China has thrown its weight around in Europe, declaring that its relations with the 27-members of the European Union will be seriously damaged if a dissident, currently jailed by China, receives the EU's top human rights award. Hu Jia is one of three finalists for the Sakharov Prize, and has campaigned on behalf of Chinese democracy, environmental, and HIV/AIDS movements. He has been imprisoned since last December, and was sentenced to "inciting subversion of state power" this past April.
Writing a letter to the president of the EU assembly, China's ambassador said:
If the European Parliament should award this prize to Hu Jia, that would inevitably hurt the Chinese people once again and bring serious damage to China-EU relations. . . Not recognizing China's progress in human rights and insisting on confrontation will only deepen the misunderstanding between the two sides.
In addition to this letter, China may have an opportunity to exert some pressure during the EU-Asia summit in Beijing. Starting Friday, Nicolas Sarkozy, current EU president, will ask China to become a partner in saving the world's financial system. Can one country's criminal be another 27 countries' hero? Or is Hu Jia undeniably a hero for all humans?
Nuovegioie
Michael Kors
Henrik Vibskov
How despicable.
1I don't know if he's a hero, but this man has been fighting for democracy and human rights in China for years now. In my opinion, he deserves the prize, and any democratically elected president should agree. I they don't give it to him, that will be because of economic reasons, which will only show how most European leaders are a bunch of hypocrites (well, not just the European ones).
2If giving this man a prize he deserves, then IMO, China can just take it's perverbial ball and go home.
3China's attempts to exert pressure against awarding Hu Jia, only serves to shine a light on their continued LACK of progress in the human rights arena.
4Yeah, give him the prize and let them weather the financial crisis alone if it makes them that angry.
5China bulldozed homes in order to stage the Olympics, their human rights track record is still appalling.
6I think however that China is the one that will be lending the money to the west not the other way around. Pressure may come from the money markets.
Why is China building up their military to U.S. size? Anyone? The EU better tread lightly. Or maybe not.
I'm anti-China right now. After animals dying because of their poisonous products, and now their own children are dying because of the same thing, not to mention the numerous other faulty products they have sold us in the past, I can't believe we are still buying their crap! How many chances is that country going to get?
Oh, and when are their really cheap cars hitting the U.S. market? Can't wait to see that happen. *sarcasm
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