[The New Zealand Herald, New Zealand]

The People's Daily, People's Republic of China

American House Speaker Pelosi 'Defies Law and Discipline'…

Has U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 'defied law and discipline,' and 'challenged U.S. government' protection' of the Olympic torch relay? These are just some of the latest charges being leveled against Pelosi by the Beijing regime. In this article, published in the strictly-controlled state run People's Daily, her recent efforts to have legislation passed denying U.S. officials the use of public funds to attend the Beijing Olympics, "have left people amazed and speechless.' The author, a scholar at Shanghai's Fudan University, concludes, "This American stateswoman repeatedly asks other nations to abide by the law, but she herself interferes when her government makes security commitments. … Ms. Pelosi will only discredit herself and her own image if she persists in embarrassing China."

By Shen Dingli*

April 14, 2008

People's Republic of China - People's Daily - Original Article (English)

The ongoing Olympic torch relay has drawn tremendous attention and the enthusiastic welcome of countries and peoples around the world. But there has also been a number of discordant voices, among which is the noisome U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Ms. Pelosi seems to object to whatever China does. This time, the U.S. House Speaker seems to resentful as China greets the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games with enthusiastic, nationwide attention, and as the country strives to hold an Olympics of the highest standards to show the achievements of three-decades of reform and opening-up.

Now the Speaker has reproached the IOC for giving China the chance to host the Olympic Games. In her view, China still has lots of drawbacks so isn't entitled to host the Games. Perhaps it hasn't occurred to Speaker Pelosi that hosting the Games could represent not only the global community's affirmation of China's three-decades of reform and opening up, but also the legitimate rights and interests of a great nation that accounts for one fifth of the world's population. By holding the Games and promoting international sports exchanges does nothing but boost the international Olympic movement. By hosting the Olympics, the Chinese government and people show that they are doing their best to promote world peace.

In both word and deed, the American Executive stands in stark contrast to Pelosi. The While House has expressed its appreciation for China's readiness to promote global progress with sports exchange. President George W. Bush has repeatedly voiced his intention to attend the opening ceremonies in August, and senior officials of his administration have said that the active desire of 1.3 billion Chinese to contribute to the Olympic movement should be seen positively and treasured highly.

The White House has noted that wide-ranging cooperation exists between China and the United States, and that supporting China's hosting of the Games is a cooperative measure for reaching mutual understanding through sports and people-to-people exchanges. While there exist many differences between our two nations, enhancing mutual understanding is the best way to overcome them and expand cooperation.

There are many ways and platforms for the settlement of differences, but the Olympic Games should not be exploited to take the Chinese side hostage. So President Bush and his colleagues have taken a responsible approach in both concept and action by promoting bilateral ties with regard to the Beijing Games.

When she saw how difficult it would be to overwhelm China and even the U.S. Executive, Speaker Pelosi instigated a proposal on Capitol Hill to prohibit American officials from partaking in Beijing Olympic activities with the use of federal funds - including its opening ceremonies, but the Bush Administration flatly refused, as it possesses primary constitutional authority over the conduct of foreign affairs. So while Pelosi has made irresponsible remarks on Capitol Hill, she couldn't achieve her goal of meddling in the conduct of foreign affairs.

Moreover, Pelosi openly urged people to go to her hometown of San Francisco to add to the trouble. Pelosi holds the third highest office in America. As speaker of the House, she is naturally counted as a senior U.S. leader. This high-profile individual is defying law and discipline, supports the challenge to the sacred Olympic flame by Tibet independence elements and has challenged U.S. government protection of the Olympic torch relay. Her actions have left people amazed and speechless. This American stateswoman repeatedly asks other nations to abide by the law, but she herself interferes when her own government makes security commitments.

The Beijing Olympics belong to the world, to the people of China and to the people of the United States. It is a grand sporting event that China is hosting for the entire world. We have offered our utmost to host the Olympics not to obtain the excessive praise of others. But at the same time, we also hope others don't "turn white into black" to discredit China for hosting the Games.

Ms. Pelosi will discredit only herself and her own image if she persists in embarrassing China.

*Shen Dingli is vice-president of International Studies and director of the American Studies Center at Shanghai's Fudan University.

[Editor's Note: Reporters Without Borders rates China's media as "Situation Very Serious "].

SEE ALSO:

Xinhua, People's Republic of China

The Hypocrisy of Pelosi
and 'Those of Her Ilk' ...

http://worldmeets.us/xinhuanet000007.shtml

People's Daily, People's Republic of China

Pelosi 'Harms Feelings
of the Chinese People'

http://worldmeets.us/peoplesdaily000052.shtml

The Global Geographic Times, People's Republic of China

Exposing the 'Weak Rib'
of Olympic Politicization

http://worldmeets.us/globalgeographictimes000002.shtml

Wen Wei Po, Hong Kong

'Mental Complexes'
Result in Western
Sympathy for Tibet

http://worldmeets.us/wenweipo000002.shtml

Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany
Talking of China's
Human Rights Abuse:
The Spell is Broken

http://worldmeets.us/frankfurterrundschau000026.shtml

Nederlands Dagblad, The Netherlands

Awarding the Olympics
to Beijing: The Mistake
that Keeps on Giving ...

http://worldmeets.us/nederlandsdagblad000003.shtml

NRC Handelsblad, The Netherlands

'Megalomania': It's
Time to Scale Down
Olympic Torch Relay

http://worldmeets.us/nrchandelsblad000088.shtml

Les Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace, France

The Route of the
Olympic Torch: A
'Way of the Cross'

http://worldmeets.us/dna000019.shtml

Le Figaro, France

The Passage of
the Torch: In a
Word, a 'Fiasco'

http://worldmeets.us/lefigaro0000209.shtml