John McCain Ruffles Beijing's Feathers By Suggesting 'The Arab Spring Is Coming To China'

By Alexandra Hudson

MUNICH, Germany, Feb 4 (Reuters) - U.S. Senator John McCain warned China's Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun on Saturday that "the Arab Spring is coming to China" and highlighted the number of Tibetans burning themeselves to death in his country.

Zhang, speaking with McCain on a panel at the high-level Munich security conference, dismissed his comments about a looming Chinese Arab Spring as "no more than fantasy" and condemned foreign interference in Chinese internal affairs.

McCain, who ran for president against Barack Obama in 2008, told Zhang in front of an audience of ministers, diplomats and security officials: "It is a matter of concern when Tibetans are burning themselves to death because of the continued repression of the Tibetan people in your country."

"I have said on many occasion and I will say again the Arab Spring is coming to China as well."

During the past year at least 16 Tibetans - most Buddhist monks and nuns - have self-immolated in protests seeking a return of the exiled Dalai Lama and freedom for Tibet.

A self-immolation triggered the unrest which brought down Tunisia's leader and led to copycat protests in other north African states, including Egypt, where Hosni Mubarak was ousted last February.

China has branded the immolators as terrorists and blamed Tibetan separatist forces for fomenting hatred among the people.

McCain, who served in the Vietnam war and was held prisoner by the North Vietnamese, continued: "Knowing your neigbours in the region as I do there is great concern about some of your activities."

Fears centred on the South China Sea, and other repressive actions against citizens who wanted to peacefully demonstrate, he added, as he spoke during a panel on Asia's rise chaired by former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

"China is China ... Some people suggest the Arab Spring will come to China, but that is more than a fantasy because the policies and governance of the country have the overwhelming support of the people," Zhang countered.

"In China, a country that was subjected to foreign invasion and occupation for 109 years, the Chinese people are resentful of any kind of lecturing on how China should manage its own affairs."

He added Beijing had made huge achievements in Tibet, expanding life expectancy and education.

McCain responded China would see less interference when it allowed free and fair elections.

"There are certain universal values that we all cherish, and ambitions to achieve those inalienable rights are something the United States is probably must proud of in its entire history."

McCain, who later shook hands with Zhang, told him: "I hope you didn't interpret my remarks as anything other than the advocacy that I and others hold for every nation in the world, including yours." (Reporting by Alexandra Hudson; Editing by Alison Williams)

Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Comments

[sanddc]

09:26 AM on 02/06/2012

Why is this man an hour away from
being declared senile speaking to anyone or foreign leaders anywhere.
Please take this man passport .

[Jim281]

02:03 AM on 02/06/2012

OMG

If he would have won the 2008 election, the world would be toast by now.

[clivechristy]

01:42 AM on 02/06/2012

Although I have no love for this cantankerous old man, rattling the cage of China is always good for a hoot.

[shergenius]

11:09 PM on 02/20/2012

inhuman

[trron9]

12:29 AM on 02/06/2012

Dear Mr. McCain please stay out of China's affairs!

[Donald J Sullivan]

11:24 PM on 02/05/2012

Someone shoot this guy with a tranquilizer gun!

[thomasdep]

10:26 PM on 02/05/2012

Who keeps putting the camera in front of the old grumpy guy?

[Gestas]

10:14 PM on 02/05/2012

McCain....J. McCain isn't he the bitter old man that thought Sarah Palin was,,,, Hot..?..

[Brit in China]

07:28 PM on 02/05/2012

I live and work in China. I am married to a Chinese. I have Chinese employees. I speak read and write Chinese.

In my experience there is ZERO chance of any kind of Arab Spring in China. People are too happy with their lot in life here. If they complain, and they do, it is about corrupt local officials, land grabbing property developers, house prices being too high (but that's changing), or the rice being over/under cooked.

As for Human Rights in China. At least the Chinese know there is no such thing as Human Rights. In Europe and America people still labor on with the belief that they have them. Wake up people - we have no rights anywhere on Earth. We have no right to be born, to breath, to live. We are all just lucky that we are here at all - so enjoy it while it lasts and do the best with what the planet offers.

