China and the west: a clash of values

Riots and other demonstrations of violence have recently been committed in Tibet that were levied against the Han Chinese as well as against the Muslim Hui minority. Tibetans have long been frustrated over the economic disparity between that region and other regions of China. The riots began when 300 monks demanded the release of monks who were detained last fall. However, political demands soon came to the foreground, and ethnic violence began. James Miles, of The Economist, said in an interview with CNN that he was observing calculated violence against the Han and the Hui Chinese. http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/20/tibet.miles.interview/. The Hui are a minority, and the Han, although the majority in China and generally economically better off than Tibetans, are the minority within Tibet.

Since the beginning of the protests, there has been a dramatic increase in police and military presence in that area of Tibet. The Dalai Llama called for the Chinese government to end this military crackdown, and for Tibet to be dropped from the scheduled Olympic torch route. In response, international spokespeople are calling the events human rights violations, and many are questioning the legitimacy of China’s sovereignty over Tibet. In mid-March, the Chinese government limited access to You-Tube, after videos appeared showing foreign news reports about the situation and scenes of violent protests. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/16/business/AS-TEC-China-YouTube-Blocked.php All of these developments continue to outline the disconnect between the values of the Chinese government and the values of democratic countries. As the Olympics approach, China and other countries will have to make some important decisions. It remains to be seen how tied each country is to the prospect of economic success, and their willingness to make changes or sacrifices based on their respective values and needs.