Hi there, Madeleine presenting today, and we’re asking if the western media is biased against China?
The Chinese press and government have accused western media organisations, including the BBC, of focusing unduly on their crackdown on the Tibet protests – without, they say, drawing attention to brutal attacks on ethnic Chinese people and their businesses by Tibetans. Do you agree? Do you feel as though you’re not getting the full picture from Tibet from western media broadcasts and newspapers? But when China removes all foreign journalists from Tibet, just how accurate can our reporting be? As the Olympic Games draw closer and China is under the spotlight ever more, is the western media accurate and fair in its reporting on China?
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If China wants equal media coverage, they need to provide a platform where equal coverage can be had. China, wake up, this means unfettered access for journalist inside Tibet, China, etc.
It makes me giggle that China’s ‘state-run media’ is complaining of bias.
Brett ~ Richmond, Va.
“…is the western media justified in it’s hostility towards China?”
Err – isn’t that begging the question, just a little bit?
“Do you feel as though you’re not getting the full picture from Tibet from western media broadcasts and newspapers?” ‘Feel’? I think that experience teaches me to ‘feel’ that those bloggers – of which there are quite a few – who hate the West will certainly ‘feel’ that this is an opportunity to indulge in their favourite sport of bashing the West. Debates that take as their starting point facts, rather than feelings, about the subject are always preferable. And since outside of China what the Communist Party asserts doesn’t count as fact I don’t think that what it ‘alleges’ ( or even ‘feels’) in this connection has much going for it either.
Where is the evidence of bias? I have seen and heard reported everything that the Chinese dictatorship claims that the Western media is suppressing (including footage from the Chinese authroties themselves). What possible motivation could the media in the West have for not reporting the truth about Tibet? This is on a par with the Chinese claim that the ‘Dalai clique’ were responsible for the demonstrations and violence in Tibet. What bias does exist regarding this is in China’s favour given the silent, craven, commercial and appeasement-minded stance of almost every major Western government.
‘Bias’ is really an instance of doublespeak when dealing with a totalitarian regime. It means either reporting the truth or not reporting the official line (which usually amounts to the same thing).
The clampdown by the Chinese on all foreign journalists in Tibet makes a complete nonsense of their complaints. It would also be a better topic to discuss.
The Chinese invasion of Tibet was accomplished 800 years ago. The Manchu exercised effective control for hundreds of years. Western imperialists invaded China and complicated this administration. The Chinese military again entered Tibet fifty years ago and incorporated Tibet.
Like the Irish and the Scots concerning English rule, many Tibetans are not happy with this.
Is this a worthy cause compared to Palestine? There, a racist diaspora converged from many different nations to terrorize, displace, and ethnically cleanse the native population whom the invader’s religious ideology styles as “like animals”, worthy only to be tolerated as “daily humiliated servants”.
Again, it appears that “causes” tend to be selected among soft targets that are unable to cause difficulties for the espousers.
You can’t imprison journalists for reporting the truth and then expect the world press to like you.
The chinese press is finally coming to terms with what the western media and western governments have always known;that Information is indeed very powerfull.
Over the years, the west has used it’s media to limit other societies and distort the reality with the view to promoting hatred and spreading propaganda against those particular countries/societies.
The rumour mongering about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction,Iran’s nuclear threaths and i’s ‘war on terror’ campaigns share a common denominator- they were(and are) being used by the Western gov’ts and other westen agents to influence world opinion to their favour.
Western media has rarely been open and fair or free and democratic. The BBC, CNN,ABC,etc were used to lobby for unjust support against saddam’s WMDs.
Five years later-is Iraq safer? Were there any weapons of mass destruction?
And how can western media claim to have any objective reporting if it’s reporters are not in Tibet?
Obviously, the western media is tryng to wage war on China by discrediting it’s human rights record and getting as many people as possible not to attend the olympic games.
It ia an economic game-the west wakes up to an neconomic giant on the rise and what to do? make the world hate it so much as not to buy i’s product, or ever visit i;s beautifull lands(loss of revenue from tourism)
IN a nutshell, thre is no fairplay in international arena when it comes to news reporting.
Africa suffers the pain of poverty partly because the world has choosen only to see poverty in it.
Why not talk of the beautyof i’s forests, coastlines or its continued struggle with western companies that have no qualms about stealing the little it can raise. Remember the Anglo-leasers in Kenya? The European and American mercenaries selling weapons and smuggling diamonds out of africa? who ever talks about them?
The world must learn that press freedom is not epitomised by CNN,CNB,BBC,etc.
In short, there is alot that needs be done on the issue of press freedom,fair reporting,far coverage and objectivity in news coverage.
And neither is chinese media objective in news coverage.China is not a democracy,and it does not look like it is tryng to be either.
The only thing chinese media is credited for is having given Africa fair coverage in getting chinese investors to invest in Africa.
Trade,and not aid,will help Africa overcome economic, social and political challenges and this, the chinese media have facilitated.
For it’s record in human rights,the chinese gov’t still needs to do alot as regard sudan(Darfur) by applying pressure to sudanese president since china is respected there.
Kerich Kipsang in Bomet, Kenya
Hi Viktor
I take your point about the last sentence in the blog post. What I was trying to ask was if western media is fair in it’s coverage of China, I have changed the question now.
And just a courteous note to Xie Ming, please can we try and stay on topic here. We have talked about Tibet exclusively on the programme and if you would like to continue with that debate, please post your thoughts here. https://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/2008/03/18/how-should-the-world-react-to-the-trouble-in-tibet/
Well, the problem is that we have very little evidence of the supposed acts of barbarity by the Tibetans against the Chinese. Could they be happening? Certainly. But should we really take the word of a government that has killed more people than any other government in the history of the world (moreso even than the regimes of Hitler and Stalin combined)? I know that the Chinese government today is not the same government of thirty or forty years ago, but it’s still a repressive government that punishes dissenting opinions.
If China were to allow foreign journalists back into Tibet, they could confirm or deny these accusations. Of course, I would imagine that if these accusations ARE true, the crackdown will still be focused on more. The media tends to favor the side that is considered the underdog. The Tibetans make for a more sympathetic subject, and so they are given the benefit of the doubt.
I don’t support the chinese for it”s repressive system, but neither do I support the western media for It’s unfair coverage of world issues.
BBC was actively reporting Kenya in it”s election debacle.
suddenly, it has slipped away, this time to China and Zimbabwe.Is the only news that come out of non-western societies that of conflict?
Objectively reporting?
The hope of societies crashed because the only steady diet is that of strive, war and waste.
kipsang kerich, bomet kenya
am totally rejecting the chinese imprisonment of journalists and the excessive use of force in Tibet, but The western media is not fairly covering Tibet or anywhere else!
Kipsang kerich in Bomet, Kenya.
If you won’t allow world media in to cover an issue, than it will be assumed that you are covering something up. That’s common sense. If media wants to be treated as less of a bad guy by the world media, maybe they should act like less of a bad guy?
China is suffering the consequences of violating the golden rule: Treat others as you would have them treat yourself. By treating the world with suspicion and unfounded accusations, China can expect nothing less than the same back at them.
