It’s just ONE DAY until Liu Xiaobo (or at least his picture) receives the peace prize and rhetoric about it has been roughly the same, but maybe turned up a notch. Earlier, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu called everyone opposing their decision to oppose the prize “clowns,” noting that “All policies in China are for the interests of the majority of the Chinese people. We will not change … because of the interference of some clowns who are anti-China.” And today, an equally furious op-ed was published in the Global Times.
Yes, the Global Times writing frothing editorials is nothing new – and heck, it’d be weird if they didn’t righteously chest thump during an event like this – but the level of paranoid “WHY DO YOU ALL HATE CHINA?” artistry this one takes it to makes it worth recording down in history (or at least this blog). The best parts below:
For its China as sports ingénue metaphor:
The modern world is much like a sports arena, in which China has passed the first round and qualified for the final. As a newcomer, China may not be well prepared, with sloppy technique, lacking audience support and seeming like a stranger to the surroundings. China has no other choice but to fight on in the competition, strictly following the rules set by others.
Suddenly, boos and catcalls resound from the stands, from the Westerners in the pricey seats. Worse than this, the referee blows the whistle against China, amid jeers from cheerleaders and media, relishing exposing China’s “scandals.” What can the Chinese team do?
For its interesting interpretation of Chinese history:
Chinese civilization has long upheld the tradition of befriending all people, and public opinion in Chinese society is also in favor of making friends with the West. In the 1970s and 1980s, the West showed genuine goodwill toward China. But later on, especially since the turn of the century, the West has changed tack. It has begun obstructing the rise of China, which seems to be the last thing they want to see.
For its way of putting you in a “you’re a sheep if you don’t agree with what I say!” dilemma:
It might be advisable for China not to buy the conspiracy theory, for communication would be much smoother if given the benefit of the doubt. However, China has to maintain its independence in thinking and ensure its discerning ability is not swayed by outside powers. As long as China can keep its independent judgment, its security will be ensured even when faced with a conspiracy.
Any other nominations of fiery rhetoric? I’m expecting something equally hilarious in comments in 3… 2… 1…
