Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ya-ta Boy]

From an article at AsiaTimes Online:

The latest wave of nationalism has new characteristics. First, from a Chinese perspective, it was not triggered by an isolated incident like the EP-3 case, when the US Navy spy plane crashed on Hainan island. Tibetan organizations in exile prepared carefully to use the Beijing Summer Olympic Games to draw international attention; Western human-rights activists began politicizing the Olympics with issues like Darfur several years ago. Second, it is not a conflict with a single country. Chinese feel that they face a choir of the entire West. Third, the "chorus" is not made up of just Western governments, but includes Western media and civil society.

All this has made many Chinese feel that they face, for the first time in many years, Western ideology. Thus, this situation has greater implications than previous waves of nationalism. This confrontation should not be oversimplified as mere right versus wrong, as occurred during the US-Soviet ideological conflict in the Cold War. Rather, it is about the pride of China and the prejudice of the West.

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From what I understand of Chinese history, there is anunresolved inferiority complex resulting from a century and a half of unequal treaties that functions much like the inferiority complex here in Korea. While Korea's can be ignored (or joked about here) fairly safely, I don't think the same can be said for the Chinese case.

I think the linked article is useful in giving a Chinese perspective since this is something I want to keep an eye on.



http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/JE02Ad01.html

[Ya-ta Boy]

Here are two views from India. The first is an editorial from the Times of India:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Editorial/Chinas_Tall_Claim/articleshow/3002769.cms

The torch's three-month route within China, as compared to just a five-week run through the rest of the world, shows that for the Chinese Communist Party, the Olympics are an occasion not only to showcase national achievements under its rule, but also to help win popular legitimacy for its political monopoly.

Clearly, China has appropriated the Olympic torch for its own political agenda. It never tires from lecturing to the world not to interfere in its internal affairs. Still, during the international relay, it kept interfering in the affairs of other states, wanting to be kept in the loop on the local security arrangements and insisting that pro-Tibet demonstrations not be allowed.

The autocracy's troubles indeed may only be beginning. This year could prove a watershed. Just as the 1936 Berlin Olympics set the stage for Nazi Germany's collapse, the Beijing Games could end up as a spur to radical change in China.

Those who see Tibet as a lost cause forget that history has a way of wreaking vengeance on artificially created empires.

The second is an opinion piece: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Columnists/Tarun_Vijay_Stand_up_to_China/articleshow/3002484.cms

Indians are being reminded that China has never accepted Kashmir as a part of India till now and that Beijing has been helping Pakistan's nuclear ambitions and strategic goals which are essentially targeted against us. We are also being reminded that China never supports us in international fora, it has tried to sabotage India�s candidature for UN Security Council membership, it uses Pakistan as a lever to balance the shift of power in our region and every now and then makes claims on Indian territory through statements and illegal incursions into Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh.

[Rteacher]

As President, I'd pull all our troops out of the God-fearing Middle Eastern countries and directly attack godless Communist regimes in China, Russia, and North Korea - during the Olympics ...

[Gwangjuboy]

[Ya-ta Boy]

You'll have to ask the writer directly to get the definitive answer, but two possible answers comes to my mind: hubris and wishful thinking.

I was struck by the hostile tone of both the Indian articles. From my other reading, I had gotten the impression that India and China were sort of buddying up, most likely because India and the US have been warming relations since Clinton's days in the White House. I wasn't prepared for the depth of hostility--I was expecting a more befuddled Indian attitude since the Dalai Lama lives in India. [/quote]

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Kimchi Cha Cha]

India itself is having a resurgence in nationalism, as any cricket fan could concur. It seems as large developing countries with a strong cultural identity and history increase in affluence, their collective pride veers towards nationalism.

However, India and China will be grow amicably. The world doesn't need these two countries becoming sworn enemies.

[Typhoon]