China cannot argue about biased media reports when they have effectively closed Tibet to foreign journalists, in fact any journalist. If they wish to have a balanced view rpesented on Tibet then they should allow the press in to Tibet, but of curse that defeats the purpose of what their are most likely doing, which is heavy handed repression of dissent. To all press in would show the world what is in fact going on. They will not allow the media in until they have shut down Tibet and removed all protest and protestors. Until that time they can cry all they want that the media in the west is biased against them. In their minds they think this shows their altruism in how they deal with the situation in the face of the bad media from outside and in that typically childish way an argument that they are being hard done by. Unfortunately this whole this has the stench of massive hypocrisy about it. It is all about money and profit and nothing can ever get in the way of accumulating wealth. Governments do not want to upset a large trading partner that grants them the rights to operate in China, Rogge and the IOC are only motivated by profit (consider how they have been shown to operate in the past) and will pander to China and mouth propaganda that serves to placate the Chinese and deflect media scorn. It does not really fool anyone I would think, as for Rogge saying that this is an opportunity for China to learn from the world and the eyes of the world press upon them, China will surely mellow and come into the fold of the world community. Well sorry Jacques, but the eyes of the world were on Beijing in 1989 and it did nothing to stop their actions then, beside which it is unlikely that media will be allowed into Tibet during the games nor be allowed freedom of movement within China, nullifying that argument. Further hypocrisy from athletes who do not wish to politicise the games, preferring to stay out of politics, they being only there for the sports. It is a shame as they certainly enjoy pushing their political bandwagons at any other opportunity they get, but to miss out on the games would diminish their marketability in the advertising stakes. Who really cares about a bunch of people in a far away place being treated harshly when you are counting your advertising revenues.
It is evident to all that attention has shifted (from, for example, Darfur) to Tibet.
It should be apparent to most that this focus is orchestrated and related to the timing of the Olympics.
Restricting the access of journalists is a frequent practice in many parts of the World.
Since today’s moderator wants to restrict the examples, we can only note that this happens particularly in situations of war, civil insurrection, and elections.
Hello Rabiya: yes, I thought it was probably just a drafting point.
Sorry for posting a response to Xie Ming that was as off-topic as his post. By all means don’t use it (especially if that will save me from a beating from Ros).
Hello Kipsang: thanks for proving me right! You are also largely off-topic. I long ago started playing a mental game with myself when reading WHYS subjects: how many moves will it take for someone to get from this topic to a generalised attack on the West?
There is, though, a potential subject – and potentially explosive if addressed candidly – in it’s own right hidden in your comments: ‘Why is Africa poor?’
Puhleez…
Blaming the media is a favorite tactic of all politicians, whether they be Chinese autocrats, African heads of state or US mayors.
The media is “biased” against anyone it reports unfavorably upon.
Two years ago I spent 6 weeks in China crossing the entire country by train on a work related project. It was an eyeopening experience for me. Nothing I had ever been told about China seemed correct.
Yes, the Western media is biased about China. But China needs to become more savvy, It needs to do what the West is doing… manipulate us into reporting what they want us to report in the name of freedom of the press.
Remember the lies that started the War in Iraq!
The US media stopped fair reporting years ago when sensationalized news became the rage- that said, I think China and their secrecy scares the hell out of most western countries and their peoples. It is very difficult to tell what is really going on there- it has become a he said/she said way of reporting. The few journalists who are not part of the party line seem to be reporting a different story than the official party line. I don’t think China should complain about the unfair Western press without representation of any press at all. They cannot have it both ways.
no xie_ming, you usually use every forum you go to to bash Israel and the Jews. You made no attempt again to hide it. At least you are not afraid to express your views, however wrong they are. This is a topic about the media and china. China isn’t an open country, they keep the media out. The reason why you can be so critical of other nation’s that begin with the letter “I” is because they allow the media in.
I think that most western journalist would acknowledge there is some bias in their reporting? Example, the western media reports that China “claims” sovereignty over Tibet. The use of the world “claims” emphasise doubt to such a claim. If it were reported that Tibet, a Chinese province is seeking independence from china, then it take on a different context. Any respectable journalist knows that the manipulation of the English language can infer different meanings onto its target audience. So, when a journalist deliberately phrases statement to infer China is occupying Tibet, they imply Tibet is a sovereign nation and not a rebellious province. This is clearly a bias.
I think the real problem is western journalists who openly deny that they are bias. I have yet to see or hear any real documentary examining the history of Tibet and if it is legally a province of China. There is a lot of similarity between the China and Tibet issue and the Spain and Basque issue. Yet, the Tibet people as seen as oppressed freedom fighters, and the Basque separatist considered terrorist.
Is the west media bias? Simply Yes, but why should be the main question.
KWS from Trinidad
Victork- am not only attacking bad practice of journalism and poor coverage of issues there- western media has rarely been positively engaging people in discussions but just pointing to the negative issues in other societies.
Show me any positive thing the BBC or CNN has said about china for the las two weeks.
Olympics around the corner, malice and romours aquan!
Tibet is not the only troubled spot in the globe-madaqaskar, colombia and palestine are death beds but who’s covering? and if covered, very lithle is said apart from hopelesness..The western media not fairly reporting.
what about the destruction and pain facing chinese in Tibet?
I see from the BBC that China has ‘unblocked’ the BBC website – do you think that they are listening to the criticism?
I agree with Brett and as I said yesterday – they cannot call for bias when they will not give unfettered access to journalists to report what they see.
What China may see is that if this was to happen journalists would report the good as well as the bad – this is the way of reporting the news.
It’s an open secret that the western media will always reflect in negative light what is regarded as unfriendly or hostile by the west. China finds itself in this position. To your question therefore, YES! Western media is, as expected, biased. And I can confidently predict that western media will demonize China all the more in the days to come.
Hey, there is no need asking this sort of question. Is like asking the Arabs if they like the Jews. Is absolutely no question, the western media including the BBC are extremely bias against what ever happens in China. The protest in Tibet was covered with a very one sided view by the western media. While it is true that China has a bad human right records, matters arising from there should broadcast and telecast with a balance view.
The western journalists writing on Tibet have very little understanding of issues in Tibet let them do their research first!
You cannot be objective if you are reporting on issues you have little knowledge of.
Maybe aljazeera can come to the rescue here? be open and fair. balanced coverage_ report the suffering of chinese in Tibet and the violence that confronts them.
Kerich Kipsang in Bomet, Kenya.
if there is a bias against the communist chinese government’s handling of the situation in tibet, they have only themselves to blame because of their blackout of independent reporting and the expulsion of independent journalists. when the original uprising took place last week, the western media’s reporting actually did expose that some tibetans were engaged in violent mindless mob activity. this included looting, arson and murder, which have nothing in common with the dalai lama’s positions and did nothing to advance the legitimate aims of freeing tibet from the chinese communist’s tyranny. the chinese communist government’s initial statements citing the mob activity as being directed by the “dalai clique” was a total fabrication that undermined their credibility and showed their desire to use the situation for propaganda purposes. if the chinese communist government (ccg)wanted to allow the truth of the situation to be broadcast, they should have allowed all independent media outlets full and unfettered access to tibet. however, the ccg had no desire to allow the truth of the situation to be disclosed because it would have uncovered their own lies about the true situation in tibet. the western media’s reporting of the history surrounding the situation in tibet is unbiased. the chinese communists invaded and imposed their tyrannical atheist doctrines, without any regard for the tibetans historical, religious or cultural freedoms. the chinese communist government has exploited the natural wealth of tibet while committing cultural genocide on the tibetan population. this has been accomplished through the standard communist tactic of deportation of the ethnic tibetan population, while the cc moved huge numbers of ethnic chinese into tibet. the chinese communist government’s protests ring hollow when the historical facts are inspected objectively.
