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lisagita

Listed below are comments made by lisagita between Saturday, 31st May 2008 and Wednesday, 1st October 2008.

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Nobel prize for dissident? 08:05am on 01 Oct 2008
Why did Hu Jia write to a foreign leader about Dalai Lama representing millions of buddhists in China ? China politics is for Chinese only and must not allow any foreign party to get involved. No body represents your country's interest better than yourself.

I urge all the young Chinese both in China and outside China to learn more about the world's various political systems, their functions and benefits that bring to the people. Modify and adapt the appropriate system to China's actual environment with the goal of improving its political, economic and social conditions that will ultimately bring a better life to the millions of Chinese who are still struggling. Your system need not necessary be called "democracy" or "communism" or whatever in that strict defination. As long as the system brings about better life for the Chinese people, just go for it.

Chinese politics is for Chinese only.
8th of the 8th, 2008 07:42am on 10 Aug 2008 Dear Young James,

In your 1.5 yr stay in China and reporting the events there, you have attracted a lot of criticisms and praises, as well. It must be noted that the former outnumbered the latter many folds. And I would say they are geniuine opinions.

Confucious said "live till old and learn till old" literally translated. Hence, I hope through all these opinions on your blog, you are learning to understand China and the Chinese people. It is another form of continous learning. Another quote "years rinkle your skin but cease to learn wringle your soul". So James, take this blog as your teacher. And do make an extra effort to know China's culture and history. Hopefully, at the end of your reporting job in China you will be a "richer" person in terms of knowledge of China and its people, and the Chinese people would have a less biased foreign friend.
Tibet video diary 04:23am on 29 Jun 2008 Dear # 26 Zawaung,

The South East Asian Chinese do not stand alone from the rest of the community in supporting the Olympics, it is the whole country that supports the Olympics. These individual SEA nations support the Olympics on a national basis, and not only its ethnic Chinese supporting it. It is more accurate to say the whole of ASEAN (all the 10 SEA nations grouping) supports the Beijing Olympics because it is one of the rear chances that an Asian nation is hosting this international game. All the Asian nations should support the game because this is the third time Olympics is held in Asia. This is called "Asian Solidarity".
Shutting us out? 09:08am on 22 Jun 2008
Dear # 63 Ihobdrak,

I visited Tibet in August last year. Tibet has spectacular scenery, people are nice and warm generally but the environment there is very harsh for economic development. The top soil is thin, strong UV rays, thin oxygen and most mountains are bear and winter is bitterly cold. I can imagine the peoples' life there must be very tough. They could only grow a kind of "wheat" called "jin ke" for a few months in a year. There is no sea port for export or trade, no connection with the outside world.

I observed the people could practise their religion freely, the lamas chanted in temples, old people walked on the streets turning a small wheel in their hands, and prilgrims did the kneeling, bowing and prostrating along the Qing Zhang highway from Qing Hai to Lhasa. Tibetans writtings were everywhere, on buildings, buses, advertisement boards etc. We went to Segatse (2nd biggest city) and saw the residents there were all Tibetans. Their houses were built and decorated in the Tibetan colourful style with small windows to keep the strong UV rays out.

We visited a very old temple on the west side of the potola palace, carved out from caves, and paid our respects there. As usual, we donated "lamp oil" money for the temple, voluntarily. Of course, some of our friends paid the lama to bless them etc. After all no matter how holy a temple is and want to be detached from the mortal world, it still needs to have economic assistance to sustain. So we did it willingly and happily.

I thought to myself, Tibet could not survive on its own. It has to have transportation links with the ouside world to survive. With its rich culture, the best way to give a better living standard to the people is tourism which create employment. Revenue generated from tourism can be used to upkeep and maintain the cultural relics and beautiful temples, some of which really need to be repaired. In fact, I could see the temples takings were not bad from the tourists.

I was told the airport was built by the Chinese even though the western experts did some techinical surveys and told China that it was not possible to built an airport due to the tough terrain, high altitude and harsh climatic conditions etc. Another link with the outside world was the Qing Zhang rail way which is really a great engineering work. Imagine hauling up those building and construction materials and contructing the rail way in that high altitude when you could hardly breathe in that thin oxygen air. The Chinese should be given credit for these 2 gigantic projects that bring better economic development to Tibet. In fact, we found Tibetans and lamas also in the plane and train. These two transportation links allow Tibet to connect to other parts of China and the outside world as well as bring economic benefits to the Tibetans.

I was told by the locals that average life span has extended from something like 36 years to 60 years or more, and livelihood also improved.

The Tibetans are given the priveldge of free education, and not restricted to one child policy, unlike the Han Chinese who have to fight for everything and under many restrictive policies. As long as the Tibetans work hard, they too can make a better living. In my trip to Juizhaigou in 2006, our Tibetan guide was a very confident young handsome man, who came to Chengdu at age 13 to study. He made it good, and boasted to us his income and that he travelled to other countries.

