It is important that Americans are also aware of the connection between the PLA’s military response on peaceful civilians in Tibet and the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, when ordinary Chinese civilians wanted democratic reforms. Beijing’s violent attitude must not continue without protest.

According to Congressman Tom Tancredo, cooperation with China yields litte for Washington and American businesses. There are countless product recalls, refusals to allow US naval ships to dock in Hong Kong and lack of cooperation with international bodies such as the WHO. Then, there’s Beijing support of the Sudanese government.

For Tibetans, it’s a struggle for independence not a dubious Beijing-invented status quo like the one it imposes on Taiwan.

I hope that the Democrats will have the audacity to take a stand against the arrogance and hypocrisy of the PRC, rather than issue watered-down statements to not offend anyone.