In theory, the UN exists to ensure peace and all Member States are bound by the “good will” principle. I acknowledge the enormous and necessary work UN agencies do on many aspects, but that part of the Charter is complete bullshit. No country is thinking about world peace and the wellbeing of others: the motor that propels international relations is every State’s lookout for their own interest, but we internationalists have made an art of disguising this with diplomacy.

You don’t even have to go way back to find examples. Just take a look at what happened in Kosovo and Georgia. The US immediately backs the independence of the first on the grounds of the right to self-determination, but completely opposes the latter claiming it is a threat against territorial integrity. The Russian Federation does exactly the opposite on both cases. Why should they believe in self-determination for one case and territorial integrity for another? Does it not have anything to do the fact that Russia’s oil pipes pass through Georgia, or the strategic positioning of Kosovo in the Balkans? Countries have always been able to deliber speeches that justify their ways, and, let’s be real, they will continue to do so.

My point is, why should China be so harshly criticized for doing what all States with the power to do so actually do? If the US and the UK were so damn interested in preserving peace in Africa, where were they while thousands were murdered in Rwanda? It’s just bad luck that Rwanda doesn’t have any diamonds or oil, ’cause if they had them, the “liberating forces of democracy” would have acted quite differently…

HM, when I went to Beijing, the highway road signs are in Chinese and English. The Chinese people especially the younger generation learn English and try to understand the western culture especially American culture. I do NOT see that in America. I guess China is NOT important yet.

Do you try to learn Chinese or other languages other than French, Italian, German etc?

One simple question: DO AFRICAN COUNTRY SUPPORT THE SANCTION OR NOT?

If they are not, what should the other countries do?

- Western: “Let us do it regardless what africa thinks.”
- China: “Let us veto.”

This is not about China, it is about Africa.

“I am not reminding” should be “I am reminding”

Cheers

Cheers

My basic point is that the Chinese use this excuse of “things are different in China”as an excuse for all kinds of bullshit.

Also, the Chinese ask the world to understand them, but doesn’t really try to understand the world.

So you guys agree that China is not the Great Peace Lover that never involves itself in other country’s business?

@ zictor:

Yes, it is pretty ridiculous to claim this is a domestic matter when China has been internationally involved in supplying weapons to Mugabe this year, during the elections.

However, I have to slightly disagree with your earlier statement invoking the “culture of the world.” It actually echoes something I’ve said many times here before, but I think the way you said it just gave chan the opportunity to sidetrack you entirely. That’s always a bad idea.

And your comment # 27
“@chan
It’s not me. The Chinese are the ones constantly poiting to cultural difference as the eternal and perfect justifier for any critique. They always say that things in China are different.”

Since you yourself stated that you understand that there is a different in culture and China need to adapt to the World culture, my question to you is still he same “What is your point of view on the World Culture and what is your understanding of World Culture ? What make you think that China did not adapt to World Culture when she telling people that Chinese is a Culture by itself?

Do you have common sense to agree that China is different from India and India is different from the West in Culture ?
Chinese is a Culture and Civilisation in the World.
Indian is a Culture and Civilisation in the World.
Korean is, Russian is, English is…many and many each others is also in this World. This is my understanding.

The same exact thing can be said of USA on Iraq, Vietnam and North Korean wars. .. .

Russia’s and China’s speech claiming that it’s still a domestic matter is the utmost BS. Just the other day a Chinese ship was trying to find port in Africa to take weapons to Zimbabwe. It isn’t just a political dispute, it’s a massacre. Even other African countries are criticising Zimbabwe.

@Jay
Sayin that China plays a retrogressive role in the world is unfair. Although China’s role in Zimbabwe is terrible. In the world, as a whole, China is a good player. If it weren’t for China, the world would be suffering terribly because of the American crisis. OK, China is not doing it all, but a good part…

And the payment for this kind of supportment only comes from the public finance.When so many people are forced to face the pressure of inflation,the expense looks such big.Especially,it’s hard to see the benifit from this deal will contribute to a usual chinese one.