A supporter of President Hugo Chavez holds his photos as Chavez'
coffin passes, on its way to where his body will lie in state, March
6.
Seven days of mourning have been declared, schools have been
suspended, and heads of state are expected for a funeral on
Friday.
Demonized by
the West, Hugo Chavez was a Friend to China (Global Times, People's Republic of
China)
Was
Venezuela President Hugo Chavez hobbled by being unfairly depicted by U.S. and
Western media? According to this editorial from China's state-run Global Times, dictators - real or
imagined - can get along fine as long as they are in Washington's good graces. But
if not, as was the case with Hugo Chavez, the force of Western public opinion
takes a heavy toll.
A supporter gives Commandante Hugo Chavez a final salute as she passes his body, now lying in state in Caracus. Devotedly loved and maniacly hated, the death of Venezualan President Hugo Chavez will leave a void in Venezuelan and Latin American affairs.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died on Tuesday after
succumbing to cancer. The national strength of Venezuela is limited, but the
personal influence wielded by Chavez far exceeded cold statistics. The death of
Chavez, who was considered a left-wing populist and anti-U.S. fighter in Latin
America, has captured global attention. He is as censured as he is praised.
Chavez had been in office for 14 years, making him the
longest-serving president in Venezuelan history. His authoritarian style was
fostered by regular success at the polls and tremendous support from his
people. But the West often saw him as a "dictator," a label that prompted
Chavez to return fire by famously calling former U.S. President George W. Bush "El
Diablo." On the international stage, Chavez undoubtedly suffered, simply
because Western opinion was more influential than those elsewhere. Repeatedly denounced
as a "dictator," he inevitably ended up viewed in this unflattering
light.
And his reputation demonstrates that a leader's standing in
the world is largely tied to his or her relationship with the United States. In
a political sense, monarchs with absolute power to rule can best be defined as
"dictators," but if they are allies of the United States, they can avoid
the label in Western eyes.
Latin American countries have a love-hate relationship
with the United States. The current popularity of left-wing Latin American leaders can
be attributed to the strong anti-U.S. sentiment shared among their people. Nevertheless,
economic development can only occur with U.S. support.
Latin Americans ordinary admire the lifestyles of their U.S.
counterparts, but they do not want to be controlled by Washington. It is just
this complication that has created such
room for competition between Latin America's left and right.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
Latin American nations have repeatedly accused the CIA of
planning to topple their governments. With the exception of Cuba, conflicts
between the U.S. and leftist Latin American regimes have rarely spiraled out of
control. And the reality that Latin America is in the backyard of the U.S. hasn't
changed much.
There may be a lesson for China in the subtle relations
between Latin America and the United States. But China is unlike the United
States, which has a tremendous drive and capacity to control others. China
should work with Latin America in ways that are in keeping with the region's
wishes, and it should offer an alternative to allowing final say to inevitably
belong to the U.S.
While trade volume between China and Latin America reached
$250 billion last year, cooperation is nowhere near deep enough. Greater
cooperation will lead to much closer ties.
Chavez was an old friend to the Chinese people. It will
be the Americas that will have to judge his rocky relationship with the United
States.
