There’s been a lot of noise in the last few days about how China and France have repaired very tattered relations. In a joint statement, France said it “fully understands” the sensitivity of the Tibet issue to China and vowed no support to “any kind of ‘Tibet independence.’”
China was quite pleased by this.
But while that wildfire was doused, others still burn. And it’s not all about Tibet.
There’s also the matter of Xinjiang, the largely Muslim region in China’s sparsely populated far west. As Muslims, ethnic Uyghurs who populate Xinjiang can’t seem to generate the kind of global interest that Tibetan Buddhists do. China accuses most Tibetan and Uyghur leaders alike of being separatists and “splittists” who try to splinter China.
Yet there’s a lot of sympathy for Uyghurs in some corners of Washington. In December, I arranged an interview with the best known Uyghur leader, Rebiya Kadeer, who lives in exile there. To my surprise, I found her office about a block from the White House. Here’s the story I wrote. Beijing has called Kadeer, who served many years in Chinese prison on charges of harming state security, a “separatist monster.”
Now comes what I find to be even more surprising news. When the World Uyghur Congress, which Kadeer leads, convenes its major meeting in Washington in May, it will do so actually inside the U.S. Capitol. Here’s the pertinent part of the press release I received:
"President Rebiya Kadeer of The World Uyghur Congress announced today the opening ceremony of its Third General Assembly will be in the United States Capitol Building, Congressional Meeting Room South on May 21st, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Members of the U.S. Congress and Senate, dignitaries, prominent human rights defenders, and leaders of the Tibetan and Chinese communities will address Uyghur congressional delegates from around the world, as well as their supporters. The opening of this Assembly at the U.S. Capitol has profound historical significance to the peaceful struggle of the Uyghur people for their freedom, democracy, and human rights."
You can bet that’s causing some indigestion at the new Chinese Embassy in Washington.
I always wonder why the Tibet issue gets so much more press than the Xinjiang Uyghurs.
Thanks for sharing that press release. I'll be interested to see how that all plays out - will the Chinese voice their "indigestion"?
Posted by: Josh | April 03, 2009 at 12:29 AM
Huh. I guess China can give the same support to Taliban' freedom fighters' against the 'evil US of A'. Taliban never causes any big problem for China, just the same as ' Uyghurs has never posed any threat to US interests'as some Uyghurs sympathesizers have said. Their message is, ' they kill Chinese , not Americans. So help them kill more Chinese'.
US of A will pay dearly for its blatant hypocrisy. just wait.
Posted by: EffUSof A | April 03, 2009 at 05:10 AM
Looks like the anti-China force in the US is desperate. China is rising and US is sinking.
How could US stop China?
There used to be that lovely anti-China toy called Taiwan, but not anymore, after all Taiwanese are ethnically Chinese. You just can’t push people of the same ethnic hate each for too long.
So let's try exploit the Tibetans and Uyghurs. Agitating the ethnic hatred is the easiest and cheapest way of messing up and destroying a country.
Hasn’t the US made enough of mess in the world already?
Posted by: tom | April 03, 2009 at 10:12 AM
My quarrel with China is about the hostility against Catholicism. A nation that fears Jesus Christ should not raise! Such nation must go down the way of all who have challenged the Son of God! Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, Ghengis Khan,Hitler,Stalin, all tried to rule Catholic Church regardless! All are in the dustbin of history!Little wonder that a nation like this fears the Tibetans and the Ughurs! The Chinese have no future on the face of the planet earth as long as they hold their hatred against Catholicism!
Posted by: Bohdan Szejner, STL | April 03, 2009 at 10:40 AM
dude... i promise people in STL are not all like the above... they are probabily from Chicago and cubs fans....
Posted by: anyno | April 03, 2009 at 01:13 PM
I don't get Bohdan Szejner's message. Is this guy being sarcastic? There is only very limited number of people in China believe in Christianity. These people are generally from metro places like HongKong, Beijing and ShangHai. Plus I wonder these people truely believe in that or just want to socialize. The majority of Chinese adopt a mixed of Buddaism and Confuncianism philosophy. ATTENTION HERE!!! Not faith only the philosophy. Chinese people are essentially atheists, and has been for about three thousand years. The philosophy is the most important part when Chinese people look into Christianity. The whole fundamentals of Christianity is based on religious practice. When it comes to philosophy, it does not offer anything that China doesn't already have. It doesn't matter how much non-sense the Catholic Church spreads, people just wouldn't believe them.