I’m grateful to WHYS for teaching me a number of things, not least being how conspiratorially-minded many people across the world are, including people in countries that you’d have thought would know better. .
What is meant by ‘the Western Media’? How many people here have the slightest idea about how China is being reported in Poland or France to make blanket accusations of bias? What is really meant is the Anglophone media, especially its American and British branches: BBC and CNN is what it boils down to.
The Western print media generally divides along political lines: conservative,
left-liberal and centrist. Left-liberal organs like the Guardian and Observer have published opinion pieces that very loyally reflected the Chinese party line on Tibet (WHYS linked to them). Their argument has been that Tibet was a backward, primitive and superstitious place; the Tibetans should be grateful to the Chinese for conquering them and bringing them all the amenities of modern life. The pro-Chinese bias of that position is evident from the fact that these papers wouldn’t dare make such an argument to justify former Western colonialism in Africa (plausible though it would be). The desire of the Western left is to see some power arise that will act as a counter-weight to the US, a country that they really do hate. China or the EU is to be that counterweight. Matters relating to both bodies are reported accordingly.
Other papers have reported from a more critical stand. But I don’t think that there has been any disagreement amongst the British press about the events; it’s the interpretation of their significance that throws up differences. To pretend that we are dealing with a monolithic Western media is really quite unreal.
There is something disturbing in the view that the ‘Western media’ are simply manipulators out to feed us all a line. Most Western papers are tabloids and report on what their readers want to see: sex scandals, gossip and sport. They don’t care about Tibet, Darfur, the starving in Africa, the global AIDS pandemic or any of the other things that get debated on WHYS. There is little in most of the Western tabloid press – which is to say most of the Western press – to justify some of the comments being posted.
The ‘lies’ about Iraq have been mentioned. But these were lies spread by government, reported in good faith by the media (who, pre-invasion, had no means of knowing or proving that they were untrue), and ruthlessly exposed by the same media when they were in a position to scrutinise the claims properly. Similarly re the poster who complained that it was a sign of bias to refer to China’s ‘claim’ to Tibet: only if you don’t know the history of Sino-Tibetan relations (which the poster in question admited to). The historical facts about Tibet are available to anybody who wants to know them; there’s no need to wait helplessly until the media have told you want to believe.
I’ve yet to see a single solid claim from anyone to support the charge of bias against China. The Western media are not, as many of the bloggers seem to have convinced themselves, an arm of government (no – that’s how things operate in China). The idea that the media are ‘out to get China’, which is what the charge of bias amounts to, belongs to a different sphere of reality. If that were the case the Chinese Communist Party’s (and it is the party that counts in all of this, not ‘China,’ which historically speaking no longer exists), the Party’s record of slaughter and oppression in China itself (at least 60 million Chinese have died as a result of Party folly and wickedness) would have gotten much more time in the broadcast and print media.
I ask again, ‘Where is the evidence?’
Is the western media biased against china? This is the wrong question, the question should in fact be is China biased against the western media.
The western media can only show what it is given access to so anything that is left in the gray area is going to be speculated about wildly until the western media is given full, unrestricted access.
if there is a bias against the communist chinese government’s handling of the situation in tibet, they have only themselves to blame because of their blackout of independent reporting and the expulsion of independent journalists. when the original uprising took place last week, the western media’s reporting actually did expose that some tibetans were engaged in violent mindless mob activity. this included looting, arson and murder, which have nothing in common with the dalai lama’s positions and did nothing to advance the legitimate aims of freeing tibet from the chinese communist’s tyranny. the chinese communist government’s initial statements citing the mob activity as being directed by the “dalai clique” was a total fabrication that undermined their credibility and showed their desire to use the situation for propaganda purposes. if the chinese communist government (ccg)wanted to allow the truth of the situation to be broadcast, they should have allowed all independent media outlets full and unfettered access to tibet. however, the ccg had no desire to allow the truth of the situation to be disclosed because it would have uncovered their own lies about the true situation in tibet. the western media’s reporting of the history surrounding the situation in tibet is unbiased. the chinese communists invaded and imposed their tyrannical atheist doctrines, without any regard for the tibetans historical, religious or cultural freedoms. the chinese communist government has exploited the natural wealth of tibet while committing cultural genocide on the tibetan population. this has been accomplished through the standard communist tactic of deportation of the ethnic tibetan population, while the cc moved huge numbers of ethnic chinese into tibet. the chinese communist government’s protests ring hollow when the historical facts are inspected objectively.
The Chinese press are whiners – Like one child blaming the other when he is just as guilty as the other. Just solve the problem and move on.
How can you assume that things are better in china, and fairly report on that, M.A., if china won’t allow reporters in to see?
That is and will continue to be the core of China’s problems. They demand fair reporting and a better world image, while not providing the world any reason they can witness to indicate they deserve a better world image. You can’t have it both ways.
If anything the western media is too nice to China. They are too nice because most of our imports are made there.
Even if you think the media is unduly biased against China, who cares? The western media exists in democracies, and the media is part of democratic system – so technically it can do what it wants.
If China is doing nothing wrong, then they have nothing to worry about and the media will figure this out. Much of the European media seems biased against America, many stories seem exaggerated and the worst is always assumed. This is sort of to be expected considering America’s recent record.
-Portland, Oregon
Well yes, most probably western media is biased against China in its coverage of Tibet protests, but then again objective access to ground information in Tibet and anywhere else in China is extremely restricted by the Chinese authorities. I am not convinced that the Chinese press is less biased against the West but at least in the West the chinese press (if such a thing exists) is free of its whereabouts and opinions. And no matter how biased the western press could be against the Chinese regime, at least people in the west can think what they want of it and are not all forced to approve a given official version of events. It is a sad thing that a great nation like China which has given so much to humanity still can’t cope with simple notions of cultural diversity, freedom of press and opinion.
Besides media is always biased, provided the concerned regimes promote a real diversity of press and encourage the public to inform itself openly, only then can a general concensus appear … but it is pure utopia to think than one given event can be interpreted in a unique way by everyone … Humanity is much more complex to be summed up under one dogma!
Enjoy not watching the Olympics …
Ron
The question may as well be asked_ has Western media ever reported objectively about china?
The big attention given to Tibet is to create fear and hatred so that people may avoid visiting china.
Poor coverage of issues is as bad as no coverage at all! what the western media is doing is total hipocrisy_ championing democracy and promoting human rights by spreading lies about a people.
Remember Nancy Pelosi?
‘Moral authority’How can the western Media be counted upon to reflect on world issues objectively?
Kipsang in Bomet, Kenya.
Sorry for my off-topic post – read the other entries. John in Salem made it clear – when China allows unfettered access to the Internet to their people, and allows reporters and investigators from other countries free access to their country, their people, and their gov’t – then they can complain.
