Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Xi's visit to Czech Republic: protests and positives

The First Foundation is thataway.

Czech Taiwan and China security expert Michal Thim just posted this to Facebook

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Toward the end of the video (on Youtube), a Chinese woman (I will leave her possible affiliations to everyone's own considerations) tells a Czech citizen that he is not "welcome here". Here means Prague, and she is a part of large group of Chinese "volunteers" who moved around in a buses, ostensibly to welcome Chinese President in Prague, and confronted protesters, especially those who were holding Tibetan flags. In some places they obstructed view with huge PRC flags they carried, or using the buses they rented.

On related note, one of online news sites reported that the Chinese embassy instructed (although it was careful enough not to be direct coordinator, some shady Czech-Chinese Commerce Association was) "volunteers" to tear down undesirable flags, make noise, not to openly provoke, but not to be afraid to confront either. Source is one of the Chinese students who spoke on condition of anonymity. The "volunteers" consisted of people who work in the Czech Republic for Chinese companies like Huawei, students, and also "tourists".

Of course, there was no need to mobilize Chinese citizens who reside in the Czech Republic, Chinese Embassy could just let the protesters protest and deal with the official business. But none of this is exactly new. We have seen it prior to 2008 Olympics in places like Paris or in London last year. I actually have hard times to understand it because in the end of the day, it is counter-productive. I can see in online discussions that many people who otherwise would not care are outraged with the spectacle, by apparent disinterest of Czech police to protect constitutional rights of Czech citizens, and by the kowtow approach the Czech President demonstrates.

On a positive note, the treaty on partnership that was signed yesterday is a standard text that other EU countries signed with China, which means it does not contain any concessions on Taiwan or Tibet. Chinese side tried, the Czech government did not concede.

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6 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Red Guards return

Shauming said...

On one 'arm' in the photo, 泛舟登岸點 is translated as 'Terminus'. And according to a dictionary, Terminus was the name of the deity who presided over boundaries in ancient Rome. The other two signs literally mean 'Long Rainbow Bridge' and 'New Long Rainbow Bridge'. Taken together, these pointers make me feel Huadong boundary is quite a special place.


Anonymous said...

Myopic and thin-skinned Chinese will never see the big picture. Always shooting themselves in the foot. Will their leaders ever grow up? Probably not in our life time... As you alluded to Michael, they love to make a mountain (of nasty ants) out of a mohill. Nice post.

Butenbengel said...

Agree, it is very counter productive. As I learned these days from a big news story in Turkey / Germany: It's called the "Streisand effect" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect

A German TV-show aired a funny sketch about Mr. Erdogan. He got so upset that the German ambassador was ordered in and they wanted him to "delete" the clip....

Big news in Germany and as a result, the video has now over 1/2 million youtube hits. Thanks to the publicity, the TV show ("Extra 3") made Mr. Erdogan "Employee of the month"

.... And that's how you make a Streisand effect!!!

Unknown said...

"On a positive note, the treaty on partnership that was signed yesterday is a standard text that other EU countries signed with China, which means it does not contain any concessions on Taiwan or Tibet. Chinese side tried, the Czech government did not concede." I've been a fan of the Czech Republic for quite a while now. They had Václav Havel as president for a while and he strengthened relations with Taiwan quite a bit and make human rights an important part of foreign relations. He was a good guy.

Unknown said...

A part from Xitler's visit to the peaceful Czech Republic, may be the world has witnessed how China's propaganda goes on Organized party plan. The character of the young Chinese protesters, they have the guts even to threat to some of the citizens of Czech, and the usage of their language- totally out of democratic rights and norms.What a big shame they have made on China during Xitler's visit.