Keeping the Flame Alive
Iman Kurdi; 12/4/08
There are people we do business with and people we invite to dinner. And there are countries we sign billion-dollar contracts with and others we welcome to the club of “civilized” nations. This seems to be the emerging philosophy of the West toward China. Politicians, celebrities and individuals with a vocal conscience find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, they want trade and commercial ties with China, because quite frankly they can’t afford not to, but on the other, they feel squeamish and uncomfortable when they are seen to be supporting a government whose human rights record is below par. And of course, this applies not just to China but to a whole gamut of countries who have systems of government that are not quite the full flavor required by Western democratic palates but just happen to have wealth and natural resources which make them a natural and necessary ally. You can call it hypocrisy or you can call it pragmatism. It all depends on where you sit.
See: http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=108857&d=12&m=4&y=2008
Tags: China, Human Rights, Tibet, Westerners