American House Speaker Pelosi ‘Defies Law and Discipline’ …

Has U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ‘defied law and discipline,’ and ‘challenged U.S. government’ protection’ of the Olympic torch relay? These are just some of the latest charges being leveled against Pelosi by the Beijing regime. In this article, published in the strictly-controlled state run People’s Daily, her recent efforts to have legislation passed denying U.S. officials the use of public funds to attend the Beijing Olympics, “have left people amazed and speechless.’ The author, a scholar at Shanghai’s Fudan University, concludes, “This American stateswoman repeatedly asks other nations to abide by the law, but she herself interferes when her government makes security commitments. … Ms. Pelosi will only discredit herself and her own image if she persists in embarrassing China.”

By Shen Dingli*

April 14, 2008

People’s Republic of China – People’s Daily – Original Article (English)

The ongoing Olympic torch relay has drawn tremendous attention and the enthusiastic welcome of countries and peoples around the world. But there has also been a number of discordant voices, among which is the noisome U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Ms. Pelosi seems to object to whatever China does. This time, the U.S. House Speaker seems to resentful as China greets the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games with enthusiastic, nationwide attention, and as the country strives to hold an Olympics of the highest standards to show the achievements of three-decades of reform and opening-up.

Now the Speaker has reproached the IOC for giving China the chance to host the Olympic Games. In her view, China still has lots of drawbacks so isn’t entitled to host the Games. Perhaps it hasn’t occurred to Speaker Pelosi that hosting the Games could represent not only the global community’s affirmation of China’s three-decades of reform and opening up, but also the legitimate rights and interests of a great nation that accounts for one fifth of the world’s population. By holding the Games and promoting international sports exchanges does nothing but boost the international Olympic movement. By hosting the Olympics, the Chinese government and people show that they are doing their best to promote world peace.

In both word and deed, the American Executive stands in stark contrast to Pelosi. The While House has expressed its appreciation for China’s readiness to promote global progress with sports exchange. President George W. Bush has repeatedly voiced his intention to attend the opening ceremonies in August, and senior officials of his administration have said that the active desire of 1.3 billion Chinese to contribute to the Olympic movement should be seen positively and treasured highly.

The White House has noted that wide-ranging cooperation exists between China and the United States, and that supporting China’s hosting of the Games is a cooperative measure for reaching mutual understanding through sports and people-to-people exchanges. While there exist many differences between our two nations, enhancing mutual understanding is the best way to overcome them and expand cooperation.

There are many ways and platforms for the settlement of differences, but the Olympic Games should not be exploited to take the Chinese side hostage. So President Bush and his colleagues have taken a responsible approach in both concept and action by promoting bilateral ties with regard to the Beijing Games.

READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing foreign press coverage of the unfolding crisis as it relates to the United States.