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China calls Nobel decision 'blasphemy'; West praises it
[Update 7:55 a.m.] The Dalai Lama commented on the awarding Friday of the Nobel Peace Prize to jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.
"Awarding the Peace Prize to him is the international community's recognition of the increasing voices among the Chinese people in pushing China towards political, legal and constitutional reforms," he said. "I believe in the years ahead, future generations of Chinese will be able to enjoy the fruits of the efforts that the current Chinese citizens are making towards responsible governance."
[Update 7:08 a.m.] The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo was "blasphemy against the peace prize," a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday. The decision could harm relations between the nation and Norway, according to China's state media.
"Liu Xiaobo is a convicted criminal sentenced to jail by Chinese justice authorities for violation of Chinese law. His acts are in complete contradiction to the purpose of the Nobel Peace Prize," foreign ministry spokesman Mao Zhaoxu said.
SEE MORE REACTION TO LIU'S PEACE PRIZE HERE.
[Original post] Western nations praised the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Peace to jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, while China and North Korea largely ignored the news.
The British Foreign Office said the decision shines a spotlight on the situation of human rights defenders worldwide. Foreign Secretary William Hague continues to call for Liu's release, it said.
The French Foreign Ministry agreed, saying: "This decision represents the defense of human rights around the world. France, like the European Union, expressed its concern upon his arrest, and called for his release on several occasions. It reiterates the call. France reiterates its attachment to freedom of expression worldwide. The Nobel committee, which made its choice independently, wanted to send a strong message to all those who peacefully advocate for the promotion and protection of Human Rights.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso issued a statement saying, "The decision of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee is a strong message of support to all those around the world who, sometimes with great personal sacrifice, are struggling for freedom and human rights. These values are at the core of the European Union and the decision of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee highlighted their importance all over the world."
In China, the People's Daily website led with a story about the Chinese stock markets climbing more than 3 percent in Friday trading. There was nothing about Liu on the Chinese government's English-language website. Nothing on CCTV state television. China Daily has a story about Thursday's Nobel in literature, awarded to Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa, but nothing about Friday's Peace Prize.
Hong Kong's government news site was silent on the Nobel, but the independent South China Morning Post carried a Reuters story about Liu's prize along with several sidebars and included a flattering picture of him.
North Korea's official government news site did not mention it.
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@Aro....you don't care? Well, I can't argue with that. Still, we should be happy that US troops are guarding China's oil flowing from the Caspian basin through pipelines in Afghanistan. At least that way the plasti-crap flag you wave only costs .89 cents at china-mart. (aka wal-mart)
And how many hundred billions of dollars are we indebted to China now?
"Awarding of this prize could have harm relations between China and Norway", Really? Good grief, give China 5 years and it will be paying to have its people moved to other countries because it will have made its own toxic.
phil. You point out another great fact about Hitler receiving one. These Nobel people, really when one considers all their awards for Peace, should not be presenting this award. Because it's obvious they don't know what peace is. The only time this planet has seen peace is the Peace Sign. People were flashing it everywhere. Who came up with that?
I just know the prices at Walmart will be going up. But no one points that out. Not that I care. I think they should all be burnt to the ground. There, there's a person who should receive a Nobel Peace award. Whoever organizes the systematic successful burning to the ground of every Walmart in the United States.
Unfortunately, they stay open 24 hours. Those Chinese are smart.
jim
The type of democracy that Western nations push for the rest of the world to copy - electoral democracy - should not be implemented in China. Unless Chinese want to produce people in the government who are primary "charming" with well-connected backgrounds or with support from powerful families. Just like in the West. And the results can already be seen in Taiwan, which can be regarded as a "test case".
Asking rich and powerful families from southern China to fund candidates from, oh say, northeast or northwest? Don't be silly.
Chinese largely don't know the importance of creativity and why it is the main source of strength a group of people or a nation can possess. System of governance that allows clever, smart and hard-working people from any regions of China to have similar opportunity and similar societal tests in order to be at the top of the government must be created and constantly refined by Chinese. This system can then be called Chinese-style democracy - a democracy that takes into consideration Chinese ways of thinking and ways of problem-solving, in other words, Chinese cultural backgrounds.
Only when Chinese create its own democracy can Chinese truly be proud of themselves.
@Jim...Hitler was only nominated for the nobel peace prize. Still, that someone that horrific should even be mentioned when handing out awards is preposterous. It would be like nominating Ariel Sharon.
Enough with this fashionable Obama bashing. He was awarded the prize, it's over with, end of story. Focus more on the current events.
Even Obama said he didn't do anything to deserve the Nobel prize and he was right. All Obama had done at that point was run a campaign promising utopia and win an election to become the first multi-ethnic president. I don't hate Obama but the Nobel prize is sometimes used to support a social agenda like the Oscar is. Saddam and his sons would take girls out of their schools and have their way with them. Resistance meant death to these girls. Saddam was a cancer and we're better off without him. If the cowardly residents around the world would clean up their own trash then the US wouldn't have to do it for them. You can't be pro women's rights and pro dictator. China will aggressively expand its "empire" when it has amassed enough military power. Its a matter of time. Boycott Chinese products!
@Whitekong78....get a clue. US troops are in Afghanistan right now protecting China's lifeline. (oil from the Caspian Basin flowing thru Afghanistan to China) Boycotting Chinese products makes it all for nothing. ..................i did like your Saddam and the girls. ..........Reminds me of our own Priests and little boys.
I am amazed at how people get worked up over things that pale in comparison to the issues we face here everyday. If the same energy were put toward resolving our problems here we would all be better off.
@ phil: I wish the Catholics would demand justice as well but they choose to pray things will get better. I'm all for the US becoming isolationists. The rise of communism killed more innocent people than all the people killed combined in every american conflict. People here and abroad need to grow a pair and fight against corruption.
@ Phil also don't include me in the "our" label. I've done things to help my surrounding community. What do you do to help anyone besides act like you have infinite wisdom on how the world works? There is a snotty ego driven tone you take with anyone you talk to on here. I have a clue thank you. Maybe you should try running for office since you have all the answers. I'm guessing its easier to sit at your computer than do any actual work for "our" country.
Hitler was nominated! The nomination was retracted days later, ergo he was never awarded the Nobel prize. Stalin who was responsible for millions of deaths was also nominated as was Mussolini.
For many years, I told my son that in order for a Chinese to get a Nobel peace prize, he/she has to oppose his/her own government, nothing else will do the trick. That sums up how ane what a Nobel Peach Prize is.
@whitekong78....wow! You read my posts! Sorry abiout my delivery. I'm not a pro at this for sure. And I do these posts from a cell phone...not on PC. I'm old, and I've never owned a television. I've worked around the world for nearly 40 yrs. now. (oilfield trash is what some would say) So I know a little about how oil moves around the world....a bit more than your average Kieth Oberman I would say. (hoping to explain my posts concerning the "war" in Afghanistan) I seek out chats like this one because few people discuss these topics in my day-to-day life with the fervor found here. ...........who are you?