Quote:
Originally Posted by Phanuthier
Its going to take time, and its going to take patience and I hope at least those who are in power realize that there is a difference between trying to solve the problem, and whatever the hell jammies said.
|
Let me decomplexify it for you: The Chinese government is on the wrong side of history. It is rife with corruption, incompetent, and should be censured by the free press and private citizens of other countries as they see fit without the nay-saying of apologists for a morally indefensible regime. Other governments should also hold China accountable to its agreed international covenants, instead of throwing over principle in favour of cheap, shoddy goods.
Your claim they will go insular again if pushed or embarassed is ridiculous, as they have no choice but to open up, or be left behind economically, technologically and militarily; just like what happened the last time a Chinese government tried to shut out the "barbarians". Even the kleptocrats in Beijing know that going back to the bad old days of Maoism is not an option - they need to be part of the global economy or the newly affluent and powerful middle classes will turn hostile, an event which they are no more likely to survive than the Soviets did their revolution of the dissatisfied.
In short, what you think you "know" about China is coloured heavily by your anthropomorphosis of the whole citizenry as a sulky teenager that doesn't like to be told what it can and can't do. My "idealized political theories" at least take into account that the Chinese people cannot be so casually simplified into some kind of collective soul under the beneficent control of the Central Commitee.
Lastly, the common person in China is not going to force their government to change unless they first understand that it needs changing, to which sharp criticism and uncomfortable facts seem far more suited to accomplish than high-fives and walking softly. No one - and I include governments West in this - is above criticism, and especial sensitivity to criticism is all the more reason to point out flaws.