No more Mr. Nice Guy
Okay, so you think Chinese diplomats are a polite, "go-along, get-along" crowd, unwilling to rock the boat? Well, listen to this four-minute excerpt of a BBC radio program with an interview of a Chinese diplomat in Europe. It may change your view.
China's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Sha Zukang, is blunt and bombastic. His hyper-caffeinated nationalism reflects China's confidence and recent economic rise.
Listen to how he tells Washington to "shut up" about China's defense budget increases. H's also forceful about China's right to gain control over Taiwan, even at great human cost, saying, "One inch of territory is more valuable than the life of our people."
His super-patriotism hasn't hurt his rise in China's foreign service. He may be extreme in his style and outlook, but what he says definitely represents a strain of public opinion.
For better or worse, China has a street fighter who wants to match the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, pound for pound in either antagonizing people or rallying supporters.
Have a listen. I'll be interested to read what you think.
"...one inch of territory is more valuable than life of our people." Fightening.
Posted by: Lonnie | August 18, 2006 at 11:25 PM
I see China as being very scared of Tawain declaring its "independence" during the 2008 Olympics. I see this as China rattling its swords in an effort to prevent that.
Posted by: China Law Blog | August 20, 2006 at 03:02 PM
I don't think his comments represent "a strain of public opinion" as you put. But rather, they represent the feelings of the vast majority of the Chinese populace. And far enough.
Posted by: anon. | August 20, 2006 at 08:55 PM
Yes, 2008 would certainly be the year to do it. Maybe they will have worked through the latest corruption scandal by then...
I agree with CLB: I was shocked to discover that 90% of the collegians and educators I speak to are of a like mind on the acquisiton of Taiwan. They all support it.
Posted by: Lonnie | August 22, 2006 at 10:26 PM
What would Americans say if China took over Hawaii? You guys would be pissed. Taiwan has gone a long way with American money and technology, but take those away and the country might be in trouble. Anyway, Sha Zukang was mad about US criticisms of China's expanding military budget and he did have a point - US military spending accounts for half of the global amount - don't Americans feel a bit hypocritical? I reckon that since the US has cheated so many countries in the past, they're worried about receiving some serious payback. Maybe the US should stop trying to control everything and give other countries time to figure it out for themselves. Look at the title of this website for instance - China Rises: Notes from the Middle Kingdom. How can the author approach the topic of China from a healthy perspective when the roots of his website so obviously grow from the China Threat Theory? No one likes a control freak and that's why the US is universally unpopular.
Posted by: Xiao Zhu | August 25, 2006 at 12:56 AM
I'm not a Chinese. But I think he is dead right in what he says about the current US political establishment.
Hope other countries also have the guts to say the truth about US arrogance and hyprocisy.
Posted by: roshan | August 27, 2006 at 12:24 AM
Can someone fire this guy. As Chinese I don't want this guy representing China. Chinese believe in unification, but not in the way this guy expressed it.
Posted by: Chao Zhang | May 17, 2007 at 01:28 AM
i wish china's diplomacy have a bigger change , China should palay more important role in the world economy and politics Stainless Steel Cross Pendants
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