;-}

[sophiajim]

07:48 PM on 02/05/2012

And how much do you pay these workers? Do they have any benifits, any health care. If they ge hurt do they recieve any help? Just wondering.

[Brit in China]

08:31 PM on 02/05/2012

Good question. The labor laws in China are very strict. The problem is not with the law it is with enforcement. As a Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise we are scrutinised far more than a local Chinese owned company. We are forced to comply with all laws and there are many. On average our workers earn approximately 1/6 of US workers, but he cost of living for a typical Chinese worker is less than 1/6 of the US. Some highly skilled Chinese now earn more than their US counterparts. They all have pension payments/entitlement, they all have health insurance/housing saving paid by the company. If they are injured at work there is a very fast process for making a lump sum payment to the injured or a berieved family. Today, a workers life is valued at approximately RMB 200,000 (USD 31,000) cash payment, although I have heard of payments within days of up to RMB 1,000,000 (USD 158,000). If you do not pay, the authorities will simply take away your business license and seize your assets. This takes no more than one month to play out. Imagine that in the US?

Chinese firms get away with a lot though - but usually this ends up inflaming the locals and will result in a mob turning up at the bosses house or the factory. There have been many examples of bosses killed for treating the workers badly. Fair enough.

[Brit in China]

08:31 PM on 02/05/2012

One must always remember when talking about China, that it has gone through the same amount of development in 33 years (1979 to 2012) that the USA went through in 150 years and the UK went through in 250 years. It is wrong for McCain to criticize a country that is improving at such a rapid pace and provides so much prosperity for its people in such a short time - his Government did exactly the opposite when it had power.

China is not perfect - far from it - but at least it is on the right side of curve - and that's why I'm here.

[nofriendofrepublicans]

08:19 PM on 02/05/2012

You been talking to the workers at Foxconn?

[Brit in China]

08:40 PM on 02/05/2012

Let's talk Apple, because that's the real discussion today - not Foxconn:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_accident

337 million accidents happen on the job each year globally and it is estimated that there are 2.3 million deaths annually 'at work'.

Global GDP is USD 63,000 billion.

Apple's sales each year are USD 108 billion which is 0.17% of global GDP. AMAZING in its own right. So, what if Apple had Global Average performance on killing workers:

0.17% x 2.3m deaths is 3,942 per year. How many deaths occur in the Apple supply chain and at Apple itself each year. I doubt it is more than 30 or 40. That means Apple's record on deaths at work is 1% of the global average.

0.17% x 337m accidents is 572,900 per year. What about accidents at Apple and in its supply Chain? Maybe into many hundreds. Still a good record in comparrison.

Remember this, the US Government has had over 6,000 deaths in one department alone since 2003 with tens of thousands of injured and maimed for life. And they irresponsibly brought about the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent bystanders at the same time.

IRAQ

So, best not to criticize China when one's own record is poor.

[LMPE]

06:49 PM on 02/05/2012

This article should be titled:

GROUCHY OLD MAN MANAGES TO SAY SOMETHING OTHER THAN "GET OFF MY LAWN!"

[sistahfriend]

06:37 PM on 02/05/2012

The GOTBPers just want WAR. They do all this talking. It shows the world, just how clueless they are.

[Janzee12000]

05:46 PM on 02/05/2012

Heh..., "ruffles feathers, farts dust..."

[vandegrasse]

05:38 PM on 02/05/2012

I wish the Arab Spring would come here!

[deckercat]

05:05 PM on 02/05/2012

the muslim brotherhood is taking over?

[samsausagehead]

03:44 PM on 02/05/2012

Somebody wipe off the oatmeal stuck under his neck. Nurse!

[bluelyne]

04:35 PM on 02/05/2012

Shut up Grandpa!

[thomasdep]

10:36 PM on 02/05/2012

You're killin me

[ClanMacKinnon]

03:39 PM on 02/05/2012

We could only hope.