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Subscribe to RSSBEIJING -- Let us be clear from the start: this is not a blog post about a would-be revolution.
It’s about the demonstration of state power in a police state.
Today was the second Sunday in a row of an unspecified number of mass gatherings anonymously called across the country to protest against the Chinese government and some of its policies.
At 2 p.m. local time, ordinary people were urged “to take an afternoon stroll” to show solidarity. “As long as you are present, the authoritarian government will be shaking with fear,” says the call for “Jasmine Rallies” circulating online.
In Beijing, the location was a McDonald's in the busy shopping district of Wangfujing. But just hours before the scheduled hour, rumours surfaced that the designation had been changed to a KFC a few storefronts north of the McDonald's.
This may have been due to the overnight appearance on Friday of a construction site that surrounded the original site. Wooden walls barricading some mysterious edifice took up half of the street, severely limiting traffic.
By Adrienne Mong/NBC News
Water cannon truck parks itself outside the KFC before the rally was due to begin at 2 p.m. local.
Today, we turned up in Wangfujing early and were immediately confronted with a massive police turnout. Uniformed and plainclothes officers populated the main thoroughfare every few feet. Inside the shops and malls were small groups of local community police volunteers with red armbands.
Rows of police vehicles — vans and sedans — were parked on side streets running off the main strip. At least a handful of large buses — both the tourist kind and the type used by city transport — sat next to the vehicles or on Wangfujing. We guessed they would serve as paddy wagons should things get out of hand.
It turns out the only thing that got out of hand was the security.
This was the heaviest police presence we'd seen in the capital since the 2008 Summer Olympics, and even this seemed to rival the overtly public scale of what was on display three years ago.
A shadowy detail
The designated KFC was on the first floor above ground, and there were large windows overlooking Wangfujing. We entered to eat lunch.
Tables alongside the window were occupied by plainclothes police, some carrying tourist camera bags, but all of them wearing some sort of earpiece — the telltale curly white wire running down their necks.
By Adrienne Mong/NBC News
Plainclothes security sit inside the KFC overlooking Wangfujing. Spot the earpiece on the man to the left.
One table began filming us as we stood nearby, eating at a counter.
The same group filming us followed us out of the restaurant and onto the street. They even entered the same café we dropped into to buy some coffee. One man, in a bright red anorak, stood out; his constant companion was a small digital video camera.
By now, fellow journalists we recognized were appearing and being checked for IDs. The police were taking no chances. They even stopped a western couple with two small children.
Pairs of uniformed police with large German shepherds on muzzles patrolled the street.
Three water trucks pulled up outside of the KFC entrance.
In the meantime, the 3G signal on my Blackberry was acting up. I could no longer receive/send emails or tweet (using hashtag #CN227 for today's date). China Mobile, a major state-owned telecoms company, kept our handsets firmly on GMS, which permitted only phone calls and text messages. China Unicom, another state-owned telecoms company, only had SOS service.
Flooding the zone
By Adrienne Mong/NBC News
More plainclothes police with earpieces sit inside a cafe.
Two o’clock came and went.
The water trucks were joined by one more. They began driving up and down the length of south Wangfujing, spraying the road and, more significantly, clearing it of pedestrians.
No one was allowed to loiter for long. Police regularly pushed people along, sometimes politely, sometimes roughly, but always saying the same thing, “Move along, move along, don’t stop here, you’re interfering with traffic flow.”
As two o’clock got further away, however, the authorities became more aggressive.
A police tape went up on the street south of McDonald’s. The authorities checked Chinese people for IDs now, too; they appeared to be singling out young men with backpacks—anyone who looked like a student, perhaps a likely participant in the Jasmine rally?
Journalists were prevented from filming. Anyone with a camera was suspect. Professional cameras were confiscated or their owners barred from entering. A handful of journalists were roughed up.
We saw a scrum and tried to see what was happening. Stephen Engle, an American reporter with Bloomberg TV, was being shoved and pushed by the police. When he fell to the ground and shouted for help, we tried to approach. We were immediately bundled away — dozens of police turned us around and pushed us down the street. Large men, in down jackets and tracksuit pants, individually began bumping into people, like pinballs, keeping them away. (Engle was reported to be still in police custody at the time of this posting but planning to go to the hospital tonight.)
Bystanders confused
Even the street cleaners, in their neon-colored vests, got in on the act. One of them used his broom to sweep at the feet of my colleague, cameraman David Lom, to keep him off-balance when he tried to film and to drive him away.
Ordinary Chinese were bewildered. “What’s going on? Why can’t we walk here?” they asked.
By Adrienne Mong/NBC News
Passersby take photos of the police dogs, normally an unusual sight in an ordinary shopping district like Wangfujing.
Some were more belligerent. One woman started shouting, “Why can’t I go down here? Why are you stopping me? Stop pushing.”
Others tried to work out the reasons for security by identifying the authorities. “These are ordinary police [Public Security police], not wujing (People’s Armed Police),” said one man.
But he was wrong. The wujing were there, too.
What looked like a handful of squads of PAP troops marched in formation past the water trucks outside the KFC and McDonald’s.
Around three o’clock, the authorities had stopped traffic altogether on the southern end of Wangfujing, right where it abuts with Chang’An Road — where the People’s Liberation Army drove its tanks down toward Tiananmen Square in 1989 to crush the student protests.
Crowds were building at this end, behind police tape and police.
And then suddenly they were free to go.
What is remarkable is, at the end of the day, no recognizable protest took place in Wangfujing.
Click here for details on the security crackdown elsewhere in China.
Leave a Comment:
"It’s about the demonstration of state power"?
No, the story is about the power of foreign journalists today.
Considering foreign journalists are so eager to see a revolution or, I’d call it non-revolution, they could actually organize one of their own to realize their day-dream. It's highly feasible , with its 300 in number, led by thier Uhta redneck president wannabe and a handful oily haired beggar looking losers who are called by West as dissidents and who did nothing at home except whining in last 32 years.
Interesting there were 50 times more foreign media stuffs than the lazy-bone losers there, almost all of them only reported the dissent in China but keep silent on how great the Chinese majority is. A majority whose rally one day would chase down into the dark hutong the shabby "proletarians" who are well represented by the American fat-belly "capitalist", LOL! since American know so-called DemonCrazy is the only and last mean to stop China from growing.
Nice try, Chinese Government
There is nothing crazy about Freedom! What's crazy is someone not supporting people who wish to peacefully voice their dissent, crazy or selfish.
