China: less evil than America

I do admire the optimism of the chap who tried to have China's deputy PM arrested during his visit to Ireland. I doubt very much that it spoiled Huang Ju's visit, but it was probably worth a try.

The curious thing is that apart from the usual Falan Gong, Free Tibeters and other knit your own idealogues, China's well documented human rights abuses don't seem to attract the same level of howling outrage when its leaders pop into Ireland to seal a few trade deals as George Bush's visit earlier this year. I know I'm risking social death here, by expressing anything less than utter hatred for George Bush so let me put on record that I don't approve of torturing Iraqi detainees and would much rather they were sent on diversity awareness courses uuntil they agree to take out a year's subscription of the Guardian.

I know that you can't expect the Irish to empathise with a small nation which has suffered centuries of opression at the hands of a larger neighbour which is attempting to eradicate its language and religion so I'll move on to the question which really bothers me.

Why do the Chinese bother with Tibet? It has few natural resources, it's of little strategic importance and most Chinese cannot abide the climate for long. All it is lots of mountains.

Perhaps its pure altruism. After all improvements to their country's health and education services are one of the favourite left-wing defences for otherwise dubious fellows like Saddam and Castro (see also right-wingers on Mussolini's transport policy). It seems the same is the case for Tibet following the removal of feudal theocracy. And no one wants that, do they?

So to re-establish my liberal credentials, I say: well-done China.