Written by S.A.B (my husband) try to respond to
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jh...equestid=349175In response to some of the assumptions made by commentators, the media and the public concerning the issues of Tibet and China I feel compelled to convey my thoughts. I am English and recently spend a year living in China, getting to know my new in-laws and my Chinese wife’s extended family. I arrived with many ‘pre-conceptions’ of ‘the communist state’ but I have to say, I did not recognise the repressive, totalitarianism depicted by much western media. And the people of China that I met were the happiest, warmest, friendliest, and nicest people.
In my humble opinion the Chinese have more freedoms than citizens of many western countries and the Chinese state interferes less in the lives of its citizens than in democratic societies, like the US/UK. I have seen the rapid development of the cities at firsthand, I have seen the entrepreneurial businesses that are everywhere and experienced the pride people express for China’s ‘inclusive’ social development and economic achievements. I have experienced the community focused public spaces, parks and recreational facilities. They believe in social harmony and inclusiveness for ALL, and you can see this manifest everywhere. From, communities gathering in the parks for dancing and singing, to the development of free education and community health care.
In terms of treatment of ethnic minorities, the Chinese people consist of 56 ethnic groups and celebrate their ethnic differences, while having a deep understanding of their common historical ties and collective identity as Chinese. The people I met had the upmost respect for cultural differences. Many, many Chinese are practising Buddhists and they love and respect the ethnic Tibetan traditions and unique culture. In fact if the propaganda of western media represented reality, there would be demonstrations and riots in every part of China because the Chinese people themselves would be outraged.
From my understanding, it is an historical fact that Tibet has been a province of China for over 1000 years and it was only British colonialism and invasion in 1903-4 that disrupted this historical fact. (For example it was the British who gave a large ‘chunk’ of Tibet to India in 1911). If you understand China’s political system you will know that many provinces have always had great autonomy from central government, and historically the Tibetan region was ruled by the Dalai Lama and his aristocratic class. Historically, Tibet had a highly hierarchical administrative and social structure based on a feudal model. The ‘Dalai Lama’ represents a particularly brutal form of authoritarianism. Most Tibetans had NO freedom, lived in abject poverty, were considered as serfs and slaves, and were routinely brutalised by the Dalai Lamas’ regime. It is incredible that ill informed ‘westerns’ believe a return to the ‘Dalai Lamas’ rule would bring freedom to Tibet. Would the British want a return to feudal society, or the US, to colonial rule? Didn’t the French chop the heads off their feudal overlords during their revolution? Would a return to this kind of governance really be of benefit to any people apart from those who would be the overlords?
I would just add, I agree totally with Fu Ying, and fully support the Chinese people in their struggle for economic and social development. Human rights issues are important and it is right to highlight the suffering of people where ever they may be. But the western media should be objective, there are far worse things going on closer to home and a more critical approach to our own governments’ human rights abuses would be more helpful. I suspect the present focus of attention by western media has more to do with political ‘games’ and nothing at all to do with China’s human rights record or Tibet.