Any country that allows its people to make a soup from aborted fetuses that's considered to be an aphrodisiac is a country that is a demon! Labor rights are your future China. Deal with it. Just like Wisconsin is. And by the way get some women on your side but oh that's right you've aborted them all. Sorry.
"No, the story is about the power of foreign journalists today."
Do you think you'd get truthful reporting from the state employed journalists????
I guess to you truth is dangerous!
Hey Krass,
I don't mean to be crass, but one man's meat is another man's son as it were. Really, eggs are aborted fetuses, you just have to get over the 'same species' thing.
Come on now lange: Tell us who really signs your paycheck.
Right idea ! Blame it on foreign journalists while locals are furious. That's the best way to assess the situation and have a harmonious society. Brilliant. Way to go China - Ignore the pain of the people and find excuses for your own trouble.
Jasmine revolution is a joke for China. They don't have the necessary conditions yet...you still need to wait for at lease another 10~20 yrs if the CCP doesn't make any change (actually they are making positive changes now).
Of course there will be a lot of people angry with CCP given a total number of 1.4 billion people living there, however, the problem is, we simply neglected the real force which keeps China stable so far----people who are satisfied with or even supporters of CCP. We are not able to see any news of these people and events here in US due to the western version of news censorship. I cannot say 'Chinese are happy with their government with a few minor exceptions', which might not be true, but think about it, to the worst situation, even the whole population in US (0.3 billion) are angry with CCP, they still have 1.1 billion supporters.
The truth is, Chinese people are thinking of how to earn money as much as possible everyday, they don't have time for political games. They work hard, they get money---they are happy with this rule which is still valid in China. News from mid-east don't encourage them, but scared them, making them even more determined to refuse stupid things like 'revolution', being afraid of loosing opportunities for making money...
Even though I am not part of the majority in my own country of birth I hope to see one day my children and all children in any country grow into adulthood with recognition that all people of any color, language, or culture deserve all equal rights. The growth of a country should not be measured only by economic numbers but by the key difference that all its people are treated fair in any private, public or government situation.
Some media outlets may be proclaiming "revolution" perhaps only because the protesters are claiming it to be so. However correct or incorrect it may be claiming "revolution" withholding such information maybe considered necessary but is not conducive to the point of view of the world as a whole today. Through an open mind one should not view this as a problem for each individual but rather growth for the betterment of all peoples in any country.
The Point I am trying to bring across is that at least to me people are more important than any economic numbers.
Hey Lange, when we declare an embargo on all the crappy cheap Chinese goods poisoning us and our children with lead and arsenic, what will you do for a job then? Whose lies will you tell?
Dude the very fact that you are able to write some glib like that and still be available for people like me to read it shows the openness we stand by. Try that in your country. Shameful that your think head (or heads) cannot get it.
Lange you and your privileged members of the ruling communist party in China, can only keep your people down and enslaved for so long, then they will rise up and overthrow those who are exploiting and suppressing them and their legitimate demands for their basic human rights.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE!
The communist party is creating the conditions for its own destruction at the hands of the Chinese people. There will be another Mao one day who will lead the people in a Jasmine revolution and take you down. Let us all hope for the sake of the Chinese people, that this new Mao gets it right this time.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE!
Gunny, SEMPER FI
At its very core, the Chinese system is supported ONLY by lies. These lies will either cause China to implode, or more likely the lies will be protected with bigger and bigger lies until the world is at war. Central control is the devil, and the absolutely hilarious chinese government stooges on this message board are little devils with no humanity. I for one hope humanity wins.
To the little devil stooges on this message board: You probably know this already, but the bull@!$%# you use on your own people doesn't even come close to working on us. You just look retarded. I guess that is your particular genius-- embracing retarded lies with a straight face in order to control those around you. Except, it's not genius. It's pure evil. Have fun with that, @!$%#s.
China will fall to fascism like so many other countries and we'll all be totally screwed. That is the 99% of us that aren't doing the screwing.
oops, disregard
Hey Lang why don't you go kiss your corrupt goverments ass? you deserve each other ya brainwashed Fool!
Your English needs some work there Li. Americans are not trying to stop China from growing, we want you all to become rich and lazy just like the fat-belly capitalists you abhor.
Proving he really is his father's boy, and child of privilege,
William and Kate were launching a military vessel, all in
their finest military-royal drag, and as she splashed the
bottle of champagne on the boat, William jumped back so
he wouldn't get champagne on his shiny squeaky shoes.
So funny...
I wonder if the straw boss children of our Chinese overlords
will jump back to keep our blood from splattering their shoes?
Pro'lly not. They'll probably FEED IT TO THEIR DOGS.
........ i fear that China and Russia will have more freedom than the United States in the future ..... as for China , the common man hasn't had it as good in China's long history......
What a joke, guess the economy in China is too big for many to handle so now there is a media marketing campaign to produce nonexistent protests
ROFLMFAO
The ignorance we in the US have of Modern China today is staggering, to say the least. Lange is, from his broken English, likely native Chinese and Victor, I suspect, has at least visited China several times. Both give a correct viewpoint of China today, especially Victor.
The Chinese are "finding their way" and doing quite nicely, tyvm. Visit there yourself, if you doubt my words. The Chinese ARE government is far from perfect, but you should consider how a foreign reporter with a prejudice against America might report on the situation in Wisconsin.
Travel anywhere in China today and you will see a people that are thriving and enjoying an ever expanding standard of living. There is still a great deal of challenges in the rural areas, but even those conditions are improving rapidly.
Again, if you think China today is a police state, you no doubt have never set foot there, or are a reporter trying to "make a name" for yourself.
I personally have been travelling extensively throughout China for over 8 years now, and own a condo in Chengdu, SiChuan Region. We show a horrible ignorance about a country that deserves better, espeically when we borrow so much money from that same country.
China needs to be understood, not feared.
MMcCroskey China needs to be understood, not feared.
Good post!!
Very true, I teach at an Univeristiy in Henan Province, been here 2 years, know the people well in fact my wife is Chinese, so i feel that my observations are more valid than some muck raking media. I have yet seen a protest,lavender movement or others aside from the protest of Apple computer workers health issues>Apple last month has been charged with violating workers health laws.
This alleged protest seemed to started via the blogs and it is being found the originating IPS are not from China but from outside countries. Odd isnt it that reporters at this aleged protest out numbered the protesters 10 to 1 and note the street cleaning truck pictured labeled as a water cannon.
I am still ROFLMAO for this media joke and how some people believe the hype
This is what the modern Red Guard looks like!
I know it will take time and the Chinese will be the most brutal ever, but the people will not stand to do slave labor for US corporations forever. All governments fall as they oppress their people.