You said it is your cherished dream to have Tibetan nationhood, as guaranteed by human right convention by UN. I suppose you meant independence. You should know and all the 1.3 billion Chinese know that this will only remain as your dream. Tibet is part of China since the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century. The Dalai Lama also knows this, that is why is not asking for independence. Even if the Chinese Govt gives Tibet independence, the 1.3 billion Chinese will not allow. They will just walk into Tibet. I think you must be a young Tibetan living outside Tibet, and that is why you have the notion of independence. Most of the Tibetans we came across were quite happy with their daily life.

The UN don't guarantee anything to anyone. The "guarantee" was just stated in a convention and written on paper. Tibetans must face reality and work hard to better their lives. And education is the tool to do so. As more Tibetans attain higher education, they can prove their worth and work their way up the Govt. and influence policies to change the life of its people. You may say not possible because of corrupted officials blocking the way. But take heart, China is changing and there will be a day when things will improve, meanwhile, the Tibetans must continue to upgrade themselve in education in all fields if they want a better life. Be part of the large Chinese community by working smarter and harder and be pragmatic so that the lives of Tibetans are better each day. Of course if you are outside Tibet then this encouragement is not relevant, and you can continue to shout "independence" without much help to the Tibetans in Tibet.
Olympic torch in town 12:51pm on 21 Jun 2008 Dear # 14 Joostuitnl,

Have you been to China ? and how much do you know about China ? By just watching BBC daily and reading biased reports from one jounalist, James Reynold who hardly knows about China despite his stay in China for a couple of years.

The world is a very huge place and one quarter of mankind is living on this land, called China. There are more than one news channels on the internet and more than one journalist.

From your questions of why China hold the Olympics, and the games cannot be more important to ordinary peoples' daily lives and liberty, sound like you know very little about China and current affairs.

Oppression of minorities ? Goodness, I visit China annually for more than a decade to understand the country more, (just visited Tibet in August last year) and I can rest assure you the "oppression" is on the Han Chinese who have to fight for everything on equal footing with their fellow citizens. The minoirties are a protected and priviledged lots. James never told you that because he is not close to the ordinary people to find out more. Or maybe he konws but never want to report it.
Olympic torch in town 12:09pm on 21 Jun 2008 Dear # 10 tkbutt,

XJ has had been under Chinese rule since the Han Dynasty (before Christ). If I remember correctly, it was Emperor Han Wu Ti who made up his mind at a young age to get rid of the Hsiung Nu babarians who had been terrorising and killing Chinese for generations. In order to restore some peace to the Chinese people living along the border, it was not uncommon, that Chinese princesses were betrothed to the babarian kings in "political marriages" so that there would be some peace. They became more greedy and there was a Hsiung Nu king who wanted to conquer China. This spurred Emperor Han Wu Ti's determination to once and for all to completely drive these Hsiung Nus far away from the border to the other side of the desert. Hence, the Chinese army and the Chinese people spent huge resources to cut across the huge arid desert to completely chase the Hsiung Nus out the desert which stretched into XJ.

This paved the way for China to start the silk route, and trade flourished bringing along with it the exchange of culture etc with the west.

I was in XJ in 2002, a beautiful place and the Ugurs were warm people. However, like all other places, there were also some rough people. One thing for sure, all of them want to have a better life. People could move around and worship freely. These people love to dance, sing and make merry. I did not feel a bit that they were restricted in practising their culture and living their life.

The scenery, cultural relics and historical sites in XJ and along the silk route are worth a second visit. I hope you can visit XJ and bet you won't regret it.
Shutting us out? 10:36am on 13 Jun 2008 Dear buaadallas and hizento,

I agree with both of you.

James, since Beijing has already made known that it will look into the doufu building problems, it will do so. If it doesn't, the central will lose its credibility. Just that it can't do it now. The Govt's hands are full and have to spend its efforts and energy to return normalcy to the millions of displaced people first.

I believe the parents' grievences will be addressed. It is hoped that these people be a little bit more patient and not add onto the Govt's burden at this difficult time. With the internet and SMS where opinions and messages can be communicated swiftly and massively, it is a sort of check and pressure on the Govt. to follow up with what they promise to do.

If you read into Chinese history, you will realise China is a huge nation and the natural and man-made disasters were usually much larger than other countries. The Chinese has had been dealing with them for thousands of years and yet this civilisation will continue for another few thousands of years. I can say that this is the only ancient civilisation which will be able to do this.

If reading Chinese history is such a heavy stuff for you, I recommend you watch some Chinese DVD on period dramas with English subtitles. You will have better understanding of the Chinese thinking and their ways of facing and solving problems. Hopefully, this will give you better understanding of China and its people, and your reporting will be more accurate.
Earthquake impact 12:20pm on 31 May 2008 Dear KrSund70

Your post is very well written with great indepth understanding and clear analysis of Chinese society, history and culture. Most of all you are able to effectively apply these knowledge for comparison with events and happenings outside China to deliver strong aurguments on the stand and policies the CCP are (or expecting to take) taking in managing the various issues which are discussed in this blog.

Are you a professor ?

Swift

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