The terrorist attacks on New York and Washington were not only tragedies for the United States, but acts which, sadly, tell us something about today's China. These attacks will influence the course of China's history. The responses, both official and unofficial, to such events also tell us much about China's government and society.
As soon as the tragedy occurred on September 11th, all of the United States was gripped by grief and anger. Heads of state the world over immediately issued statements condemning terrorist violence and expressing sympathy and support for America. Countries and organizations that usually take the US as their enemy also made statements, one after another, as they sought to distance themselves from the terrorists. Each denied having any connection to the terrorist outrages. Even Mu'ammar al-Qadhdhafi of Libya pledged to offer assistance to the United States.
This shows that the attacks were so inhuman, and the frenzy of the atrocities so beyond the pale, that even America's enemies refrained from supporting them in public. After watching on television as a group of Palestinians celebrated the attacks by firing shots into the sky, people around the world immediately identified them as "evil," a label that will go down with them in history. This prompted an immediate crackdown by Chairman Arafat on public displays of support for Osama bin Laden.
Reaction to these events in China, however, was worrying. Although it strains belief, in the wake of this human tragedy "Qiangguo Forum," an official website run by China's state-run national newspaper The People's Daily , displayed dozens of postings from visitors to the site that hailed the terrorist attacks.
According to media statistics, about two hours after the tragedy occurred "Qiangguo Forum" displayed a total of 47 postings on its homepage, including as many as 20 praising the attacks. Only seven messages urged people, in a reasonable way, not to take pleasure in the tragedy. Three of these messages, however, were written by the same visitor to the website. The remaining 20 postings expressed concern and astonishment, without taking a position.
Although internet “chat” boards do not in any way form a scientific representation of public feeling in the manner of an opinion poll, they do indicate what some of the most alert and modern of people in China think and feel. This is why I was utterly astonished by the reactions expressed in that “chat room.” It is noteworthy, indeed, that among those who regularly visit the website "Qiangguo Forum," the foremost are young Chinese students and scholars, as well as people who are concerned about, interested in, or eager to discuss current issues in world affairs.
Such people are by no means a group of weak or ignored people. Nor are they people without influence in Chinese society. Rather, they form a key part of the group at the heart of China's current social development and economic progress. Yet, this group of people seem to be the one group in China to celebrate the terrorist outrages, without the slightest trace of human compassion. “The Americans,” one wrote, “who have betrayed themselves, deserve this!”
Their postings on the website also turned a blind eye to the fact that the victims involved in the tragedy were civilians like themselves. One posting even read: “After watching this, Wang Wei may rest in peace!” Another read: “This is good! Blasting Yankees to death!” or even suggested: “This should be celebrated with firecrackers!”
Here is a mindset, it seems to me, that is little different from that of the terrorists. For people holding such views, human life holds no value whatsoever. Nor does it matter very much how many people were killed and injured, provided that the United States was wounded.
Seeing the messages posted at “Qiangguo Forum,” and realizing how much such Chinese nationalism resemble the habits of mind of the terrorists, I couldn't help but worry more than ever about China's future. It seemed to me that by falling under the spell of a “strong” China, the country could move toward fascism in the future, bringing ruin upon the nation. But it is too simple to condemn these young website visitors for their lack of humanity and compassion, for their feelings are the product of long-term, official government manipulation of their nationalist sentiments.
Indeed, the manner in which the Chinese Government reacted to the attacks on New York and Washington was little better than that offered by those hysterical website visitors. President Jiang Zemin sent a telegram of condolence to President Bush and the American people on the night of September 11th. In a break from his usually verbose prose style, Jiang's message was not only brief, but half-hearted, and without human feeling. In covering the tragedy, CCTV (the official government television network) focused on Yasir Arafat as he issued statements intended to distance himself and his movement from the terrorists.
Without doubt, such subtle tactics lay bare the mindset of China's rulers. But no matter how subtle but nevertheless manipulative China's rulers are, I feel compelled to condemn any Chinese who has taken pleasure in the terrorist attacks on the United States. Such people tarnish the image of all Chinese, downgrading us to a status nearing barbarism.