MMcCrosky--you must work for the Walmart, Corp or another that suppresses the Chinese worker. Your function in China as an American?
I like fresh prospectives but am amazed at our growing Chinese population in Hawaii. That famous square, where government tanks ran over unarmed citizens-that was hideous. Being part of the machine taints your posts.
sandtrich -- If you think that the United States has not been brutal then you have been watching the White controlled American and British media. You would be surprised to find out about the brutality implemented against nonWhite people which the United States supported i.e., like the sending of money and weapons to the aparthied regime of South Africa for the purposes of killing and torture of millions of Black people all throughout Southern Africa. This was so that the American and European Corporations could get the mineral resources to make electronic parts and computers. Now the African rather sell these materials to China who was also a European colony at one time. The civil war in Namibia began over forced picking of cotton in the 70's and the U.S. supported the previous regime. Over 1 million black people died fighting the U.S. and England on this issue. They were forced to kill there own people who were backed by the United States and England with guns to stop the other Blacks from controlling their own land. This happened all throughout Africa with the U.S. playing the wrong role. Here people were at the time dancing to Disco music and not even hearing about this on the news.
Part of what machine? It is AMAZING that people who have never set foot in China keep slamming those of us who have. I am a life-long American, born and reared in TN. I do not work for Wal-Mart or any other corporation. I visited Chengdu over 8 years ago on a sister-city exchange - and I was astounded at what I learned. I return regularly because I have found it to be a country of wonder and tremendous change.
You really should read up on Deng XiaoPing and all the reforms that China has instituted since Mao died. There is a wonderful museum in Guan'an, SiChuan Region dedicated to Deng - it even displays openly about the "mistakes of the Cultural Revolution."
Is it so hard for those of you who "think" you know China to admit you might be wrong?
Better yet, catch any of HUNDREDS of daily flights to China from all over the globe and visit for yourself!
But PLEASE stop trying to vilify anyone just because they are telling the truth about what they PERSONALLY know about modern China.
So Mcrosky (?),
Which Chinese embassy do you operate from ? Your IP ? Can the rest of China bypass the Gfirewall to access these stories also ? Your cut and paste all purpose defense is getting monotonous This goes for your alter ego UAS1 .
So the spin is that somehow this "protest" was a spoof that fooled the "foreign journalists" ? Sure didn't fool those genius gutless goons however ??? or for that mater your bosses at the propaganda dept. from deploying their internet/blogger equivalents...
My "cut and paste defense" is consistant because it comes from personal experience.
My IP address lmao - I use Charter Communication here in good ol' Gatlinburg, TN.
The old saying is too true - de'Nile aint just a river in Egypt!
And if you are so wrong about me, are you not willing to realize that you may well be equally wrong about China today?
It seems that respect is the under current here not control...
Pal---seriously? You said that you purchased a condo in China, and now you are a casual visitor.
Freddie--If you have ever read my posts you know that I'm to the left of the late Howard Zinn on the social injustices that Euro whites committed on Native Americans, Blacks, and now--Latinos.
MCClosy,
Only a fool or a stooge would come to the conclusions you do. I will believe my own eyes before I believe any crap you regurgitate. Curious why you never seem to defend your country of birth (?) from equally outlandish claims on these boards ? Why do you ever only come to China's defense ?
It is impossible to describe China or the Chinese people in any reasonably short paragraph. This is probably true of any country and any people, but the Chinese situation is particularly complex.
China has never been a democracy and is unlikely to become one in the near future. That being said, there are probably several other ideals and values that are more cherished by the Chinese at large than the western concept of democracy. To the average person, securing a reasonable income is far more important than choosing their representatives, and that is what they have been doing for the past several years. With reasonable expectations that their standard of living will continue to improve in years to come, the average person is sufficiently satisfied to risk protesting against a system that they don't even perceive as "bad".
A greater threat to the Chinese system, as it exists today, is more likely to come from large and growing income inequality than from the Chinese people's desire for democracy.
That a Chinese cry for "democracy" is not likely at this time does not mean that the government is not nervous at the possibility, and thus the so-called "display of force" to control a non-existing demonstration.
Democracy is hardly the solution to all the worlds problems. Look what democracy got us, George Bush, Dick Cheney, and Rumsfeld. Democracy got Germany Adolf Hitler. Democracy has got Israel a series of fascist religiously bigoted governments. Americans may be brainwashed by high school civics and history class into believing democracy is the answer. However, communism is what made China what it is today. Not democracy. There is no rational reason for the Chinese to think that the communism that made them a success story will not do the same for their future.
Sacramento, you are definitely full of it. Communism-- though it may be instrumental to whatever ridiculous STORY you've concocted regarding China's unprecedented rise-- in reality is irrelevant to the massive growth that was fueled by american capital - the stored collective efforts of millions of capitalists in the west. Whatever ridiculous cartoon you have in your head about capitalism, it is freedom that has driven the world the last few centuries. The tyranny of socialism has only slowed us down. I do agree that people from different systems need different systems. But isn't that the whole point? Rules change who we are. Dear Leaders, don't you think it might be moral to try and keep your paws off of the development of your fellow man, through your arrogant assumption that you are qualified.
By the way, those who are complaining about the 'media' and scoffing at how laughable the media is- you might be slightly missing the point. The situation documented in this article is very good journalism actually. If you're going to claim that people are so insane that is is necessary to concoct a system to protect 'stability' that requires filling a street and kfc and mcdonald's with security personnel and water canon trucks when nobody is even there, and nothing is even happening- we here in the free west find it very interesting. you might say we find it laughable.
Yes and no to some of the posts in this thread.
I believe that each country should have the right to implement whatever system they feel works for them. The Chinese and a lot of Eastern countries do well with socialism/communism because, for them, their way of life is communal and has been for centuries. The family unit and the community is far more important to them than the individual, which is not the case in the western world.
In fact, the western world has become so out of touch with that notion, that even modern Catholicism resembles eastern faiths more than it does the western world that it primarily built.
HOWEVER, there are certain issues that are completely unacceptable when it comes to countries like China or India, in my humble opinion. Human rights violations, environmental destruction, etc, are the first to come to mind.
The United States does so much business with these two countries, yet their poorest citizens are totally outcasted and taken advantage of, completely out of line with US ideals (I say ideals because even in the US, the poor and to some extent the middle class, are sometimes treated as second rate citizens).
I understand that population problems plague both China and India, and it's hard to figure out methods on things like sanitation and public services... But neither of those countries really give off the impression that it's much of a priority for them.
