Liu Xiao has won the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize, but now he is serving an 11-year term on subversion charges, in a cell 300 miles from Beijing. Mr. Liu, an impassioned literary critic, political essayist and democracy advocate repeatedly jailed by the Chinese government for his activism, has won the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of "his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China."
By awarding the prize to Mr. Liu, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has provided an unmistakable rebuke to Beijing's authoritarian leaders at a time of growing intolerance for domestic dissent and a spreading unease internationally over the muscular diplomacy that has accompanied China's economic rise. The Chinese Foreign Ministry reacted angrily to the news, calling it a "desecration" of the peace prize and saying it would harm Norwegian-Chinese relations. The Chinese government summoned Norway's ambassador to protest the award, a spokesman for the Norwegian Foreign Ministry told reporters.
Headlines about the award were nowhere to be found in the Chinese-language state media or on the country's main Internet portals. Broadcasts about Liu Xiao (pronounced leo she-ow-bwah) on CNN, which reach only luxury compounds and hotels in China, were blacked out throughout the evening. Many mobile phone users reported not being able to transmit text messages containing his name in Chinese. This won't be the last time that Nobel price committees grant the peace award winner to a descendent. It serves the purpose that reminding China which she has a long way to go towards "freedom." However, the definition of "Chinese freedom" may be quite different from "western freedom" which travels beyond borders. Nonetheless, it is a good gesture by the Norwegian committee.
I have to say we are clever enough to just talk about the government in private. In China, as long as you don't criticize the government in public, especially in some sensitive areas, you can survive. Everybody here knows about the corruption and monopoly power of the community party. But we don't shout out to the government. It's quite stupid because we know it wouldn't work out. Not many people here are as passionate about politics as Liu is. We can't gather enough people to win the battle against the party.
Another thing, I think the Chinese government is acting very stupid on this matter too. The simplest way to cool down the matter is to do nothing about it, act like Liu doesn't exist. Look what the government has done? Warning the Noble committee and holding press conferences and so on. All of which turned the whole thing into a farce.
Because the Communist Party rulers have created such an effective and sprawling system of repression, only individuals can speak out in China. Those individuals are, unfortunately, soon swept away, like Mr. Liu. The CCP is so efficient that groups can no longer grow or sprout - dissent is suppressed that quickly. Imagine going to jail for eleven years because of something you wrote on the internet criticizing your government? Imagine being beat up at the police station for reporting a crime by a politician, a large corporation, or by someone politically connected. This happens, too, in China. This may be China's century, but only in economic terms. The Chinese will need to show much greater responsibility and maturity in these matters and stop being the bunch of spoiled, cry-babies they've been.
By awarding the prize to Mr. Liu, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has provided an unmistakable rebuke to Beijing's authoritarian leaders at a time of growing intolerance for domestic dissent and a spreading unease internationally over the muscular diplomacy that has accompanied China's economic rise. The Chinese Foreign Ministry reacted angrily to the news, calling it a "desecration" of the peace prize and saying it would harm Norwegian-Chinese relations. The Chinese government summoned Norway's ambassador to protest the award, a spokesman for the Norwegian Foreign Ministry told reporters.
Headlines about the award were nowhere to be found in the Chinese-language state media or on the country's main Internet portals. Broadcasts about Liu Xiao (pronounced leo she-ow-bwah) on CNN, which reach only luxury compounds and hotels in China, were blacked out throughout the evening. Many mobile phone users reported not being able to transmit text messages containing his name in Chinese. This won't be the last time that Nobel price committees grant the peace award winner to a descendent. It serves the purpose that reminding China which she has a long way to go towards "freedom." However, the definition of "Chinese freedom" may be quite different from "western freedom" which travels beyond borders. Nonetheless, it is a good gesture by the Norwegian committee.
I have to say we are clever enough to just talk about the government in private. In China, as long as you don't criticize the government in public, especially in some sensitive areas, you can survive. Everybody here knows about the corruption and monopoly power of the community party. But we don't shout out to the government. It's quite stupid because we know it wouldn't work out. Not many people here are as passionate about politics as Liu is. We can't gather enough people to win the battle against the party.
Another thing, I think the Chinese government is acting very stupid on this matter too. The simplest way to cool down the matter is to do nothing about it, act like Liu doesn't exist. Look what the government has done? Warning the Noble committee and holding press conferences and so on. All of which turned the whole thing into a farce.
Because the Communist Party rulers have created such an effective and sprawling system of repression, only individuals can speak out in China. Those individuals are, unfortunately, soon swept away, like Mr. Liu. The CCP is so efficient that groups can no longer grow or sprout - dissent is suppressed that quickly. Imagine going to jail for eleven years because of something you wrote on the internet criticizing your government? Imagine being beat up at the police station for reporting a crime by a politician, a large corporation, or by someone politically connected. This happens, too, in China. This may be China's century, but only in economic terms. The Chinese will need to show much greater responsibility and maturity in these matters and stop being the bunch of spoiled, cry-babies they've been.
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