China, Its actions will show the world where it stands

September 9, 2007

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The Sept. 3 headline "China hopes Olympic glory extends past medal count" was thought-provoking and reminded me of how Adolf Hitler's Nazi dictatorship camouflaged its militaristic character while hosting the Summer Olympics in August 1936.

It's to be expected, and rightly so, that Chinese political leaders are desperate to use the Beijing Olympics as a showcase to domestic audiences to heighten national pride and to international audiences to present itself as a responsible and trusted great power.

However, considering China's support for pariah and inhumane regimes such as those in Sudan, North Korea and Iran; its adamant threat to annex self-governed Taiwan with the deployment of more than 1,000 missiles; its unjustified huge military buildup; and its relentless push for economic and political influences past its borders, one has to wonder if its Olympics slogan "Peacefully Rising China" is actually a scheme to exploit the Games to advance its anti-democracy and anti-Western agenda to achieve its goal of global dominance. Hitler used the same tactic to strengthen Nazi power and control that led to World War II and the Holocaust.

If China wants to be perceived as a peace-loving responsible stakeholder, its leaders should show the world with constructive behaviors that are in step with mainstream international concepts of human rights and respect of democracy.

Grace Tseng
New Berlin