No, it is about how those in power would do anything to stay in power. It is about COWARDICE. It is about abuse of power. It is about the hijacking of the people's power. The government does not have ANY power unless the PEOPLE are willing to give it and accept it.
Chinese people are happy with their government, with a few minor exceptions. The Socialist government in China has overseen 62 years of prosperity and peace. The Chinese people expect the government to keep peace and keep them from being exposed to crime. They actually welcome force because they have seen what happens in China when the government is not strong enough to control it's own destiny.
China was occupied for over 110 years by foreign powers beginning in the 1830's. The Chinese people hate trouble makers. That is just the way it is. The west needs to get used to it. The majority of Chinese, about 90%, like things just the way they are and are very proud of their country. They do not care about western style democracy. Chinese culture has always favored strong authoritarian central government.
The west needs to read Chinese history.
Thanks, Patriot. I guess Tienanmen Square was inspired by western troublemakers too, along with Taiwan and Tibet.
"The Socialist government in China has overseen 62 years of prosperity and peace." I just can't stop laughing...... Thanks for the great sarcasm.
China should go back to a pure Communist state and also renounce the western idea of capitalism.
ok comrade , and you should move there
Patriot is right on some levels. We in the west do not only need to read Chinese history but understand it. By this I mean how would we in the west feel if we were dominated by a technology greater than us(circa 1830 and prior) and humiliated? Yes the Chinese believe that an orderly society is a demonstration of favor by the "Heavens".
Yes most Chinese are rightly proud of what has been accomplished by the government....US congress and Obama listen up...They took care of China first.
As an American I respect what China has accomplished though I may not aprove of the 'way'.
We fail to understand that in the struggle of its "revolution', that revolution was a rejection of western manipulation which the 'nationalists' were seen as a part of.
So the revolution was really nationalist in character...the west chose 'poorly' and Mao turned to the Soviets' for support.
But to patriot I would ask you about the millions who were 'killed' during the 60's, which made Hitler and Stalin look petty, an 'honorable price? Remember Hsun-Tsu:
The best government is one that is hardly known by the people
If you treat old people as they should be treated, then young people will come to your side.
'The ruler is the boat and the common people the water. It is the water that bears the boat up, and the water that capsizes it. Therefore if the gentleman desires safety, the best thing for him is to govern fairly and to love the people.
...the ruler who relies on strength will on the contrary be reduced to weakness.
These are quotes from Hsun-Tsu...
The ancients who were discarded in the 60's were wise men Patriot and should not have been discarded.
At its very core, the Chinese system is supported ONLY by lies. These lies will either cause China to implode, or more likely the lies will be protected with bigger and bigger lies until the world is at war. Central control is the devil, and the absolutely hilarious chinese government stooges on this message board are little devils with no humanity. I for one hope humanity wins.
To the little devil stooges on this message board: You probably know this already, but the bull@!$%# you use on your own people doesn't even come close to working on us. You just look retarded. I guess that is your particular genius-- embracing retarded lies with a straight face in order to control those around you. Except, it's not genius. It's pure evil. Have fun with that, @!$%#s.
Patriot you are nothing but another blabbermouth who comes on this message board to sing the praises of your vile corrupt disgusting puke of a human rights abusing government.you're a FREAKEN LIAR!
HelloChina is rightyou're nothing more than a low grade stooge for that filthygovernment.
You sjones ifyou're in love with communism so much move to North Korea.
Folks, you need to travel around China like I have. Many of you don't know what you are talking about. From my discussions in private with many professional and factory workers, most Chinese people are always scared to say anything bad about their government, now that is a fact. I've gone to China three times and worked with factory and engineering folks a total of two months. They have been conditioned to accept their way of life. The Chinese government gives them just enough to prevent a revolution. Oh yeah, the government really cares about their people....the amount of polution is absolutely horrible in all the manufacturing towns. Safety in the factories I worked in is zero! Get this, my phones were in fact tapped and I was told AND saw secret police following me around. Most of the junk you read here about how wonderful the Chinese government is writen by their government security. Iwill say this, the regular Chinese people there are so wonderful, sweet and caring. I feel bad for them and hope some day they will get the courage to make changes.
China won't allow any people power because the outside world has to realize China is a fascist regime first, just like Germany, and be defeated resoundingly in every front. So let's be patient and wait may be three years before the world wakes up, when the total collapse of the Chinese economy will force the Communist Party to do what it was designed to do: start WWIII trying to keep some sort of popular support domestically.
I do believe that these "Human Rights" people that initiate the so called "Jasmine Rallies" are not chinese at all.
They probably are Foreing Countries Intelligence Agencies's operatives that want to seed unrest in China.
That's because China has evolved as the most increased economy in the last ten years and is threatening the American and European Union Economies's Hegemony.
China suggested last year to change the basket currencies of the Internetional Monetary Fund, to have it's currency representing 20% of it.
China also has more than 5,000 Bill USA Dollars in reserves which is more that 1/3 of US IGP.
Meanwhile, the American Economy is trying to not go to bankrupt, what would drag the entire west economy with it.
The middle west unrest is about food and wather, and, perhaps about an opportunity to the United States to install more military bases there - that has not to do with democracy (Muslims prefer Shiria and hope to have a new Caliphate all around the World).
China has more than 15,000 years of documented history, while us - westerns - have about 5,200.
They know better what is good for them than us, believe it or not.
Best Regards.
Wow, a lot of new recruits (or at least proxy accouts) on this story. Same over-reation as in the story itself. They are truly worried of the spillover from the Albania/Egypt/Lybia/Yemen/Iran/Oman/Bahrain/etc awakenings. Very telling.
If chinese people are happy with the government, why are so many chinese are trying to escape ?
Every week they have over 100 uprises and riots in China because they are happy?
We are happy not because the government is perfect, but because the government said it has a lot to improve and we see improvement. Talk to your Chinese friends, visit China, feel China and then comment.
The economy of China is rising. Therefore, the Western people is getting jealousy of that. How about that the West accept all those Chinese, who dislike China, and give them good job. The rest of our Chinese will be very happy because our government needs not to worry about those low IQ people. I wonder why those foreign journalists are interested in those Chinese. Are those journalists also low IQ? I have no idea!
Just one question, can an ordinary chinese citizen leave china whenever they wish?
If not, then it isn't a country, it's a prison!
The mere fact that u are tossing intelligance into this show's how truly ignorant you are to the repression that your country has been facing. The ones with a low i.q. as you so lamely put it are the ones who have enough common sense to get out of a tolitarian government that u have. yes your country is rising on our boot straps while we are in the mud. But your country has been lacking something that will propel u past us. That my friend... Democracy.
