[The Times, U.K.]
Le Figaro, France
Google Affair Harms China's Reputation
"This
is the latest episode in a series of events that have given this great country
of remarkable achievements a nasty reputation."
By Pierre Rousselin
Translated By Lisa
Cabral
January 15, 2010
France - Le Figaro - Original Article
(French)
The People’s Republic of
China should pay careful attention: its image in the Western world is in the
process of taking a punch. The affair over Google, which is battling the censorship
of Beijing, is the latest episode in a series of events that have given this
great country of remarkable achievements a nasty reputation.
China has succeeded spectacularly
in overcoming the international economic crises. It's on its way to establishing
itself on the international scene as the great power of tomorrow. This should
compel the admiration of all and be a source of pride for the Chinese
themselves.
Unfortunately, its emergence is accompanied by a
deterioration of its global image. The fault is undoubtedly shared and it may
be that these concerns drive attitudes of hostility. But China should take into
account the reactions it provokes.
Posted
by WORLDMEETS.US
SEE ALSO ON THIS:
People's Daily, China:
Google's Attempted 'Threat to Chinese Sovereignty'
Global Times, China:
Google-China Split Would
Be a Loss for 'Both Sides'
China Daily, China:
Google
Grabs More Eyeballs in China
China Daily, China:
Google
No Exception' to the Law
Frankfurter Allgemeine, Germany:
Google Was Wise to Enter China
The Economist, U.K.:
Google and
China - Flowers for a Funeral
We understand that history
has taught the Chinese to reject anything that resembles interference in its affairs.
Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang are sensitive topics. The debate that preceded the
2008 Olympic Games could be partly explained by obsessive Chinese fear of a
Western conspiracy aimed at ruining the celebration of China's renewal by
seizing on the question of human rights.
Since then, China has been
recognized by the G20 as a major partner. In Copenhagen, China wasn't solely
responsible for the failure, after the humiliation doled out to Obama it was singled
out. The execution in December of a British citizen accused of drug trafficking
but with mental health problems had an even worse effect.
With its opening to the
world, China also depends on the outside. If it wants to avoid protectionist
reactions and diffuse any manifestation of hostility, China must tend to its
reputation.
CLICK HERE FOR FRENCH VERSION
[Posted
by WORLDMEETS.US January 21, 5:51pm]
