China Sweeps "Internal Affairs" Under Rug

Yesterday brought two interesting pieces of news about China.

First, there were more reports of rioting there.

Thousands of Chinese rioted in a dispute sparked by a lopsided roadside brawl, set fire to cars and wounded six police officers in an outburst likely to worry communist leaders in Beijing desperate to cling on to power.

The official Xinhua news agency, in a rare report on a local disturbance, blamed Sunday's riot in Chizhou in dirt-poor eastern Anhui province on a few criminals who led the "unwitting masses" astray.

The violence was the latest in a series of protests which the Communist Party, in power since 1949, fears could spin out of control and become a channel for anger over corruption and a growing gap between rich and poor. [Note that the second reason for the rioting is, um, a bit Marxist! -- ed]

As I have noted here recently, rioting like this is frequent in China and is often sparked by such things as the government acting in a way that five of our Supreme Court justices would approve of.

Ironically, that very same repressive government sees fit to lecture the United States on the virtues of the government not interfering in the economy -- on the very same day the rioting occurred and when speaking about a firm 70% owned by the Chinese government!

Quoting Matt Drudge:

China expressed opposition to interference in a government-controlled oil company's bid for the U.S.-based oil company Unocal, state media said Wednesday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said that China National Offshore Oil Corporation's $18.5 billion offer for Unocal was "normal commercial activity between enterprises."

Liu said "economic cooperation between China and the U.S. serves the interests of both sides and commercial activities should not be interfered in or disturbed by political elements."

There are growing concerns in Washington over the deal as some U.S. officials are uncomfortable with CNOOC, 70 percent owned by the Chinese government, controlling a major player in the U.S. energy sector.

Xinhua reported Wednesday that CNOOC Chief Executive Fu Chengyu is heading to the United States for negotiations and to dispel concerns over the deal.

First off, isn't China always telling everyone else to keep its nose out of its "internal affairs?" Then they should butt out of ours. And second, perhaps if China wanted everyone else to stay out of its "internal affairs," it could mind them better itself.

The blatant hypocrisy of the Chinese government is truly amazing to behold. I hear you can even see it from outer space.

-- CAV