Until that day your country will only be famous for stealing intelligence from France for electric cars and finger traps in america.
Chinese goverment PR, pathetically disengenuous as always.
As interesting as I found this article, the pro-Chinese government responses are even better! They remind me of our Chinese government-employed tour guide who told us this summer as we stood in Tiananmen square the sight of a great massacre I viewed with my own eyes on TV, "No one really knows what happened at Tiananmen Square. No one can be sure. Maybe some actors became involved, not really so many students were involved. The numbers are unclear."
US jealous of China? BRRRRRRRRRRRUHHHh aha hahahah haaaaa lololololololl omg can't stop laughing...WITHOUT THE US BUYING ALL YOUR cr-- THERE WOULD BE NO CHINA.
Timmi, are you joking? Your making our underwear for gods sake! We are Jealous? Everything you have, was built, or invented by America! WE just like cheap labor...
Jealousy? Possibly, but I believe it may be the fact that one of the most important rules of governing in the U.S. is completely usurped in China:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or
of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition
the Government for a redress of grievances.
The Chinese government doesn't allow those in their country, and until they do they are an enemy of freedom. They can have all the workers they want preaching how great China is in online posts, block all the sites that don't help their cause, have a state ran newspaper, place police to block large gatherings of people, forbid foreign missionaries, and restrict religious practices but eventually the truth will reach their citizens and the one party government will fall.
To answer Paine Sense: "Just one question, can an ordinary chinese citizen leave china whenever they wish?" Yes, as long as the chinese is truly "ordinary" and not a well-known activist already worshiped by the oversea folks.
@ Pain Sense: "...can an ordinary chinese citizen leave china whenever they wish? If not, then it isn't a country, it's a prison."
Have you ever tried leaving the country without a passport? Is anyone who is undeservedly been placed on a 'No-Fly' list able to leave the contry at will? I guess that we too are in a prison by your definition.
» Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do and how you do it. --- Rudy Giuliani ......Just like with Yogi Berra, yoou may hate the man but you gotta love the sentiment.
At its very core, the Chinese system is supported ONLY by lies. These lies will either cause China to implode, or more likely the lies will be protected with bigger and bigger lies until the world is at war. Central control is the devil, and the absolutely hilarious chinese government stooges on this message board are little devils with no humanity. I for one hope humanity wins.
To the little devil stooges on this message board: You probably know this already, but the bullsh** you use on your own people doesn't even come close to working on us. You just look retarded. I guess that is your particular genius-- embracing retarded lies with a straight face in order to control those around you. Except, it's not genius. It's pure evil. Have fun with that, a**holes.
Rudy julienne is about double-speak. War is Peace! Ignorance is Strength! Big Brother Loves You.
The only people you can trust anymore are the criminals. You can trust that they ARE criminals. You can't say the same about any leaders today. They cannot be trusted. They have forsaken honesty and humility for disrepute and self-aggrandisement. In this light, capitalists are trustworthy because you know they are out to screw, just another variety of criminal.
I truley see very little difference between the US and China. Each day the similarity shows. China is going to go from Communist (reality:socialist) to Capitalist (reality: fascist) whether there is democracy or not. Money buys everything including the reality that becomes. Face it, it's about the money, not about the people.
If we're entitled to rightfully possess the fruits of our labor, why does the owner take your fruit as profit? Sounds like the worker isn't covered. Fascist money sees to that continuing and accelerating. Without controls on the accumulation of wealth by individuals and business cartels our theory of how to be governed is lost. It is time to change things. Remember, money is what has pushed all the technology needed to enslave you.
@HelloChina: Our American Paper Dollars are backed by what? It's not gold or silver anymore. Our stocks and bonds are backed by what? the value of the actual properties are based on futures not on actual holdings. Basically everything that we are hearing in this nation is no more truth than what they hear in China. Our Politicians promises are based on what? They know they neither have the power nor the wherewithal to back the promises that they make; therefore their promises are what? Basically the only difference we are seeing is that the Chinese are ruled by the Central Government and We in the USA are governed by Corporations and the Finance Industries.
@Kedbob: Your're preaching to the choir. In the 8th grade back in '61 we studied the drift of capitalism toward socialism and the reverse. I agree with you on Rudy the Pooh completely, I was born and raised across the river in Hudson County, NJ
NOTE TO KEDBOB: Supportive to your theories I would ask you to check out this E-Addy:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41781471/ns/business-bloomberg_businessweek/from/toolbar
Paine Sense said "Just one question, can an ordinary chinese citizen leave china whenever they wish?"
Paine Sense, you are totally wrong! It is the US who doesn't allow Chinese citizen to come or just visit relatives in US!!! You get it?
One true story: A Chinese mother would like to visit her son (a US citizen) in US. She is allowed to leave China, but US denied her. The reason is that she visited his son several years ago and stayed a little longer than the limit US gave her (6 months). She was told by US government that she was not allowed to enter US forever. Now tell me: Is US government is any better than Chinese Government????
If anyone can help this poor mother, please let me know. Thanks.
All peoples of low IQ are reactionary recidivists and must be purged. Onward for the Party!
No civilization has ever turned back. We must march across the bodies of our brave fallen comrades, pushing ever forward. Those who are wise and live honorable lives will thrive, those who are dissolute will disappear in the winds. Then as our Shining Tower of Babel on the Hill finally comes crashing down, those who are saved, indeed, those who have saved, will rise up strong from the ashes of bankruptcy and liquidation to lead us ever forward again, ever onward, ever upward!
Don't buy into the shrieking hordes of tax drone whiners, they're not revolutionaries, they're Mil.Gov's self-entitled pigmys, the, 'I Got Mine, or At Least I Had It Around Here Somewhere'™ They will rip the clothes from your back, spill your treasure in the dust and eat the rice bowls of your grandchildren.
Destroy the Fed vermin for the sake of our future! We will not be Usury Serfs of America! State's Rights!
freedom is not about authority....Freedom is about respecting the rule of law which also binds the power of authority. It is also about individual choice and responsibility. Only if you subscribe to the fascist world view can freedom be viewed through the prism of authority and power...then it is a matter of degrees as what freedoms you lack and in which type of prison you live.
Only Chinese with no experience with a free market will believe the Chinese economy, being propped up with money printing and government sponsored fixed capital formation, is rising. Inflation is rising, all right. Wealth gap is rising. Waste is rising, Corruption is rising. But the economy is not. Not when more and more Chinese are getting less and less from their monthly pay check.