The Truth Hurts. Wish I knew how to say that in Chinese.
if there is a bias against the communist chinese government’s handling of the situation in tibet, they have only themselves to blame because of their blackout of independent reporting and the expulsion of independent journalists. when the original uprising took place last week, the western media’s reporting actually did expose that some tibetans were engaged in violent mindless mob activity. this included looting, arson and murder, which have nothing in common with the dalai lama’s positions and did nothing to advance the legitimate aims of freeing tibet from the chinese communist’s tyranny. the chinese communist government’s initial statements citing the mob activity as being directed by the “dalai clique” was a total fabrication that undermined their credibility and showed their desire to use the situation for propaganda purposes. if the chinese communist government (ccg)wanted to allow the truth of the situation to be broadcast, they should have allowed all independent media outlets full and unfettered access to tibet. however, the ccg had no desire to allow the truth of the situation to be disclosed because it would have uncovered their own lies about the true situation in tibet. the western media’s reporting of the history surrounding the situation in tibet is unbiased. the chinese communists invaded and imposed their tyrannical atheist doctrines, without any regard for the tibetans historical, religious or cultural freedoms. the chinese communist government has exploited the natural wealth of tibet while committing cultural genocide on the tibetan population. this has been accomplished through the standard communist tactic of deportation of the ethnic tibetan population, while the cc moved huge numbers of ethnic chinese into tibet. the chinese communist government’s protests ring hollow when the historical facts are inspected objectively.
I think the public has a bias towards a bias in the media! Any coverage people don’t like is always chocked up to a bias in the media. Its trendy to think there is a bias in the media. Its old hat, and its an ugly one.
-Portland, Oregon
Hi All,
The western media is not biased against China, it is however playing double standards, that is, raising the bar for China while at the same time lowering same for USA (in Iraq and Afghanistan), Israel (in Palestine) and Russia (in Chechnia) and Also Serbia (in Kosovo).
I am not however surprised by this broadside against China ( and I have no sympathy or tolerance for communism/nazism), the western media is controlled in large measure by rightwing conservatives who are either ignorant of the culture and history of regions or have no respect for same and don’t care less. According to that philosophy ones culture has to be white to be right. This is gross ignorance and is the source of much of the intolerance being display by the neo-nazis all over Europe and even in the Americas.
China deserves to be played under the spotlight because what is happening in Tibet much be known and the story of ordinary Tibetans must be heard.
Can somebody please tell me why China is holding unto Tibet when it appears ordinary Tibetans don’t want to be ruled by Chinese? Also is there any justification for Chinese rule, that is, do most Tibetans consider themselves Chinese? Are Tibetans incapable of governing their own land? Does China have some ulterior motive for holding unto Tibet? Is there an abundance of natural resources there along with the people? Does China need to hold unto Tibet in order to secure its border and therefore the Tibetans are pawns? I would really like some answers to these questions because I can’t understand why China should be in control of Tibet when the people are not Chinese.
VictorK, a cursory review of history will provide a plausible reason why Africa is poor. From my studies I have discoverd that more than 10, 000,0000.00 people where exported from Africa over 300 years ago. These were some of the fittest and brightest and youngest of the population. What do you think would happen to the UK if 10,000,000.00 of its brighest were exterminated or exported today? Do you think the country would become any poorer? I enjoy reading your post but it would appear that you have never little respect for Africans and that is the fly in your ointment. Please get over your Africa bashing. I would recommend that you read Barack Obama’s race speech. I think he ably llucidated the grievances of the oppressed white and black Americans, latino and Asians. We, non-Americans, can also learn something from what Obama said.
Carlos, Kingston-Jamaica
Well, the BBC is biased, otherwise we wouldn’t hear George Bush’s voice uttering nonsense on the news so often. But at this point with China, they can’t claim there is bias when there is no access.
One has to think that they should be, since the government in China is so one sided in the news it wants to the west to see. They admittedly are trying to put a positive spin on themselves just to get tourism dollars via the Olympics. Since when does a sporting event trump human rights violations and criminal behavior. I for one support a complete boycott China.
Bill
Troutdale, Oregon
What other media is there? Western Media. Is there some other oh-so-objective media out there? The Western media is one thing that actually seems to work pretty well in the world. Such a broad question is ridiclous anyway. It is like saying all white people are racists – when no all people are racist. These things need to be judged on an individual basis. Not on the level of contintents but on the level of the individual media companies.
-Portland, Oregon
It sounds like the Chinese Gov’t wants every media story about them to be “perfect” – or better put, exactly as they want it stated, on their own terms only – and don’t understand that journalism, by nature, is always going to be biased. China should be smart and if they feel things aren’t being reported accurately, then rather than removing and restricting the media, they should invite MORE in, if those there already are supposedly not getting the right story? The MORE media, the MORE LIKELY we’ll get something closer to the truth. Simple, really.
Hi everyone ,
the western media is not biased against china instead they are the ones projecting itS PROBLEMS to the world ,without western media nobody would have known the condition of Tibet like we usually hear now so i particularly thanks the western media and take courage to continue it as the good part of what they have done so far from any other problem in comparison with those who protesters from china last year,and again thanks for the job well done.
Makoi
Boycotting the Olympics won’t do anything. We’ve already seen that.
BUT! We should not be having them there! THAT would make a difference.
And they don’t ever get them there, until they ‘clean up their act,’ so to speak.
thank you
wil
traverse city, michigan, usa
Dear Editor
I have been listening to your world service since last September. I think BBC always voices a biased opinion on every current issue in China. I admit that the truce you used in your news are right, but it is very obvious that you only interpreted them from a very negative perspective and this will mislead the UK audience who have no idea what is happening in China. BBC seldom mentions that Chinese people’s lives greatly improved in the last 20 years and we have more and more freedom.
Your report on Tibet issue is clearly misleading. BBC only quote Dalai Lama’s comment and never explain the history of Tibet. It is always a part of china and why we need to let the independent? Has any reporter done any research on the Tibetan people’s lives and do you have any idea how much they have been better off? Have you done any research on the feasibility of the independence? Can Tibet support itself and develop their economy by themselves?
I currently working in UK and I have realized how misleading your news is. It is very sad that the British people had a very incomplete and biased coverage on China Issues.
Regards,
Yang
I am listening to your show and am disappointed (to put it mildly), once again, when you have allowed a listener to divert the topic to the Palestinians. I am sick and tired of having the Palestinian issue raised whenever any other group is mentioned. The supporters of the Palestinians have to realize that their issue isn’t the only one in the world and other people have a right to be heard without comparisons.
How about a program about the role the Palestinians and their leadership have played in prolonging their problems?
Judie
Mayfield Heights, OH
USA
As I read through the comments I saw an amusing one made by someone saying that since China had invaded Tibet 800 years ago, the invasion 50 years ago should be perfectly acceptable. This is the equivalent of saying that since Portugal established colonies in Africa in the 1500s, that then they should be allowed to re-establish colonies in Angola and Mozambique (yes, I am originally from Portugal). Likewise, this begs the question of why (other than the fact that it was a drain on the economy) did Portugal give sovereignty over Macau to China?
Therefore, even though it took thirty years to achieve freedom for the East Timor people from Indonesia, they did not give up, nor should the Tibetan people.
Finally, as a former Olympic athlete, I would ecourage current athletes to express their polytical consciousness in an appropriate manner when at these summer games.
good to have you linda,i don’t understand,what do the chinese want? that the western media should clap for them with a standing ovation for brutality clamping down on people who are rightly asking for their right?do they expect the media organisation to hail them for treating human beings as objects? this is truely ridiculous.bbc please if china have lost their sense of reasoning remind them that tibetan are human beings and are an autonomos nation.
China gets much fairer treatment from the newsmedia than it deserves. Its government acts like a bloody-handed repressive dictatorship, and only China’s military size and economic clout permit it a seat at the international table rather than the pariah status that its actions warrant. In the West we’ve been far too willing to forgive and forget things like the Tienanman Square Massacre.
China likes to claim it’s one of the oldest civiliaztions in the world. It’s past time for China to start treating its citizens in a civilized manner.
