China puts muscle into its 'or else'
China warned the United States last week that there would be consequences for Washington’s warm reception for the visiting Dalai Lama.
Now payoff time has come. China has cancelled a visit late this month by Wu Bangguo, the titular No. 2 in the Communist Party and chairman of the National People’s Congress.
Wu would have been the most important Chinese dignitary to travel to Washington this year. Protocol officers in both capitals had spent months preparing events for the three-day visit.
What does the cancellation mean? From Washington's perspective, probably not much. Wu is on the Politburo Standing Committee, but doesn’t handle a portfolio of much apparent clout. From Beijing's perspective, it means a lot. No chairman of the NPC has visited the U.S. since Wan Li in 1989, nearly two decades ago
Beijing, meanwhile, has cancelled some international academic conferences involving American scholars. It still hasn’t said anything about nixing an upcoming visit by Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
The Dalai Lama, the exiled leader of Tibetan Buddhists, received the Congressional Gold Medal eight days ago in Washington at a high-profile event attended by hundreds of legislators and prominent movers and shakers.
While China glares at the United States, it may soon its attention to Canada. That’s where the Dalai Lama goes on his next foray.
It is not a serious 'or else' yet.
Wait until Osama bin Laden or Hugo Chavez is awarded something like the May 4th Medal.
Hopefully, this issue will quietly go away.
Posted by: A B | October 25, 2007 at 12:13 PM
Just a gesture, nothing substantial. China needs the US, the US needs China.
Posted by: Pffefer | October 25, 2007 at 06:02 PM
Bush is a big JOKE by now. Almost bankrupt, to boot. Who cares whom he sees? Or who sees DL, for that matter? I think PRC just goes through the motions, for the record.
Posted by: chinese buddhist | October 25, 2007 at 08:55 PM
Funny, China didn't cut off Germany (or snubbing Germany hasn't made the press as much).
Oh well, China is cutting off its nose to spite its face. Maybe some of these panda-licking academics who were going to visit may have second thoughts about China, since the Dalai Lama is held in esteem in US universities.
Maybe they'll unhitch their currency peg to really teach us a lesson!
Posted by: nanheyangrouchuan | October 26, 2007 at 01:50 AM
mmm, 'panda licking'? how colourful.
as opposed to 'lhama licking' or 'bald eagle licking'?
thanks goodness you're not anti-Canadian too nanyeyang
Posted by: rio | November 05, 2007 at 05:18 AM
It might be a coincidence, or China's attitudes have been slightly changed towars the US.
Did the international academic conferences which were cancelled involving scholars of other countries?
A few things cannot imply a whole idea about China's attitude.
Posted by: Ally | December 05, 2007 at 01:06 AM
Well, Tibet is always a problem in China and Dalai Lama gives us lots of troubles indeed. China regards this guy as an un-welcomed person and resists any countries that accept him or welcome him. However, this resistance seems to be useless. If China really wants him, what else can it do?
Actually, I am not very familiar with the religion and politics of Tibet and I think this problem is very complicated and thorny.
Posted by: GG | December 06, 2007 at 03:45 AM
Washington’s warm reception for the visiting Dalai Lama was a serious fault made by the US.It's a matter of sovereignty which can affect the relationship between China and the US enormously.
US shouldn't have done that which had exerted really harmful influence to the harmony of the world.
China's cancellation of the visit was just a warning to the US and the US would better change it's attitude towards the Dalai Lama,making the relationship better.
Posted by: Henry Chen | December 08, 2007 at 09:04 AM