Eric: Freedoms just another word for nothing left to Lose (Janis Joplin)
I agree that freedom is much more than Rudy G. professes. That statement was made, if I recall in reaction to 9-11. As usual Rudy Baby missed the mark entirely.
Me as an American citizen with a Chinese wife have more freedom to live in China then we do in the USA. The US government wanted me to pay a bribe and when I refused to pay this bribe the Consulate officer Chief Michael Jacobsen In Guangzhou and the US department of State refused my wife a visa. This was almost 6 years ago, since then have been approved by imigration 2 times for a visa but the fraud part of the Department of State the criminals at US Cosulate Guangzhou have refused us account no bribe money paid yet.
The people of China have no interest in starting any trouble with the government. The Chinese government and its leaders are far better then what we have in the USA.
The leadership in China is far smarter then the grade school educated frat boy we call president in the USA.
I always look at where things come from if it is from any country other then China I do not buy it. I refuse to buy anything made in the USA by any union. I refuse to stay in any hotel where sevice union people work.
I have become this way when faced with fraud, lies, corruption, discrimination against retired disabled, veteran citizens by the US government and the workers of their unions telling me I should have married a white woman citizen of the USA.
The US government told me almsot all family visas are refused for disabled retired, veteran citizens as we are part of the non contributing, and only live off the government suck,, SSN and retirement funds and do not qualify for family visas.
Due to low labor cost chinese factories are the place to manufacture and thus, many foreign companies set up manufacturing operations. This means ,however,that when these foreign companies stop placing orders, factories go bust and the end of chinese prosperity. In any event the real estate bubble is building up in China now and China will soon go belly up and if it happens, we probably have to help China as we have invested too much into it.
Be careful about castigating China. If anything really bad happens over there every Walmart in the U.S. will close.
Would like to see Walmart close. Yes, China has cheap labor, but so did the US during slavery. It helped develop industry, regardless of it's atrocious moral implications. China is riding it's own wave and hopefully the wage gap will decrease soon. What I hate to see most is that everyone who can work, often has to leave their rural family and kids to work and sleep in factory housing, or work for a fraction of the salary that their foreign colleagues make. Living in Shanghai, it's amazing to see all the skyscrapers going up and people moving about. People's attitudes are mostly positive, and the younger generation know how to access relevant news. The Internet will be the crumbling of the Great Wall's censorship. Whether it will be swift, tragic and many lives lost, or slow and measurable with steadfast planning and protests.
Very interesting article, thanks ms.
Ahhh China. Our friend, our Ally, our benefactor. The taker of our millions of jobs. How our government loves China. And Wal mart of course.
dude, if you hate it, don't buy it. Don't feed the Walmart troll.... If you demand it, then you are the one who is supporting China, you fool.
You seem to forget that with virtually all or our manufacturing having been shipped overseas so our corporate owners and stockholders could get richer we don't make anything anymore so if you want something you HAVE to buy it in Walmart.
Moreover, the Tea party, backed by those corporate owners and stockholders getting mega rich by shipping jobs to china, is gaining more support from the US voters complaining about losing jobs to china. So go figure!
It is amazing how many American's are not aware that China's economy is made in America. The products produced by China come from ex-patriot American firms that have exploited the cheap slave labor, and also to circumvent the environmental laws here, which is why China is one big polluted cesspool today. It was NAFTA and CAFTA that made it patriotic for our corporations to move out of America to places like Mexico and China, it doesn't matter if America is destroyed because of it. The government and corporate boardrooms of America could care less. You see, patriotism and Duty to country is a job for the 'Little people', the 'Small people', not them on high.
Where can I buy an Amereican made flat screen moniter? Say 15 inch. I could only find foreign made where I have access.
Hey Nowyou know...The US has been losing jobs since NAFTA and free trade has been pushed by both parties. It has accelerated under Obama. So the tea party (which btw has many people from both parties in it)has nothing to do with it. It is the elite and their political hacks in both parties that are shipping the jobs out.
I didn't realize Wal-Mart was the only place to shop in the United States anymore. I haven't been to a Wal-Mart in almost 7 months.
Last I been to a Walmart was in China (Zheng Zhou), and no every thing is not made in the USA it is still made in China LOL
Spreading lies about China gets you no where. I sugjest you go there and look around before you spout your diatribe of lies.
Your Limo damcrats and the criminal soros have huge investments in China. Look At all the money from the Damcrats with money in China sent to the Clintons for all their election campains.
The last 3 elections for all parts of the fraud riddled government of the USA came from other countries washed by community organizers then funneled into the campains by small amounts. The arragant Imposter OBama sorento got so much it was hard to hide very well.
The liberal socialist fascist US media of the US Government spy site of Google in the USA are slobbering at the thought of making unrest in China.
Any one using This facist site google should know everything you do everything you look at is reported to the USA government. Hitler would be proud of all you facist socialist media bloggers.
@eric-2480078: I wish you have read my tea-party post carefully. I did not say tea party shipped jobs to china; in fact, tea party itself had nothing to do with it. I said the jobs were shipped to china by the same mega rich who are now bank-rolling the tea-party. Would you also dispute that?
And one may wonder why the mega rich does the bank-rolling: because they want to turn America back to the "money buys everything" capitalistic Chicago a century ago.
It was later found that the reason for the mass turnout of police forces was that when the gathering area for the demonstration was moved from McDonalds to KFC, they had not taken into account that a nearby Dunkin Donuts was running a special on donuts. Demonstration organizers said that in hindsight they should have moved it to the Sears store located approximately 1 kilometer away.
I do not think their cops would have gone for the donuts but now if the meeting had been changed to the local Panda Express..now that may have worked to distract them.
for the shallow minded superficial individuals, there is nothing wrong with the OP.
@lange, @patriot;
I think this is right: 諷刺
Police dogs, water cannon trucks, plainclothes cops, wooden barriers, aggressive street sweepers, constant video recording, assaulting reporters...all to protect the happy Chinese people from...what? Angry shopping ladies?
"Chinese culture has always favored strong authoritarian central government." You insist that Taiwan is part of China. The people on Taiwan enjoy their democracy. So, either Taiwan is not part of Chinese culture, or your claim is wrong. You cannot have it both ways. Think about it.
If your employer will let you think....
Taiwan enjoy their freedom, which does not necessarily equate to democracy. It is taiwan's dysfunctional form of democracy that has truly given freedom to Taiwan. Ironic but true.
Yes, it is dysfunctional because a thoroughly and proven corrupted former president and his family can continue to enjoy massive political support of nearly half of Taiwan's voters. It is dysfunctional because the support is based on the "we don't care how bad you are because we remember how hard you have fought for our freedom."
