Quote of the day: “How sacred is a temple once it is featured on a postcard?”

- Ben H., on Tibet’s rise as a tourist destination

 TIBET

Is Time Running Out for Tibet? – “The Chinese are calculating that once the 71-year-old passes away, Western interest in the mystical place that is Tibet will wane, the quest for Shangrila will cease and the political pressure on Beijing will melt away like the butter candles on the altars of the local monasteries.” I think the author could be very right or very wrong. When the Dalai Lama passes away, the interest may fall, or, hopefully, it will be the cause of massive, temporary interest in Tibet that could lend itself to the immediate freedom of Tibet. I hate to say this next thing, and it’s very crude, but in fact, probably the best situation would be a Chinese spy or otherwise Chinese government employed agent assassinating the Dalai Lama. That would give him permanent martyr status, and would likely anger billions of people – and say hello to a free Tibet. Of course…that is justifying the ends with the means…special piece on that coming tomorrow, if I have time.

Why Tibet matters to Southasia – “Tibet should matter to Southasia because of its trade possibilities, as well as its strategic and environmentally sensitive location. At one time, within living memory, there was a robust trade relationship between Tibet and its southern neighbours – Nepal, Bhutan and India. A revival of such relations has considerable potential for helping to speed up the rise of the Southasian economy. If there is truth to the belief that China is a vast, tappable market, Southasia is well placed to tap it through Tibet.” In agreement here.

Amnesty queries China over Panchen Lama in rare talks – “In its first official meeting with the Chinese embassy in Washington, Amnesty’s US office brought up the issue of the so-called Panchen Lama, who was six years old when he was detained by Chinese authorities in 1995 after the Dalai Lama named the boy his successor.”

Tibet’s government-in-exile presents surplus budget – “‘About 23 percent of the approved budget is appropriated for the promotion of the Tibetan issue, 28 percent for welfare services, 16 percent for education, 10 percent for health, 6 percent for religion and culture and 7 percent for others,’ said the spokesman. “

FOREIGN RELATIONS

U.S. to Set New Duties on Goods From China – “The Bush administration, in a major escalation of trade pressure on China, said Friday that it would reverse more than 20 years of American policy and impose potentially steep tariffs on Chinese manufactured goods on the ground that China is illegally subsidizing some of its exports.” This is excellent news.

More on China and Darfur – “In a telephone interview, Shattuck said the committee expressed ‘great interest in a diplomatic initiative’ aimed at China modeled on Reeves’ idea of shaming China by linking its complicity in the Darfur genocide to the Beijing games — the so-called Genocide Olympics campaign.” Reeves is a professor at one of the colleges that I take classes at. His “genocide olympics” campaign, while obviously a valuable one, is a bit of a worry to Tibet activists who are trying to say the same thing, but for their cause. I wonder if we can’t work together, that is the Free Tibet movement and the Save Darfur Olympics campaigns to produce something much more massive and comprehensive. I think I ought to see if I can get in touch with him, though I hear that with his fame, it may be difficult.

China’s great game in Asia – “Why so adamant? One reason is that the Communist Party fears that allowing political freedom to flourish on its fringes would loosen its ability to monopolise power in China as a whole. And there lies the real reason why China is so friendless. With no attractive ideas or values to appeal to neighbours, it falls back on a resurgent nationalism that scares them instead: we were a great power, should always be a great power, and by golly look at us now, so get out of the way!” This is a nice article on why China has no real friends in the world, not even Russia, who appears to have some great alliance with China in development right now.

Thomas J. Christensen: U.S.-China Relations – “With China’s rise to global prominence, its leaders must heed how their security, economic, environmental, and social policies affect not just China’s population of 1.3 billion, but the 5.2 billion people beyond its borders. As a regional power with increasing global reach, China will be expected to use its increasing influence to support international efforts to safeguard peace and security.” This seems to be a long, important official statement on the state of U.S.-China relations. I didn’t read it all, it’s normal political talk with China.

LABOR

China’s McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut accused of low pay – “Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, has set a minimum wage of 7.5 yuan ($0.97) an hour since the start of this year. But the city’s New Express newspaper has said that the fast-food restaurants had paid part-time employees from 4 to 5 yuan an hour, citing contracts signed by workers.” I think this is rather unfortunate. Chinese citizens are already continually mistreated by their own government, and the minimum wage, as you can see, is not what I would call ostentatious. This leaves a stain on China’s view of American companies, who should, if setting up shop in China in the first place, use their power and money to uplift Chinese citizens, instead of to cheat them.

China to sack ‘dead souls’ and other slackers – “China has issued new rules intended to weed out ‘dead souls’ and other so-called employees at government departments who earn salaries despite not doing any work, state press reported Wednesday.” Oh, thank god.  I guess that means they are sacking Hu Jintao.

HUMAN RIGHTS

China denies discrimination against minorities -  “Dondrub Wangben, himself an ethnic Tibetan, played down these problems, saying the minorities generally got along very well, like ‘the 56 petals of a flower’. ‘If there were discrimination, how could I, from a poor background, have gone to school and now be sitting here giving this press conference?’ he said.” Hmm…maybe because you’re getting paid, you have access to power, no access to real information, and have been brainwashed by the endless streams of Chinese propoganda? Take a look at the other 6 million Tibetans.

TAIWAN

China sought US sub secrets to conquer Taiwan: US prosecutor – “Prosecutors in the trial of US engineer Chi Mak said Wednesday that secret US submarine technology information he had tried to smuggle to China was to help it take control of Taiwan… He said Mak admitted he had been passing technology to China for over 23 years, explaining that he ‘wanted to help China.’” 23 years, eh…