China Communists Say Nobel Peace Prize `Political Tool’ After Liu’s Award
China’s flagship Communist Party newspaper attacked the Nobel Peace Prize as a “political tool” that is “in tune with U.S. global strategy,” maintaining its criticism of last month’s award to an imprisoned dissident.
In a commentary, the People’s Daily said Western countries were using the prize to undermine China’s ruling party and the country’s model of economic development. Liu Xiaobo, a democracy activist imprisoned in China, was awarded the honor on Oct. 8. The commentary was attributed to Guo Shu, who wasn’t identified.
“Clearly, the West does not want a strong China,” the article said. “Awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo explicitly reveals Western countries’ attempts to back anti- socialism forces and utilize them to disrupt China’s development.”
The commentary illustrates the anger China’s rulers feel toward the U.S. and its allies over the awarding of the prize and comes days before President Hu Jintao is due to meet President Barack Obama, U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron and other leaders at a summit in South Korea. China has warned countries not to come out in support of the award ahead of next month’s ceremony in Oslo or risk damaging diplomatic ties.
The People’s Daily article traced the history of the prize, going so far as to condemn its awarding to Soviet-era physicist and human rights-activist Andrei Sakharov “known for his hostility to his own country” and to former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev who “spearheaded” the country’s collapse, it said. The Dalai Lama also won the prize previously, which was part of the plan to split up China, the commentary said.
December Ceremony
The awarding of the prize to Liu, which will be formally presented in Oslo on Dec. 10, is part of a series of actions by the U.S., its allies and companies to undermine China, the commentary said. It cited 2009 riots in western China’s Xinjiang, which the government blames on foreign provocateurs, Google Inc.’s move earlier this year to stop censoring its Chinese Web site, 2008 riots in Tibet, and an ongoing territorial dispute with Japan.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai, speaking to reporters today in Beijing, said any nation supporting Liu’s award risked damaging relations with China.
“So the choice before some European countries and others is clear and simple,” Cui said. “Do they want to be part of the political games, and do they want to be part of the effort to challenge the Chinese judicial system, or do they want to want to develop friendly relations with the Chinese government and people.”
“If they make the wrong choice, they will have to bear the consequences,” Cui said.
—Michael Forsythe. With assistance from Huang Zhe in Beijing. Editors: Ben Richardson, Bill Austin
To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Michael Forsythe in Beijing at +86-10-6649-7580 or [email protected]
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Bloomberg News at [email protected]