Taiwanese consider themselves ethnically and historically separate from the mainland.
Hope Stephan Engle is OK. I don't know why, the thought of police shoving a reporter around really got to me today. I mean, it's China. I should expect something like that. But it just got to me today...
If you go to China to start some trouble you should be beaten jailed and kicked out back to your fascist socialist country of the USA and all you media types google eletes who want to make trouble in China need to be jailed. In the USA you media types lie, cheat and never tell the truth and then you get an award for your lies. Your lies about China will be met with jail time and tar and feathering, shipped back to the USA on a rail, maybe thats to good for you. In China is against the law to lie about people, yet here in the USA it is a form of your everyday reporting and government spin (LIES) by the white house. The news media lies, the US government lies, You are all a fraud. Rome fell account of this. Your lies and corruption and fraud wiill also distroy the US.
Try to tell the truth you media types you US government types and you liberal fascist types.
I am an American Citizen retired disabled veteran, You know the throw away generation you hype about on your news programs. The ones you want to die fast. The ones you threw bags of human crap at, the ones you hit and punched when you saw an American in UNIFORM.
The gaggle of media and google wanting to start something in China will never get it done the 99 % of the people in China are happy the way things are. Be careful of what you try in China as China is one of the few Countries of this world where the American is well thought of. To continue to tell lies about China will distroy this as you and your US government have done in the rest of the world. It is the US Government and their consulates that the Chinese are very leary of account of the known fraud, lies, corruption and bribery that goes on behind the American flag.
Have a nice day.
To: sick of liberals,
Move to China to be with "like minded individuals". "You and your U.S. government", you never voted in the U.S.? Anyone in uniform, back in the days of "throwing bags of crap, hitting and punching soldiers" knows exactly what the Chinese gov't was doing in Vietnam, and continued in the Tiannamen Square massacre. you sir, are a fraud.
Wow! The Chinese government is in full show with these comments, as another has already noted. "Nice try".
So what's the point. They tried to have a protest in 89 and they drove tanks over it. I don't think that anyone my age. (32) in china is going to even think about having a revolution. The propaganda in that country is absolute, I mean just look at the first reply to the story. One of the web crawlers china has running saw this artas soon as it hit! I mean look they were the first to comment on the article. How can we even know when what we are reading isn't something that they cooked up.
The red pill or the blue one? The red one, Stay in neverland and never discover the truth. The blue one, You wake up, and see how far the rabbit hole goes.
B.T.W. they call 89 a year of peace.??!!!?? That is insane. The red army ran over the demonstrators with tanks! WithTANKS!!!
Amazing, 7 letters to the editor and 4 are from the Chinese govt. They're scared and they should be, self-determination is breaking out everywhere. So be afraid daddy warlords, you're day of reckoning is coming. The masses will be merciless.
Well, let me ask you if the Chinese people like to be dragged from their homes in the middle of the night and thrown into jail. There is no due process, no appeal, nothing. This is the definition of a police state where there are no judicial restraints on the central government. Patriot, unfortunately your short history lesson does not pan out. France lived under an absolutist monarchy for 400 years and was overthrown. The US threw out an oppressive British monarch and became free and democratic. I would like to interview you after 5 years where the Chinese people were living in a world of truly free press, freedom of expression, religion, and right to assemble whenever and wherever they chose. Would they still wish for a strong central authoritative government?? My guess would be no.
When you walk down the street in China you maybe will see a policeman without any gun wearing only his uniform. In the USA even in the small towns we have police with full auto m16 and side arms holding 17 rounds with billy club, mace, shot guns tasers and a better then you atitude. The uniform is like from the movies of some swat hero in full swat pants, bullet poof vest and hard hat.
I saw this in Spain and Taiwan many years ago where every corner had 4 with automatic weapons and full battle dress. Now we see this in America. After midnight the streets were patroled with trucks and cars with fully armed men. We see this now in America. The USA is only one step away from total control by the US government in everything you do in America. The google sites already report and keep records on you for the US government.
The real purpose for the mass show of police force later found to be that when the demonstration organizers changed the gathering area from McDonalds to the KFC, they failed to take into account that a Dunkin Donut located less than 1/4 kilometer away was running a special on donuts. In hindsight an unnamed source stated that the gathering area should have been moved to the Sears store located 2 kilometers to the east of the KFC.
and this is the country to whom we are indebted TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS?
exactly why we are trying to foment unrest in that country so we can find a legit excuse to cancel the debt. It's the classic debter and crediter relationship. The debter always wish something bad would happend to the creditor, so he can somehow weasel out of paying the debt, while the creditor wish the debter lives a long and healthy life so he can continue paying off the debt and interest. :P
Brilliant hypothesis Lester. Just like we did in Japan I suppose when they had twice as much of the US debt as China now does (%).
You guys throwing out any kind of crap hoping something might stick ?
not hypothesis, it's age old dynamics, that started since the first time people start lending money to each other. It's human nature.
The real purpose for the mass show of police force later found to be that when the demonstration organizers changed the gathering area from McDonalds to the KFC, they failed to take into account that a Dunkin Donut located less than 1/4 kilometer away was running a special on donuts. In hindsight an unnamed source stated that the gathering area should have been moved to the Sears store located 2 kilometers to the east of the KFC.
China is sending out a strong message not only to the potential protesters, but also to foreign journalists: Don't mess with us. I guess they really mean it.
I bet there wasn’t any local journalists poke their nose around there. Self censorship was obviously a reason. However the fact that score of foreign journalists went there helps enforce the mistrust among a lot of Chinese against foreign press --- why are you so curious about any potential trouble here? Are you trying to fan the fire?
This is a serious issue foreign press faces in China. There are two camps among ordinary Chinese --- one camp wants the “freer” foreign press to get their story out; another camp views the foreign press as instigators, as the “anti-cnn” movement has indicated. The sentiments are pretty strong on both sides. So foreign journalists need to see both sides clearly and be very careful when covering such issues. The state probably won’t dare to be too rough to foreign press, but some nuts on the street can start to throw gas bombs to the embassies pretty quickly.
Here we go...
What a stupid article......what a stupid journalist......show me the pictures of crowds of angry protesters, show me the pictures of policemen attacking the protesters, show me the pictures of the serious unrest in China you mentioned all the time (and the only news about 'China') in past weeks...that is what we want to see! that is what our western countries are eagerly expecting!