Thank you,
John
Washington, DC
USA
In my humble opinion the west is biased against China. First, of all, there was a complaint that China loans monies to countries in Africa where in some cases a dictator heads the country. Well that is nothing new, as there are countries supported by the West that have and probably in the future will support dictators. Pakistan is a great example. It’s now more difficult to receive support from a country when payments cannot be made. China can afford to pay if they must! When the Monks rioted in Tibet a complaint against China for taking action against the rioters China was being criticized because of the harshness. No different there than the Los Angeles riots years ago.
Adam
Monterey, CA
Even if the media is biased; is China’s censorship not the worst form of that bias?
Please compare the BBC not with CNN but with NPR, National Public Radio. CNN is a commercial enterprise and isn’t any more impartial than Fox News, for heaven’s sake.
Whilst it is true that Western media reports on the violence in Tibet is focused on the role of Chinese forces, it can be argues that much of this is due to Chinese authorities effort to allow free and impartial coverage through the expulsion of foreign journalists. If China wants an open field on media coverage, then it has to be open in all facets of this conflict and not try to dictate what is free and fair reporting.
Why haven’t you invited any Tibetans onto your program, only Westerners and Chinese? What kind of bias might that show?
Jo Podvin
Oakland, California
USA
yes, yes, an unqualified yes.
the west, not just it’s media is biased and AFRAID of china.
it’s basically a case of feeling good about myself by making other people look bad.
all the new that comes from china as far as the west is concerned are negative. ONLY.
when, was the last time, you reported anything positive about china or india or nigeria?
yet these countries are making progress in their own way and at their own pace.
if you are only tall by pushing other people to their knees, you have a serious problem.
Please compare the BBC with NPR, National Public Radio in the US, not with CNN, which is no more impartial than Fox News, for heaven’s sake.
Western media and bias work hand in mostly when it comes to china I’ve been trying to figure out the cause.According to recent react of Beijing Olympics and Tibet all this is affiliated to china’s economic boom .The western media need to re revise their ways on reporting about issues from china
Most of the Media in America are owned by large companies who have a vested interest in China. They do not want to rock the boat and risk losing their manufacturing capabilities in China. I feel they are bias but in that they are not reporting the truth and scope of the violence in Tibet for fear of make the Chinese government angry. Downplaying the uprising if you will.
Over the past several years I have listened regularly to the BBC World News while working a graveyard shift here in Portland OR. In my listening experience, I have not heard a negative bias in the BBC’s reporting on China. In fact, if anything I have heard far more stories about the so called “improvements” in the everyday lives of the Chinese people. I would concede that reports on the Chinese Government tend to be negative, but they also seem to be fair.
I am sad to see how many Chinese still believe that Tibet’s right to independence is a myth, and that Tibet has no right to its own autonomous culture, society, or government. This is a sign that the Chinese government has waged an effective campaign of misinformation. I beg those of you in China to please seek out alternative resources from which to base your opinions in this matter. How can a government that does not allow freedom of the press give a fair depiction of ANY issue?
In reponse to Yang’s comment, it is certain that the Tibetan people and government are capable of supporting themselves and running their own economy, as they have done so before and are doing so today, as they have devoped one of the most successful cultures in exile in the world. It is also certain that the Tibetan people feel intensely certain that they are not “better off” under Chinese rule, in which they are allowed no religious freedom and their culture, language, and traditions are under assault every day. Please do not insult the Tibetans by taking such a position of moral and practical arrogance.
The Tibetans, like every other culture on the face of the earth, have the right to live freely, independently, and with integrity, and all of us who wish the same for ourselves and our children should stand by them.
I am sad to see how many Chinese still believe that Tibet’s right to independence is a myth, and that Tibet has no right to its own autonomous culture, society, or government. This is a sign that the Chinese government has waged an effective campaign of misinformation. I beg those of you in China to please seek out alternative resources from which to base your opinions in this matter. How can a government that does not allow freedom of the press give a fair depiction of ANY issue?
In reponse to Yang’s comment, it is certain that the Tibetan people and government are capable of supporting themselves and running their own economy, as they have done so before and are doing so today, as they have devoped one of the most successful cultures in exile in the world. It is also certain that the Tibetan people feel intensely certain that they are not “better off” under Chinese rule, in which they are allowed no religious freedom and their culture, language, and traditions are under assault every day. Please do not insult the Tibetans by taking such a position of moral and practical arrogance.
The Tibetans, like every other culture on the face of the earth, have the right to live freely, independently, and with integrity, and all of us who wish the same for ourselves and our children should stand by them.
Hi BBC–I’ve been to Tibet three times in the past seven years. What is happening in Tibet is cultural destruction, and while millions of RMB have indeed have been poured into the country, most of the money have not benefitted Tibetans. There are no jobs for Tibetans, while Han Chinese (mostly Sichuanese and
Yunnanese) have incentives for going to Tibet: they are guaranteed jobs, housing, etc. Tibetans still don’t have autonomy and the repression of Tibetans is palpable.
I think that it would be great if you could get Tibetans from Lhasa on this show, but of course, that is impossible. Even if they were able to speak, the Tibetans would risk serious injury to themselves and their loved ones if they told the truth.
Sincerely,
Christine
The western media months ago was talking about how China is the new place for business, this was all over. Clearly, not only negative things are reported about China.
I also don’t hear too many positive things about Tibet in the media. Maybe there aren’t any? Maybe there aren’t too many in China either. Nothing like stating the obvious!
Is this the same western media that printed articles written by the white house without fact checking? Iraqi WMD anyone?
GB/OB
Please don’t be distracted by claims from the Chinese government that they are, once again, being victimized by the media, just as they have supposedly been victimized by the Dalai Lama, and by Tibetan Buddhist monks who have the audacity to illegally light a stick of incense at a temple. The Chinese totalitarian government representatives are masters of propaganda, and have no more credibility than other thugs and bullys like Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe. They speak poison about others to obscure and excuse their own sorrowful abuses. The people of the world see right through this, Hu and company! Although the Chinese authorities can kick out all media, block internet contact with the world, and lie to their people about Tibet and what they’ve done there, it does not, will not, and cannot stop the truth from being known. They are living in an unhappy state of delusion, generating violence and suffering that will only harm themselves and the well being of innocent people near them. Like a sad drunken father who beats his wife and blames it on his son, China is in desperate need of therapy and the tough love of intervention. Accommodating behavior is a dead end path, and the world can no longer tolerate China’s abuse of religious and political freedom with a blind eye. The sound of the drumbeat of the truth is growing louder in the Himalayan mountains. Chinese dictators are lashing out in a last desperate grasp for power, because they know this is their final moment. Soon, there will be freedom for the Chinese and Tibetan people again, and peace in the middle kingdom.
I think western media are biased against china. The only reason why China is picked on, is that the country refused to bow down to the wants and needs of the US and the western world.
I’m from singapore, Like wise in my country does not have press freedom and questionable conduct in regards to human rights. Further more we are the real country help the burmese junta to stay in power.
Yet no western media openly critised Singpapore, the question is why?
Just because our corrupt leaders hails to the needs and wants of the USA .
The question, “Is western media fair to China?” misses the point.
No media can be depended on to be subjective and fair. That is justification for an unfettered and diverse media. We rely on the free interaction of ideas to reveal the unbiased truth.
Marc, Berkeley CA
The western media tends to criticise China in all fronts, whether it be China’s human rights record, economical or foreign policies. The western media must be more equal when it comes to pointing fingers.
