Upon visiting Saudi Arabia on 15th, Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao expressed support for the "Arab Spring."
Wen's remarks received great attention from the public.
Wen talked with Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary-General of
Organization of the Islamic Conference.
Wen said China “calls for terminating any violence against
civilians, and supports the efforts of reform in many countries.”
He expressed the belief that regional governments have the
ability to solve their own problems.
In the past year after Arabian world’s “Jasmine Revolution”, this
is the first time that Chinese officials publicly expressed support.
Is Wen's remark formulaic diction or sincere expression? What
does it indicate in the current international situation?
Wen’s words have given rise to great concerns and interpretations.
Zhang Weiguo, chief editor of Hong Kong magazine "Trends",
takes it to be ideological term.
He is now on a diplomatic visit to these countries.
His words and deeds naturally represent Chinese government.
Now the Arabian world has undergone sweeping changes.
If China refuses to recognize this change, it cannot establish
normal relationships with them. So this is only diplomatic diction.
Wen visited Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar when
Western countries strengthened boycott against Iran.
Iran is now China's third largest crude oil supplier, following
Saudi Arabia and Angola.
According to U.S. Energy Information Administration,
China is Iran's largest oil export market in 2010.
U.S. asked China’s cooperation to reduce purchasing oil
from Iran.
When EU and U.S. reduce oil imports from Iran,
China would be opposing them to cooperate with Iran.
Therefore, Premier Wen’s visit to the Middle East is seen
as CCP’s new energy strategy.
The New York Times said on 14 that CCP firmly refused to
participate in the U.S.-initiated boycott.
Requiring more talks over the Iranian nuclear issue.
Xia Ming, professor of political science at City University of
New York, said Wen’s speech revealed such an attitude of CCP.
Wen stressed that other countries should not get involved.
He is actually referring to the U.S., other Western countries, and NATO.
I feel he also indicates opposing Western countries’ intervention
in the Third World countries, which directly threatens CCP’s rule.
Professor Xia Ming also says, Wen wants to suggest that Chinese
authorities have the ability to solve domestic social conflicts.
However, Gaddafi, Mubarak, and the current situation in Syria
demonstrated authoritarian regimes can not solve the problems.
Now we’ve seen that some people died in Wukan;
last year saw 16 Tibetan self-immolations.
To convince the world of its ability, CCP first needs to solve
the problems behind these tragedies.
I think this is probably the key issue.
Wen also said CCP shares common interests with Islamic
Cooperation Organization in maintaining peace in West Asia and North Africa.
Prof. Xia believes that although both sides compete with the West,
CCP persecutes Muslims within China.
Religious conflicts will significantly impede their cooperation. 作者: bj88488848 时间: 2012-1-17 13:30