If you can not find these scenes due to their 'strict control', at least you should make some fake photos for our western world to make us feeling a little bit better...isn't that what you guys are good at? last week, some of you did a nice try by pushing and shoving those policemen to irritate them, trying to make them fight back... failed though but well done!! that's what you should do and keep doing in China in the future!!
If you can not do your job, you should all be fired!! Due to the economic situation in our country, searching for funding opportunities is not an easy task now and we take the taxpayer's money seriously!! Are you clear of that?!
CIA
Could the Chinese CCP propaganda ministry workers (you know, the ones with a bunch of numbers at the end of their names and no real posting history) writing on this vine be a little less subtle? Because, you know, they are SOOO hard to notice for what they really are.
It is like submarine warfare where the enemy is unseen except through the technical instruments of the sonar, radio, oceanograghy and wit, only in this case tools are located in cyberspace insead of the sea, the tools are the internet, mobile communications technology, party ideology and wit,...
A war at sea. A war with no battles, no monuments... only casualties
- The Hunt for Red October
Odd how bad Chinese English stands out against bad English (American) English.
ah never mind!Victor is a load of c rap!
Victor:
You make me laugh. Here in USA, it is a free capitalist country. Everything is for money, news are not exceptions. We used to report man bit dogs as our journalism' motto is 'dog bite man is not news, man bites dog is'. However, now we have so many dogs and these creatures are more friendly than human beings, we can no longer make money reporting men bite dogs. Since negative China stories sell well, we cannot miss the opportunities. What is more interesting than a revolution in China? Although, the Jasmine Revolution did not work as we wished, rumors, through some modifications, still sell handsomely. So we go.
Around the world people are fighting for their rights. In America we have Republicans trying to take away peoples rights. Republicans are always on the wrong side of things.
Both Republicans and Democrats can agree on freedom of the press and right to peaceably assemble, they should join forces to denounce this abuse of human rights in China.
And Liberals would love to take away people's rights to own guns, so it goes both way there buddy.
If scott walker were to read this story he would wet his pants this is exactly how he wants to run wisconsin
Good Old David Rockefellar Democrat came back from a trip to China back in the late 1990s and praised China as the most effective and best ran country in the world. He did this in front of the US Senate. That has to make you wonder what the New World Govt is going to look like. Yes, the same NWO that Bush 1, Clinton, Bush 2, and Obama sing out with great joy about. I don't think the NWO is going to be a democratic republic.
How can it (NWO) be democratic with one permanent Dictator running it? (aka Antichrist)
Good question and I think you are right...might look more like a prison planet
George H. W. Bush gave the New World Order speech twice. Once before Congress, and again at the U.N. After that Clinton took over with the Global Initative, and then came NAFTA and CAFTA. You ever notice how Bush 1 and Clinton are as tight as two bugs in a rug, and that Bush 2 and Obama are very much in that loop. Just look at everything that they have done, and who did it benefit. THERE is a much bigger agenda here than most people realize, or want to realize. But for those of you that want to believe in Democrat this, and Republican that, well knock yourselves out, have fun. For those of you that don't buy into the Republican and Democrat con game, you can check out 'The Bilderberg Group', or the 'Tri-Lateral Commission. Yeah, I know, just a conspiracy nut job. And I also suppose that Wall Street didn't pay itself huge bonus's after causing the largest financial collapse in modern history with our tax money either. That was just a wild dream too.
Conspiracy is the main ally of capitilism. Keep the citizen confused by telling the subodinates that they can do this or that to a person until the person conforms to a singular thought that can easily be controlled, whitewashed or destroyed and replaced with something that is not a natural thought for hte person based on forcing the unatural thought to be thought about.
When the subordinate achieves their goal their masters then turn on the subordinates saying that their actions were not within what the masters wanted them to do which is a Nazi tactic of keeping everyone confused except those who consider themselves at the center of everything and are the only ones who have the right to choose for a person.
How can an American be intelligent if they are not the person at the center of everything?
The new world order are a bunch of people who have personality disorder's. They traveled to China because they wanted to know how to controll absolutely. Every notice that not a single New World Order Leader has ever gone to the Middle East and said look at the accomplishment's that the Middle East has brought before the world. Engineering, math, science etc. Why doesn't the NWO talk good about the Middle East in the same way that they talk about China. It's because the NWO still holds that China is an ally against Japan from World War II. The mentality that is driving the U.S. right into the hands of China is that the NWO has entitled itself to think that if they say good things about China that the Great Dragon from the NWO's religious program's will not rise up against them during their time on the planet in which a great war would erupt thus causing history to look back at the NWO for being weak in not dealing with China before they became to big to controll.
The main problem is the the NWO wants the world for itself. A world that will live under the tyrannical and dramatically established cues and calls of the NWO being nothing more than actors in a lucidic dream.
The best way to deal with any country is to ask them "How can be help your country to better it's citizens life and living condition's?" If the country says that they do not want the help then no one has the right to force that help on the country just for the NWO's personal gain. The country would simply be put on a non-contact list where citizens from America would not be allowed to travel to the country.
If an American traveled to the country on the no contact list then they would be at the will of the country without America providing any type of service to get them released.
I wonder if anyone casting these stones at China has ever been there, or knows anyone who lives there. Or if they formulate opinions based on rhetoric from the media.
The Buddha advised that we don't seek truth, but only seek to not cherish our opinions as truth. The majority of people that I know in China are happy. they live their lives, raise families, go to work, and love their country. Just like us.
I agree that most of the people I met were happy, friendly and fairly prosperous. But freedom of the press and of assembly do not exist in China. Even as their standards of living rise, don't they deserve that right? That's the story.
A Chinese government-employed tour guide told us this summer as we stood in Tiananmen square, the sight of the great massacre I viewed with my own eyes on TV, "No one really knows what happened at Tiananmen Square. No one can be sure. Maybe some actors became involved, not really so many students were involved. The numbers are unclear." The Great Internet Firewall and PRC press have done their job well.
There's a freedom of assembly and press in China.
Obviously, you are misinformed about China. Everyday, there's protest for just about everything.Last year, they recorded more than 100,000 protests from all over China.Just wondering what assembly are you talking about?China is officially an atheist country and yet all religions exist there, in fact better than Vatican. How many religions allowed in Vatican?One and only one.
"Freedom of the press doesn't exist? Duh! really?All sorts of media group have offices in China,otherwise this woman reporter wouldn't be in China.There are many print and digital media in Beijing known to write negative side of China;the Netizens blog are mostly complains and reporting what they think is wrong.
You are right !
...lange works for CCTV...Chinese Central Television......beaming into USA ...obnoxiously,,,
PRC = Paranoid Republic of China
or Pragmatic Republic of China