Peace Prize mockery of its ideals
Could anyone at that time imagine that he or she would be able to bring a government department to court today? Could anyone then expect that he or she would be able to talk about whatever he or she wants to talk about? Could anyone anticipate that public opinion would be able to bring about a fundamental change in a State policy?
The members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee may ask: If that is the case, why was Liu Xiaobo jailed for what he said?
This is another misunderstanding. They need to know that Liu was sentenced to jail because he was inciting others to subvert State power and overthrow the socialist system, organizing and inducing others to support his aims. His activities became harmful to society and violated China's Criminal Law.
The committee members should ask themselves: Will any government allow someone to engage in such subversive activities? Should we declare that the Norwegian government should be overthrown simply because it has some problems? Of course not, every government has its own problems and no political system is free of defects.
True, China has its own problems. There is much to be desired when it comes to democracy and its political system. Yet, Western democracy has its problems too and so has its political systems.
Rome was not built in a day. China will continue its political reform. Yet, there is a prerequisite for this reform: It should never cause political chaos and it should never interrupt the process of economic growth.
In this country, villagers directly elect their village heads. But problems, such as election rigging, organized criminal gangs behind the voting etc, have to be seriously dealt with before these elections can really represent the interests of the majority of villagers. It may take several decades for even direct elections at the country's lowest grassroots level to work properly.
However, the way proposed by Liu Xiaobo would throw this country into chaos, which would not only interrupt its economic growth and social development, it would sap the country's will and desire for further development and may even cause it to collapse. That is the last thing Chinese people want.
That explains why what he has done poses a real threat to this country and the well-being of its people. By awarding Liu the Nobel Peace Prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has not just tarnished its own reputation and demonstrated its hypocrisy, but also infringed upon the sovereignty of China and showed disrespect to its people.
The author is a senior writer for China Daily.
