Beijing plays with fire

We previously discussed (here) how the Chinese government is actively fomenting Chinese ultra-nationalism over Tibet.  This is the tactic of fascist governments from Mussolini to Milosevic.  The Chinese government is truly playing with fire.

In a similar vein, the Chinese government now claims that Tibetans are planning suicide attacks.  Is this some twisted April Fools’ joke?  Tibetans?  Clearly, this is for domestic consumption, where this “news” will be used to stoke further ultra-nationalism against Tibetans.  Beijing also is trying to paint Tibetans with the “terrorist” brush to attempt to justify to the world its crackdown in Tibet.  Not very convincing.

Speaking of sick ultra-nationalism, there’s a new fake People’s Daily front page that’s been circulating in China (where the government’s 30,000 internet censors delete things the government objects to).  Is this some twisted April Fools’ joke too?  It reveals a very troubling upsurge in ugly ultra-nationalism among some Chinese (I am in no way suggesting that this is universal — some Chinese have bravely stood up to their government’s shortsighted policies over Tibet — see here, here and here).

It’s so offensive to common decency and humanity that I hesitate to give it any further circulation.  But I feel it is important for the world to know what is going on, what the ugly face of ultra-nationalism looks like in China, and how the Chinese government is directly to blame. 

The main headline at the upper left, above the mushroom cloud, reads: “China Successfully Tests new Type of Nuclear Bomb on San Francisco.”

Next to it in the top middle of the page: “United Nations HQ Moves to Beijing.”…

At top right, the headline reads: “Premier Wen Jiabao accompanied by Gov. Ma Ying-jeou pays a visit to Taiwan.” (In other words, Taiwan has already been absorbed into China.)

Smaller headlines lower on the page read:

“Chinese government Apologizes for Accidental Bombing of Pentagon.”

“Dalai Lama is Shot and Killed.”

“Major Earthquake hits Japanese Islands;
           Chinese government Sends Rescue Team.
                      No Survivors found Yet.”

Ultra-nationalism doesn’t spring about in a vacuum (Rwanda, Bosnia, etc. – they were all state-incited).  The Chinese government needs to start acting as a responsible member of the world community, not like a genocidal and thuggish clique.  Unfortunately when it comes to Tibet, it seems that Beijing reverts to barbarism.