China is saying that it will meet with an aide of the Dalai Lama. This is welcome news from a regime that is usually unwavering in its rigid approach to domestic policy. We now know that China can change. I think we are witnessing the loosening of China’s grip on its people, possible the beginnings of a nuanced approach to democracy in China. Very rarely does it listen to the protests of its people. Yay, China!
This is great news for the citizens of Zimbabwe on whom the Chinese-made weapons would most assuredly have been turned. As (not so) widely reported in the media, the Chinese ship ladened with machine guns and rocket launchers was destined for tyrant-dictator Robert Mugabe’s Ministry of Defense. But, South Africa refused to unload the “death ship”, and it looks like Mozambique has refused as well. Now China is saying that the weapons may be headed home to China. Hopefully this means that none of those bullets will be piercing Zimbabwean skin.
CORRECTION: AFP is reporting that the Chinese ship is headed for Angola. Stay tuned.
After facing fierce opposition at South Africa’s Port of Durban, A Chinese ship, the An Yue Jiang, laden with rockets, guns and ammunition destined for Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Defense set sail for Maputo, Mozambique in hopes of getting the weapons to Harare, Zimbabwe’s capitol.
What is the problem here? The fear is that the weapons will be turned on the innocent citizens of Zimbabwe by their tyrannical dictator Robert Mugabe. And this is a realistic fear in light of the recent disputed “elections” there and its aftermath, not to mention Mugabe’s previous 28 year reign of terror. For all of these reasons, South Africa refused to unload the Chinese ship.
The ship is owned and operated by China Poly Tech, Inc., a weapons
manufacturer owned by the Chinese Central Government and Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing, who incidentally has a direct partnership with two of Asia’s leading organized crime bosses: Robert Kwok and Henry Fok. Throw in Robert Mugabe and don’t all of these men make interesting bedfellows?
Okay: China, shady weapons deals, organized crime; tyrants and dictators and billionaire mob bosses, oh my! No one should be shocked by any of this, right?
Well, probably not shocked. But, upset? Yes. And concerned? Definitely.
We all know that our children will be required to learn Mandarin if they wish to compete in the global economy, so we need to rein China in.
China needs fierce scrutiny. Fierce scrutiny by all of the developed world. Fierce scrutiny by the UN. China needs to grow up. Because China obviously feels immune. And the longer China feels immune the sooner she will so become.
So I say to Mozambique and all the coastal African states: Turn back the An Yue Jiang! Don’t let the ship dock. Do not unload its weapons. Return to sender!
I don’t think the protests are going to bring anything beneficial to the people of Tibet. I don’t think Beijing cares or will care. And the Olympics will go on. And China and Russia and the USA will win the most medals.
Unfortunately, I don’t ever see independence or autonomy for Tibet. Never. China is too powerful and Beijing holds all of the world’s economic cards. And like it or not, Tibet is too closely linked with China (as we all are in a globalized world) at this point that they will never be truly free of China.
In the coming decades it will become increasingly clear that what Beijing says directly effects every country, every person. What Beijing says goes. And China ain’t going anywhere.
The flip side is that China’s political landscape is evolving just as its economic landscape is. China won’t always be communist and repressive. Democracy has sprouted in the hearts and minds of the Chinese people and not too long from now democracy will hold court in Beijing. And Tibet will find its voice in this new democratic wilderness. We just have to be patient.
