By China’s despicable actions yesterday cannot be justified by anyone with a grain of decency in their body. Regardless of the need to respect a country’s right to establish the rule of law, the decision to execute a mentally ill man, British or not, should send shock waves around the world and shows how little China care about their global image.
The timing of the execution also poses lots of questions. Surely it is no coincidence that - less than a month since the disastrous Copenhagen summit and after relentless condemnation from delegates who witnessed the hopes of those who worked so hard to secure a global pact to tackle climate change shattered by selfish, protectionist Chinese tactics - the Chinese choose to respond by orchestrating an execution that they may have knowingly carried out with the intention of generating a diplomatic incident.
Maybe this is far-fetched but I would argue it is not outside the realms of possibility.
And what does this incident mean for Labour-China relations? In a letter to the Guardian published on the 28th December, John Prescott fiercely defended the conduct of the Chinese delegation at the Copenhagen summit and seemed to be acting as a lightning conductor to protect Labour from a fierce Chinese backlash over the language used by British Ministers and officials since returning from Copenhagen. To some this was a just intervention to calm a simmering diplomatic row. To others it was the equivalent of turning John Prescott into a human version of Sudan. Portraying him as an unquestioning supporter of the Beijing regime regardless of the overwhelming evidence that – actually they did screw up the Copenhagen accord.
Again today the Chinese have objected to the language and rhetoric used by our Government and warned that such "unreasonable criticism" could harm relations between the two countries. The question is, will we stand by our principles, stand up for human rights and set an example for other countries to follow? Or will we send Peter Mandelson by special delivery to massage Premier Wen Jiabao’s ego and bow to diplomatic pressure for the sake of our economic ties and out of fear of the consequences of not being “friends” with one of the most unfriendly governments on earth?
What both the execution of Akmal Shaik and the Chinese involvement in the Copenhagen summit show is that diplomatic and international relations have changed beyond all recognition with the rise of “new” superpowers such as China. In the future, we will no longer pride ourselves on “special relationships”. Instead, we will have an ongoing struggle to maintain strong economic and cultural ties without ever compromising on our own morals.
It is important that we continue to set an example to the rest of the world, by condemning the use of the death penalty regardless of the situation, by providing shelter for refugees and by always speaking up for those who are denied their basic human rights. Whether it is in China, America or Sudan, we cannot let incidents such as today’s execution continue to occur.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
I think you'll find little Millisqueak doesn't really have any clout with the other proper politicians.
Oh yeah, we're not exactly an important country any more.
Could it be that Nu Labour shrewdly calculate that the core working class vote they so wish to cultivate is actually in favour of him being executed. After all he is 'foreign' and was found running heroin. So lets do enough - just enough - to keep the Guardianistas on side but not too much that might actually be effective?
From the tone of the posts on the BBC Website don't be surprised if next week Alan and Gordon come out with a new Drugs policy based on piano wire and the lamp posts in Whitehall
China is a totalitarian regime that lies, deceives and abuses its position of power both internally and externally.
It supports some of the world's most despotic regimes.
It runs massive "re-education camps" for its political dissidents
It executes thousands each year and it refuses all democratic freedoms.
Meanwhile we have people hand wringing in the West who say "oooo but we are doing x, y and z so we can't say anything".
My company has a large office in Shanghai, you should see some of the government edicts they get dropped on them. There is no debate, no negotiation, no explanation. Just a simple "do it".
I suggest all the China apologists go and live there for a while and see how not quite doing exactly as your told goes down with the authorities.
I remember the Olympic games where areas for "protest" were set aside as per the Olympic Organisation's requirements. The only problem was to go there required a license and none were given out and anyone without a license was arrested.
So we had a "protest" area with no protesters. Which of course pleased the autocratic despots running China perfectly.
The biggest threat to the West is members of its own public who are so blase with their own freedoms they fail to see the threat failing to stand up to the likes of China represents.
Though I agree the decision to do so was fundamentally unethical. sadly we are heading in the opposite direction economically to China and they will have more influence that we do internationally....aaah the price we will pay for corrupt MPs and poor economic planning from both parties over the last thirty years or so.....
We need China now, our precious Tory Government sought to remove the threat of the Unions by using the Global Economy to protect their investments while their companies pay less to the workforce who use the terrible strict rules you condemn in your article to keep them under control.
Our Governments and businesses have been directly/indirectly involved in this, supporting the Chinese in abusing the rights of the people there because they could not get our workforce to put up with the same treatment.
As I said before Phillip, would you and others like them who preach for human rights face the economic truth, that we are addicted to cheaply made over priced goods (carrying fashion and brand names) that are made off of the backs of abused people?
Would you campaign the huge corporations with interests in regime based countries to cease their operations, how would you do this and do you think any Government would support you?
30th of December and that could be post of the year. Excellent.
Except when we invade their country when they are terrorists...
As i pointed out yesterday i am against the death penalty but this man broke the law in china , If his family were so concerned about him and his health why where they not caring for him? Why did they allow him to go to china?
and the fake outrage by the leadership here when our troops are keeping Mr Kharzi in power and he has a law that lets a man rape his wife , double standerds
Danny