? Did it really take away from Hu's "face"? I think not. Welcome to the real world.
At 2:34 PM , Anonymous said...
If i was in another country i would not post as anonymous but since im in Beijing , i dont take any chance !
I can't believe that nobody from Hu's diplomatic corps had prepared a statement to make, in case of an unplan intervention as it happened. He should have reacted with a strong statement on the topic as soon he heard shouting instead of standing there as young boy who just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. That is called political risk management and it means getting ready for anything specially when you walk around like the chinese do with an amazing amount of things they dont want to talk about. ALL CHINESE not just the leader should prepare themselves to answer difficult questions when they go outside the boundaries of the mainland. Sorry , as american i constantly have to answer questions about my country including things such as Abhu Ghraib, Guantanamo and others.You want respect , start facing the music !
At 12:22 AM , pandapassport said...
I thought it was pretty interesting.
Especially since Bush always talks about "freedom to worship," mostly with reference to Islamic areas of the world.
At 11:41 AM , Anonymous said...
Funny thing. Bush goes to China and meets with students, answering questions prepared ahead of time by CP members, designed to embarrass him. Chinese cheer this "standing up to the US".
Tell me, please: when was the last time a Chinese official appeared before Chinese students to answer questions?
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