Like most politicians, China’s capitalist/communists are convinced that recent news coverage involving hacked Gmail accounts and the arrest of artist/democracy activist Ai Weiwei mean only one thing: Beijing needs better public relations. According to this editorial from China’s state-run Huanqiu, China suffers a negative public image because it has allowed a hostile Western media to characterize its actions. Notably, however, at the end of the editorial, the author appears to call for an end to Chinese government secrecy.
The editorial from Huanqiu says in part:
This may not be worth getting all worked up about, because Western media has always been this way. Instead, we should ask: where have all the relevant China agencies run off to? China suffers a tremendous number of foreign cyber attacks every day. The computers of some government officials have been manipulated, resulting in serious leaks of confidential information and the punishment of individual officials. So why does China sit so obediently listening to rebukes from foreign countries without ever publicizing the cyber attacks that occur here. In other words, why does it allow itself to be depicted as an infamous pirate while being constantly robbed!
Google probably wants to pick a fight with China because its business here isn’t going so well, and resentment has built up over its grievances with the government.
“Everyone knows that this is an era of public relations and attracting attention, where silence often means approval by default. If you don’t take the initiative and set the agenda, then you’ll be knocked about by others. China has accomplished stunning achievements and is warm and decent to outsiders, but in the process, it has gradually become known as a ‘big bad’ nation.”
We try to condemn others, but we should first reflect on ourselves. Information opacity has become a habit, and laying low seems to be the strategy for reacting to all sensitive situations. Everyone knows that this is an era of public relations and attracting attention, where silence often means approval by default. If you don’t take the initiative and set the agenda, then you’ll be knocked about by others.
China is a dignified country that has problems and makes mistakes. But whatever the flaws, they should not obscure the beauty of jade. They should not prevent us from openly laying out and explaining our national goals. They can withstand the scrutiny. Demonstrating our progress to others should not be considered the least bit shameful. Concealment is unnecessary and many of our documents can and should be made into public reports.
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