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The escalating war in the Middle East must be understood in a broader context. The fact that the Iranian regime felt emboldened to risk a direct strike on Israel attests to a changing world order in which Western power is increasingly open to challenge.
considers the implications of Iran’s unprecedented decision to launch a direct strike on Israeli territory.
As soon as the tragedy occurred on September 11th, all of the United States was gripped by grief and anger. Heads of state the world over immediately issued statements condemning terrorist violence and expressing sympathy and support for America. Countries and organizations that usually take the US as their enemy also made statements, one after another, as they sought to distance themselves from the terrorists. Each denied having any connection to the terrorist outrages. Even Mu'ammar al-Qadhdhafi of Libya pledged to offer assistance to the United States.
This shows that the attacks were so inhuman, and the frenzy of the atrocities so beyond the pale, that even America's enemies refrained from supporting them in public. After watching on television as a group of Palestinians celebrated the attacks by firing shots into the sky, people around the world immediately identified them as "evil," a label that will go down with them in history. This prompted an immediate crackdown by Chairman Arafat on public displays of support for Osama bin Laden.
Reaction to these events in China, however, was worrying. Although it strains belief, in the wake of this human tragedy "Qiangguo Forum," an official website run by China's state-run national newspaper The People's Daily , displayed dozens of postings from visitors to the site that hailed the terrorist attacks.
According to media statistics, about two hours after the tragedy occurred "Qiangguo Forum" displayed a total of 47 postings on its homepage, including as many as 20 praising the attacks. Only seven messages urged people, in a reasonable way, not to take pleasure in the tragedy. Three of these messages, however, were written by the same visitor to the website. The remaining 20 postings expressed concern and astonishment, without taking a position.
Although internet “chat” boards do not in any way form a scientific representation of public feeling in the manner of an opinion poll, they do indicate what some of the most alert and modern of people in China think and feel. This is why I was utterly astonished by the reactions expressed in that “chat room.” It is noteworthy, indeed, that among those who regularly visit the website "Qiangguo Forum," the foremost are young Chinese students and scholars, as well as people who are concerned about, interested in, or eager to discuss current issues in world affairs.
Such people are by no means a group of weak or ignored people. Nor are they people without influence in Chinese society. Rather, they form a key part of the group at the heart of China's current social development and economic progress. Yet, this group of people seem to be the one group in China to celebrate the terrorist outrages, without the slightest trace of human compassion. “The Americans,” one wrote, “who have betrayed themselves, deserve this!”
Their postings on the website also turned a blind eye to the fact that the victims involved in the tragedy were civilians like themselves. One posting even read: “After watching this, Wang Wei may rest in peace!” Another read: “This is good! Blasting Yankees to death!” or even suggested: “This should be celebrated with firecrackers!”
Here is a mindset, it seems to me, that is little different from that of the terrorists. For people holding such views, human life holds no value whatsoever. Nor does it matter very much how many people were killed and injured, provided that the United States was wounded.
Seeing the messages posted at “Qiangguo Forum,” and realizing how much such
Chinese nationalism resemble the habits of mind of the terrorists, I couldn't help but worry more than ever about China's future. It seemed to me that by falling under the spell of a “strong” China, the country could move toward fascism in the future, bringing ruin upon the nation. But it is too simple to condemn these young website visitors for their lack of humanity and compassion, for their feelings are the product of long-term, official government manipulation of their nationalist sentiments.
Indeed, the manner in which the Chinese Government reacted to the attacks on New York and Washington was little better than that offered by those hysterical website visitors. President Jiang Zemin sent a telegram of condolence to President Bush and the American people on the night of September 11th. In a break from his usually verbose prose style, Jiang's message was not only brief, but half-hearted, and without human feeling. In covering the tragedy, CCTV (the official government television network) focused on Yasir Arafat as he issued statements intended to distance himself and his movement from the terrorists.
Without doubt, such subtle tactics lay bare the mindset of China's rulers. But no matter how subtle but nevertheless manipulative China's rulers are, I feel compelled to condemn any Chinese who has taken pleasure in the terrorist attacks on the United States. Such people tarnish the image of all Chinese, downgrading us to a status nearing barbarism.