I regarding to Muslims in China. I am a Muslim from the Northeast China. There are many Muslims there (50 to handred thousand or so or may be more, not a lot compare to the population). But religious practice has never been "surpressed" or attending to Mosques was never considered a weird thing. Also in any major industry, university, there are dedicated cafeteria for Muslim. Being an ethnic minority, people get bonus in education and other social welfare benefits... So if you say, that these seperatist groups are not being fueled by "Foriegn Special Interest Groups", but truly cared about human rights or whatever they claim, who would believe such "blasphamy".
Posted by: Sparkle | April 03, 2009 at 01:35 PM
It seems that China has a long way to go towards integrating its ethnic minorities into greater Chinese society. My friend wrote an interesting article related to ethnic diversity in China. Have a look and let him know what you think:
http://sublimeandbeautiful.wordpress.com/
Posted by: Kris | April 03, 2009 at 04:11 PM
Before reading the post I thought Tim discovered something we didn't know about. Oh, it is about Xinjiang? China's disgruntled minorities? Tibet, Xinjiang, human rights violations... What else is new?
By the way STL, get lost! Should the Chinese government be more tolerant of all sorts of religions and ideas? Absolutely. China has no future if China doesn't embrace Catholicism? Go to hell moron!
Posted by: Pffefer | April 03, 2009 at 05:56 PM
I have great respect for the Pres of China. I'm also grateful for the # of people rising out of poverty. In my opinion, China should be the leading economic country since their population exceeds 1.3 billion with only approximately 300 million people living above poverty and this number is increasing.
Posted by: Adamwestiii | April 04, 2009 at 09:45 AM
It seems for some people, religion=Christianity, religious freedom= the freedom or the lack of it that encourages or promotes conversion to Christianity, and other religions are evil cults. seriously, don't Tim and his ilk ever go to Buddhist monasteries or Taoist temples or Mosques to count with their fingers how many Chinese people kneel down praying piously or just as a family traditions? or are well still talking about a bygone China in the throes of Cultural Revolution when everything was banned?
Wake up, dude. it's 2009
Posted by: FaerBlanced | April 04, 2009 at 01:11 PM
To Bohdan Szejner in STL, please try first to persuade the Dalai Lama of exiled tibet, or the exiled Uyghur leader, to embrace Catholicism, if you are lucky enough to do so... Anyway try the uyghur leader first, for she lives just a block away from the White House in D.C.
Posted by: Howard | April 04, 2009 at 10:45 PM
Why would someone get indigestion over someone-else's masturbation?
Posted by: jc | April 07, 2009 at 09:51 PM
China seems very ignorant for not embracing others. If they plan on rising they need to be more versatile. Finally somebody is worst than the U.S.A!
Posted by: taycock | April 10, 2009 at 12:32 PM
I think STL was a sick joke meant to stir up controversy. If he was serious, then he is truly ignorant. Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, Ghengis Khan lived before Jesus and had nothing to do with Christianity. Hitler and Stalin were just tyrants interested in their own power.
I attended mass in a Catholic Church one Sunday in Beijing. I went out of curiosity because I am formally Catholic (having been baptized) but spiritually non-religious. I also visited the Temple of Tibet in Beijing. I found both places interesting, nothing more or less.
Though I am not religious, I see no legitimate reason for any government to control religion, ideas, or philosophy in any way unless it preaches violence.
As for the Uyghurs and the Taliban, there is little to compare. The Taliban hosted a group that attacked New York and required a military response. The Uyghurs may be a thorn in the side of the Chinese government,and they may be separatists, but they are not international terrorists.
As for the actual article, France should be ashamed for backing down instead of standing up for their principles. Also, I am American and I see no reason for my government to be hosting such a meeting unless they want to invite the American Indians to have their own state.
Posted by: Webryder | April 12, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Lots of news regarding Communist Chinese hostility towards Christians.
http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&size=A
Posted by: Tian Li | April 12, 2009 at 04:02 PM
Gosh, so much to say but I'll keep it to a minimum.
Like some Tibetans, some Uyghurs are bomb chuckers; both have received funding and training backed by US intelligence services.
I am therefore not surprised the expat Uyghur's office just happens to be around the corner from the White House.
China would be so much more convenient for the US to handle if it were broken up into a baker's dozen of microrepublics.
China has been divided before. It has come back together as often as necessary. It will do so again if needed. It can do so because it has a CULTURE.
Americans cannot fathom this.
Stripped of its oversized military, America would be easy to absorb exactly because it has no CULTURE.
Posted by: Arthur Borges | May 09, 2009 at 05:17 AM
Looking at what happened in July 5th. This is indeed a precise anticipation.
Posted by: Fiona | July 13, 2009 at 05:27 AM