What about the United States or the EU? is it fair to pick on China in regards to Africa and then turn a blind eye when the West supports certain African nations with one of the worst human records such as Egypt, Libya or Ethiopia?
I listened to two pieces of BBC and CNN news a couple of days ago: Riots in Tibet and civilian casualty in Afghanistan. In both cases, different sides gave different numbers of people killed. In the case of Tibet, the Chinese government said there were only 13 killed, but the Tibetans in exile said there were about 100 or more. The BBC reporter in China said that because the access to the Tibetan region was blocked, the numbers of people killed in Tibet could not be independently verified. And he added “maybe, it is what the Chinese government wants.” In the case Afghanistan, the American military said only 3 civilians killed by American troops in recent raid, while the local Afghan government and people said there were much more. The BBC reporter in Afghanistan used an almost identical phrase — the numbers could not be independently verified — because “the incidents happened in remote areas.”????? (Interesting, could those areas in Afghanistan be more remote than Tibet? Access also blocked by Chinese government? Didn’t bother to check it out even with the protection of machine guns by the Americans? ) The BBC reporter in Afghanistan also added, paraphrasing, that the local people may inflate the numbers of dead due to possible “Taliban threats.” Of course…. The Afghans were lying and the Tibetans were telling the truth.
By the way, to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Iraq War, I suggest BBC to re-broadcast its truthful, objective, two-sided stories about the immediate threats of Iraq WMD before the invasion. People started forgetting that only the Xinhua News Agency is a propaganda machine for a government.
if the chinese government does not give the western median free rein, is that enough reason to report WHATEVER you hear or come by – even if they are not true?
To clarify:
China invaded and occupied Tibet 800 years ago.
China continued to exercise control over Tibet for hundreds of years.
Britain and other Western powers invaded India and then China and interfered with China’s control over Tibet.
China restored full control and incorporated Tibet fifty years ago.
Re media coverage:
Why has the history of Tibet over the last 800 years not been published? Is it too complicated?
As one poster indicated: do the Basques have the right to separate from Spain? the Catalonians? The Irish from Britain, the Scots?
Did the West have the right to separate Kosovo from Serbia? Was that even addressed?
Had to chuckle at this. As a brit of chinese ethnicity, I’m torn between patriotism and absorbing the anti-chinese diatribe I receive daily, especially when an event of this nature occurs – where understandably tensions have arisen based solely on race. Reading comments such as “Get the chinese out” and “why are the chinese even there” still gets to me, despite having no association with them. It seems someone left the chinese out in the list of races where racism was not acceptable.
The only link I can draw on current events is that, like my parents who emigrated to the UK in the 60s, they set up shop in a foreign land hoping to settle and make a life there. Therefore, were we to face the same violence as ethnic chinese have in Tibet, we would understandably be hostile and miffed with the ethnic majority in our country of residence.
The very fact that you’re asking the question says a lot – it’s the closest to admitting that yes, US and UK press is biased. The important thing is, is that ever going to change? With consistent agendas that solely promote our moral standing when compared to China, the answer is a firm no.
no, i really dont think the western media is biased against china. this is rediculous! china invaded tibet! they should leave and tibet should become an independent country again. china commits crimes – so many! lets face it.
may God help the people of tibet.
kalypso – vienna, austria
I do not know how China defines ‘unfair coverage’, but I do know the BBC did not play down violence by Tibetan protesters.
China treats the world media with distrust. So the world media treats china with distrust. Its just common sense.
I believe it is far more a matter of Media for money, than actual bias, for or against, china, or america, or any other topic. U.S. media is all FOR PROFIT, and whatever please their Handlers and Financiers the most get the money.
thank you
wil
traverse city, michigan, usa
The press is not being unfair to China though not as full as it could be today.
WE need to also highlight China#s support of the military regime in Burma without which the government there would fall.
The near massacre of the Buddhist monks the long slow starvation and impoverishment of the Burmese people, the imprisonment of the democratically elected leaders, unwarranted cruelty.
Today the peaceful Burmese are subjected to the most cruel repression and supported by China.
How could we possibly support the Olympics off the back of the systemic greedy cruel robbing of the Tibetan identity and spirit and of the Burmese to mention just two.
Olympics again as in Germany in the 30s. When will we stop letting our leaders as in Bush supporting China today, license the wholesale massacre of innocent peaceful ordinary people.
What the Chinese media and government is doing is to moderate the situation in the ground and the western media is exaggerating.
Both groups do not have objective reportage and therefore there really is no point thinking they can provide any insightfull report to Tibet.
The chinese govt must, however, open us it’s airwaves and internet to allow People more access to information.
Kipsang Kerich in Kenya.
I have not seen a single news source (Western or otherwise) that has used the term “peaceful protest” instead of “riot”. Everything I’ve seen refers to this as “Tibetan riots”. There may be a slant against China, but it’s certainly not outright lies in 99% of the cases. If China wants the full picture, they should let reporters in.
Paulo
Paterson, New Jersey
singapore not china is the biggest investors in burma…and china become the fall guy for the Lee regime in Singapore
Seems to me that Chinese citizens have been fed state controlled news all their lives and are at this point brainwashed into believing whatever propaganda their government tells them. In their view it is unthinkable that the government isn’t telling the truth because they are programmed to be unable to comprehend the rest of the world’s view might be right.
I am seeing some bias AGAINST the western media and BBC in this discussion. The BBC _Has_ reported on violence by demonstrators in China. The BBC _Did_ report deaths of Chinese civilians at the hands of Tibetan mobs, sometimes in quite brutal detail (I recall a BBC radio update about an older chinese man being bashed in the head by rocks by Tibetan youths before they were chased off by elder tibetans, or of a young chinese girl killed by rioters…)
Please take the people to task who are accusing the BBC of bias by not reporting these issues, when they have.
Logically, if the western media is bias or perceived to be bias by China, for what reason should the media be let in? What benefit would it achieve? Let the media in and let China be portrayed in a negative way or kick the out and let them speculate. Isn’t speculation the least damaging of the 2. No one is really interested in the Truth, it’s too boring.
KWS In Trinidad
A journalist has the moral obligation to tell the readers and viewers the truth. Simply to say “China invaded Tibet 50 years ago” is one of the typical signs of convenient, or intentional ignorance from a journalist which has significant effect on ordinary readers and viewers. I suppose you don’t need a permit from Chinese government to read a book on the history of Tibet and the relationship between different ethnical groups in China?
Also, whom do the westen journalists refer to as “Chinese?” Is a Muslim of Hui ethnicity Chinese? How about other 55 ethnical groups living in China? Which Chinese invaded Tibet?
The Westen media have enough footage about the violence by Tibetans — the burning, the killing, the damage — in the riot, but I don’t see them on BBC or any Westen media. Maybe, those pictures are not news for the westen media.
It’s a question of credibility. We have no reason to believe the Chinese government. We have no reason to believe their stories about the people who were allegedly killed in the riots. If our reporters were on the ground there, they could independently confirm or disprove these accusations. A country that believes it’s in the right has nothing to fear from foreign press. A country that thinks foreign press has been unfair should invite them in and SHOW them. Only a country trying to hide something would make the argument that since the foreign press prints lies, they won’t let them into the country because anything they’d report on would be a lie.
