3.06.2009

New Feature: Foreign Affairs Friday

I have decided to launch a new feature that I'm sure will be as popular as my 24 blogging series: Foreign Affairs Friday. Since it ties in to my current studies, I will discuss something that's going on in the world each week. What a way to start the weekend!

We will begin this new feature by looking at China. This is a big year for anniversaries in China. The People's Republic was formed in 1949, 60 years ago. Two other upcoming anniversaries are less eagerly anticipated by the Chinese government: the anniversaries of the Tibetan revolt that forced the exile of the Dalai Lama (March 10, 1959), and the crushed student uprising in Tiananmen Square (June 4, 1989). The government, always concerned about keeping domestic order, fears that these anniversaries could spark protests.

The Tibet anniversary is next week, and the New York Times reports that China is active in the region as that date approaches. Chinese fears are especially acute in light of the protests in Tibet a year ago.
Now, the authorities have imposed an unofficial state of martial law on the vast highlands where ethnic Tibetans live, with thousands of troops occupying areas they fear could erupt in renewed rioting on a momentous anniversary next week. And Beijing is determined to keep foreigners from seeing the mass deployment.
As March 10 approaches, it will be interesting to see what occurs, although it may be difficult for news to get out, since Tibet is remote and media visits are discouraged (the reporter in the NYT piece was detained for 20 hours). However, in this age of cell phones and Twitter, news cannot be kept quiet so easily. 2009 will be an interesting year in China.

2 comments :

  1. Do you have any thoughts on this: http://www.bobharris.com/content/view/1674/1/ ?

    (I know you told us how to do links one time, but I forgot.)

    (Also, I'm a little surprised that you haven't addressed any of the Rush Limbaugh hoopla. Is it because you don't want to jump on the hoopla bandwagon?)

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  2. Are you referring to the attack itself or the Western reaction? Pakistan is a huge, difficult problem, what with Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, its unreasonable fear of India, its feuding politicians, and its rough terrain. This attack is a reminder of this.

    As for the Rush thing, I usually avoid huge stories, because everyone else comments on them, and I try to be unique and search the dark corners of the news for tidbits. But I don't think Team Obama really has as much to gain from this as they think they do. They look kind of petty. And I do prefer Rush over all those weak GOP politicians.

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