As the Occupy protests continue in Hong Kong, articles, editorials and op-eds in the Western press continue to characterize the conflict as one between those in Hong Kong demanding "real democracy" and Beijing reneging on its promise of "universal suffrage" under "one country two systems." Western media and leaders - including the New York Times Editorial Board and President … [Read more...] about Are the Occupy Protesters really about “Democracy”?
Archives for September 2014
What is Your Take on Hong Kong Police Breaking Up Protesters Occupying Government Buildings and Public Spaces?
The news of Hong Kong Police using tear gas to disperse crowds aimed at occupying government buildings and public spaces to protest against Beijing rules on how Hong Kong residents vote for its next leaders are plastered on the first page of all the major news site today. The Wall Street Journal, for example, has this story. HONG KONG—In the harshest response against … [Read more...] about What is Your Take on Hong Kong Police Breaking Up Protesters Occupying Government Buildings and Public Spaces?
Alternate View from Xingjiang
It seems that every time Xingjiang is in the news it is when something bad has occured. Doesn't anyone question why there are no good news out of Xingjiang? I will be honest here, I really hated the mainstream western press portrayal of events in that region of China. The general narrative is that China invaded and colonized that region. Today, the native people there faced … [Read more...] about Alternate View from Xingjiang
Killing Chicken Warning Monkey
Now with the trial and sentencing of Ilham Tohti over, the expected reverberations and shocks from Western Countries continues. It's obvious Xinjiang officials and by implication central government in Beijing have decided on iron fist policy and no compromise. It remains to be seen whether it will work. Yet for me it is rather sad and with a sense of deja vu. For it very much … [Read more...] about Killing Chicken Warning Monkey
The Scotland Referendum and What it might teach us about Democracy
By the now, the results are in. Scotland has just rejected secession from U.K. in a historic referendum. There have been impassioned" pleas on both sides, but through it all, Scotland will remain a part of the U.K. If mainstream media is to be trusted, a big sigh of relief is heard around the world. Personally I have no feeling one way or another although I will admit, … [Read more...] about The Scotland Referendum and What it might teach us about Democracy