Paulo
Paterson, New Jersey
And the Chinese government is petulant that the rest of the world isn’t falling in line like their citizens. They are used to obedience and wholesale swallowing of party doctrine, and are frustrated that the Western media is defying them. Their anger stems from not being able to control the worldwide media. Their protestations sound like a spoiled child who is shocked that they aren’t able to get their own way and black out or distort anything unflattering to them in an attempt to save face. Their counter accusations stink of huffy false pride.
I support the boycott of Olympic games idea — at the same time, I am amased that no Westen media talks about boycott of any sports or media activity in the UK and US as protest of the invasion of Irag and the human rights disaster. Where is BBC?
There is no doubt that western medias are biased sometimes,simply take the Tibet event this time, the victims are forgotten actually. But the Chinese government should establish a comparable system to do report.Or the vacuum will be filled by others, also including biased ones.
“Seems to me that Chinese citizens have been fed state controlled news all their lives and are at this point brainwashed into believing whatever propaganda their government tells them.” — Amazing. You just insulted the intelligence of one billion people.
It seems to me that some westen citizens have been fed with the idea that “free media” will lead to truth. Read books, such as “The first Causality of war,” you will see your beloved “free media” is not really free. In matters of national interests, Westen media can rival Xinhua News agency. Did someone bring up VMD in Iraq? Remember the first reports by “free US media” on the aftermath of the nuclear explosion in Hiroshima — no radiation what so ever?
Give China full end to end reel TV play:
1. Tinnamen Square killings
2. Tibet protesters at Olympic Torch ceremony
Just play those tapes over and over non-stop from now until the end of the Olympics.
Give China what they want: drill their abuses into the minds of every person on earth.
It’s only fair.
I totally agree with Paul that “It’s a question of credibility. ” The Chinese people, based on their history, have enough reason to not trust the Westen media.
Chinese people do not blind follow their government propaganda as some one suggested. Anyone who has lived in China will tell you that. They know they are being sold propaganda and look for the stories behind the news. Sadly, people/buyers of Westen “free” media do not know that.
China is necessaty of consumer’s market dosent matter its Europe or any other continent. Being mother of bias & hate society European media understand ground realities from previous experiences of Slavery, Colonism, war against humanity & Hollycause etc.
During this Global era European media have no choice just to adopt impartiality no doubt hidden hate is still in backyard, this is why they dont mis any apportunity to expolite any news against China & jealus attitute with USA.
European’s along with media still claim we are the world though world is shrinking for hipocrates & dual standards, though Europen society of professional’s are trying to merge in Globalisation, still Eurpean media is in transformation.
I hope the Westen Media has realized that, based on the responses from ordinary Chinese everywhere (supposed to be brainwashed by Chinese propaganda), that their “unbiased” reporting on Tibet has only helped rally the Chinese people around their government. Chinese governmnet may not need to block BBC or CNN anymore.
If anyone is familarity with Chinese history for the past 50 years he should know that no boycotts, no pressure from the “Western” world would have much effects the Chinese government. What matters is the reaction from the majority of Chinese people. The Western Media has so far done a superb job to discredit itself among Chinese people and help the Chinese government.
Kudos to the BBC!
In establishing an international audience (and in re-establishing its credibility) it is posting views from all quarters.
Although I may pound individual failings, I appalud the overall initiative, and I suspect that the BBC initiative is unique.
Those with something to hide will say”why do you allow this”?
The less subtile will scream ad-hominemisms and bring pressure on management.
The fellow from the LSE sounded like a real scholar-why not get him to review the historical issue of Tibet sovereignty?
Though the Western media does push various agendas, they also tend to report what’s in front them.
But there’s a tradition of independence, even nastiness, in the Western press dating back to the late 18th Century.
The Chinese must understand that the fracas in Tibet is mild compared to the complete disaster that the U.S. has caused in Iraq. We get bad media coverage for it, and deserve it. But we’re big enough to take it.
The Olympics present the very best of humanity, performing their sport for no other reason that it’s perfect, and beautiful, and good. If the Tibetians want to use that platform to plead their case to the world, let’s hope that they go about it peacefully…and with a little dignity.
There is no “institutional” bias against China in the Western press. The bias is — as a movie advertisement once said — all very personal.
–Regards. Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Having spent sometime in China last year it is easy to see the suppression of news in general, China today is propoganda at best and leaves no room for ‘news’. I do not think the Chinese know what news is, so to say they are the victims is a joke, it revolves around Karma – what goes around comes around.
If you suppress anything for too long it will burst, Tibet has waited for an opportune moment and that time has arrived, no country should be occupied. I lived in London during the IRA bombings and that was only solved with dialogue.
Boycott the Olympics to show China they are out of step with the modern world, free Tibet and lets all live in peace. Then get rid of the news agencies and stop the spin.
Jai Bhagwan
Where respect is due, China has all rights to claim it from the media. But when it comes to the rights of other people China should feel the full blunt of the Harsh western media. The media, western or not, should highlight main issues such as injustice to the people of the world. The western media is only doing their job of showing China’s grave act of fratricide to their Tibetan brothers. China may not be literally killing the tibetans but they are surely killing the dreams of many tibetans for freedom. A freedom for expressing their religion and aslo their true culture. They also long for the right to make their of Governmental decisions. CHINA SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES> STOP BLAIMING THE MEDIA. FIRST BLAIM YOURSELF!
Look at the company China keeps – Burma, Sudan & North Korea.
Says it all really
Id’ like to extend my sincere congratulations to the BBC on being one of the media groups NOT SELECTED to take part in the PRC-organized ‘TOUR DE FARCE’ of the Tibetan areas affected by the protests. The fact is, it is not a question of whether the western media are biased against China, but of China’s bias against the western media. How can a regime which has caused the deaths of 1.2 million Tibetans in the process of stealing their country from them have the gall even to mention media bias?
It’s clear to all Tibet support groups that the PRC govt won’t tolerate any facts that go against its totalitarian mindset. We regularly have our computers attacked from the Chinese ‘side’, and by the worst possible means, including eg. 35 MB of virus-laden (trojan worm) Hong Kong pornography, and really distasteful hate-mail. This is, of course, a criminal activity. Yet the Chinese seem to view it as fair play.
The traditional PRC modus operandi is ‘Because we say it is so, it absolutely is so’, and the western media have generally bowed to this tactic. That is why they regularly speak of Tibet as being a ‘part of China’ and of the Tibetan Govt in Exile as being ‘self-proclaimed’, and so forth.
When the Chinese cry ‘foul’,read ‘We have something we don’t won’t you to know.’ This is a regime without any conscience, fully aware of its power in the world. Don’t expect apologies or apologetics. China is always right, everyone else is biased.
Pictures are more powerful than thousand words. Despite China claim that Tibetan rioter killed Chinese and policeman but 130 Tibetans were shot dead by police and military in Tibet.
If there is nothing to hide then let the world see. Why chinese are scared of independent media.
http://www.stoptibetcrisis.net/photos2.html
Isn’t every media of one kind or the other biased for or against someone?
China wants to make the Olympics a success and it is understandably a big deal for the country; to be entrusted with one the most prestigious gaming events in the planet.
Tibet on the other hand has been fighting for freedom quite a while, as i understand and what other way to get some attention around the globe than all this…
It seems to me every news is distorted. I truely don’t know what to belive anymore.
Shameful really.
Donovan (above) has validly mentioned one aspect of totalitarianism- but he is speaking of the ruling Party, rather than of China as a whole.
Consider the only three locations that have banned a friend of mine: a CPC front in China, a BJP front in India, and a Roman Catholic seminary!
