Making a mockery of promises
The Washington Post writes on China’s offer to resume human rights dialog with the United States. The headline says it all: China’s Offer To Resume Rights Talks Is Discounted. On Wednesday, activists from some of the world’s leading human rights organizations testified before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.
Robin Munro, research director of the China Labour Bulletin, said China’s official record makes a “mockery of promises made” and warned that the crackdown on dissenters might “become the new normal” once the Games are over.
The China Blog also mentions the irony of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi’s remarks that public security officers are more likely to offer a protester a “a cup of tea” than arrest them. The remarks were made on the same day another “a petition organizer was seized in Beijing”.
It seems that lying is also the norm.
Sphere: Related ContentTags: human rights, olympics
March 1st, 2008 at 10:53 pm
We must interpret “promises” as “promises with Chinese characteristics” to reduce the level of confusion.
March 2nd, 2008 at 9:39 am
Yes, I see what you mean, Bill.
You really need to understand Chinese culture before you can know what Chinese people mean by “promises.”
A promise in Chinese is something closer to what a westerner would call “a bald face lie.”
July 19th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Chinese people are dumb and they suck.