On Air: Liu Xiaobo: the right choice for the Nobel prize?
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This topic was discussed on World Have Your Say on 10 December 2010. Listen to the programme here.
Since Liu Xiaobo was announced as the winner of the Nobel peace prize in October China has barely been able to contain its . Officials in the country have labelled the award an 鈥渙bscenity鈥 and have openly warned against diplomats going to Oslo.
According to Beijing any countries attending the ceremony are 鈥渃lowns鈥, warning they鈥檒l face 鈥渟erious consequences鈥 if they turn up. These threats haven't gone unnoticed, a third of countries invited are staying away.
Russia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Afghanistan are just a few countries that have declined invitations. Publicly many of them haven鈥檛 given a reason for staying away but clearly they鈥檙e worried about repercussions.
Many in the west have labelled China鈥檚 approach nothing more than . Are they right? Is this the best way to pressure China?听How important is it to stand up to China?听Will the peace prize change anything?
The says Beijing鈥檚 response has revealed a new side to the country:
A brittle, defensive one-party regime unable to handle criticism and willing to bully others into submission.
On the other hand the media in China has accused the West of trying to put China on trial. The papers have berated the Norwegian Nobel committee, suggesting the country is inherently opposed to China's development.
The 大象传媒's mailbox is already filling up with plenty of comment on this, this is from Chuck in the UK:
It's very typical of China to use its economical status to force other countries to abstain from the Nobel ceremony. The chinese government is a big bully if things don't get their way, they throw the dummy out of the pram!
Another view from the UK, SS in London:
Once again, it really frustrates me at the lack of understanding from the western world, You cannot impose western views through arrogance and pushing.
There's also many views from China:
I do realize that human rights are good and china is not perfect on these issues. But I also hate people to point their finger听in my face and tell me what to do or what not to do as if they are doing a greatest job.
The western countries use their rules to judge others,this is not fair. We have our own sense of worth.
So is China just protecting its own interests? Should the prize have been awarded to a jailed dissident? Or is this the only way to make China listen?