There can be no doubt that “disruptive elements” will be harshly dealt with by the ruling government in China.
By exactly what rationale do we claim to be able to intervene?
Are our standards a matter of degree or are they absolute? By what rationale do we seek to force our standards on others?
Would it be helpful to learn the history of Tibet?
“I love it when a plan comes together”
The coughing fit from violent laughter has eased enough to suggest China study reruns of “The A Team”.
The plan to stomp a colony while seeking rose pedals strewn in the path and wild applause from the world for the Olympics has run aground.
Hire Mr. T as a consultant.
At worst that would add to the Keystone Cops image, but might tidy up the tactical thinking behind the strategy.
To answer the question,
I do think there is a bias in the Western Media coverage of China, as of any foreign country in general.
In the case of China, the durability of the Chinese communist Party is contested as the economic and environmental policies. The official discourse and supposed freedom of speech from chinese journalist (who are employed and then censored by government officials) are, in my view, deservedly criticised.
However, I do think we (westerners) tend to demonize Chinese officials as criminals and agent of non change.
One cannot to excuse chinese military interventions in Tibet and Xinjiang (which is not covered by journalist and then do not touch world community ), nor general discriminations towards those minorities in their original autonomous province.
But we (westerners) cannot reproach Chinese violating Human rights when as the same time USA and UK are at war in Irak for dubious reasons, when France keeps colonial control over its former african colonies and when France, UK and USA are among the 5 biggest providers of weapons (official and contaband).
In brief, Western Mass Media should denounce hypocrisy of western government in respecting Human rights and really promoting transparency and peace abroad.
If not, they will remain as credible as Chinese Media.
Nicola, France
Invasion, no matter how long ago it happened, does not justify ownership.
If such flawed logic were justifiable, then China belongs to Mongolia, Japan and UK or even Tibet. Most of Asia Minor belongs to the Greek, India and half of the world belongs to UK as well.
The Chinese government is not implying that China is always right and everyone else is biased. Each individual country has its own way of governing, it can’t be expected that every country, especially China to run like the West. China is gradually opening up to the world, but “Rome was not built in one day”, it is not possible for China to open up about its situation in Tibet to the rest of the world just like that, especially when the Olympics game is coming up. The west media has been reporting the killings Chinese civilians and detroying of the houses in Lhasa, etc., what about the other side of the story? There are many complicated insights about the Tibet conflict that the West may not know. Give China some privacy and some time to solve its problems first.
Yes of course western media is biased against china.it has hostory for it.specially bbc since british were ruling china and now china is almost world power(in economically) how doses british accept that?wesern media dosen’t say any god things about china why? I feel they are affraid of china.
Chinese never infiltrate other county.we sri lanka is having civil conflict we old more than three decade.one reason is we colonaized by the british.
last three decaede only china did support geneully for our economy.mosr western world didn’t do that.now they are affraid china will rule the world/
BBC and CNN were not given permission to join the group of reporters to Tibet by China’s foreign ministry. You deserve it.
I simply wish the media would go after George Bush and Dick Cheney with the same zeal they go after China.
Chinese government is evil, so is the US government.
But the difference is the Chinese government still cares what the world thinks, and leaders around the world aren’t afraid to express their opposition to Chinese policy.
In the case of the USA, leaders around the world rarely criticize the USA, and the USA is indifferent to what others think.
Bias? I think racism would be a more apt term. There is no doubt a certain fervor in pointing out every fault of China in western media – but how can you not blame the west? These people don’t look like us. So, let’s point differences and trumpet our own nationalism until they change or World War III starts. … A great plan.
Certainly yes, the west will do anything to stunt the rapid growth of china to super powerdom. The west is responsible for everything wrong in the world today. Even the corruption in africa. Is n’t it the western taxi payers money which fuels the vice in africa. What does the west do? Keep the money coming.
Of course it is biased–very biased.
Indonesians complain about this too–whenever Moslemism is covered in Western Media, the religion is closely associated with terrorism.
Whenever Iraq was covered, it was connected with WMDs.
Whenever China is covered, it is joined to human rights and separationists within the country.
Terrible media, right?
Yes, the west is biased against China, with good intention though. We all know that the road to hell could be paved with good intention. As a kid, my father sent me to a Chinese school. It did not seemed to be a good idea at the time. Learning English infinitely heid an upper hand. Yes, the country of my birth was a British colony. As an old man now, I am really grateful for his decision. The gems of wisdom and compassion oozed out of its language.purified and enhanced by generations of thinkers and philosophers down the years.
China is changing all the times, economically which is evident, politically which is not so visible. In fact, China is changing in all spheres. By and large, it is beneficial to her citizens, including Tibetians. Arguebly, the whole world too. Just asked the surrounding countries the role China played in the financial meltdown back in1997. The low inflation enjoyed by the West. Western journalists should stopped judging China by its own yardsticks, stopped sitting on high horses. Like sex, democracy and human right is grossly overrated. George Bush got elected twice, ditto Tawan’s Chen Shui Pian. How about Robert Mugabe. The lists go on. The human right of criminals murderers, human traffickers, drug barons. Need I say more? China only has 30 years of liberation. Before that, she was a colony of many western powers, would you trust ‘the barbarian’ then?
Chinese media are mostly controlled by the government. Most of us hate this, but by living inside lies, we adopted the abilities to tell which are lies and which are truth. While most westerner they don’t bother even google the tibet issue, and read the documents written by your historians. You just think everything bbc say are right, are truth.
Chinese media lies sometimes, doesn’t mean BBC didn’t biased against China, especially in this Xizang case.
Yes. Maybe this is the way Western Media taking revenge from China not to let them report in Tibet. But the Western Media have to understand the background / history and culture of China. If China let the Media report freely in Tibet crisis, it will create a big chaos between Han and Tibets after seeing the Tibeten voilent against the Han minority. China have 1.3 billions people, it is absolute hard to control if any chaos erupted. That is why, media control is part of the policy for peace porpose.
Western media like BBC and CNN is the tool of western imperalist countries. The fact is they biased not only against China but also other developing countries, especially small and weak countries. The key is that Chinese people have been enraged by western media fabricating coverage about what happened in Tibet. What they report is pure lies.
If you want to know how the western media is biased against China, go to this website please: http://www.anti-cnn.com
Of course the western news agencies have biases. No one is ever impartial unless u do a lot of reserch to get both side of the story. Most news agencies are too lazy for that. That’s quite apparent when u see miscaptioning and using and editing photos to suit your purpose. What the western news agencies do not take into account is that there are 1.3 billion chinese in china and several million oversea who is of chinese descent who is becoming more and more vocal with the use of internet.
I guess this is why the Govt. there decided to open up the BBC to its citizens; instead of shielding them from outside criticism they are now taking a more proactive approach, and nothing is better than the fired up, patriotic opinions of a billion people.
After reading the comments, I have to say, in my poiont, I’m very disappointed with the whole attitude here.
Because I’m a Chinese people, it maybe fall into some weakness if I mention Tibet is part of China. So I wanna tell you the other side of the knowledge you people known about Tibet and the so-called ” Holy Nobel Prize Winner”
If you really care about Tibet issue, I think you should read some other attitude about it. Please read the following.
(1) An American individual scholar michael parenti wrote an report about Tibet issue, showing to you the fact under the Privilege Buddhist Class.
http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html
(2) ‘TIBET – A REALITY CHECK’ is a cover story on an Indian national magazine written in 2000. It gives us some history information about Tibet as well as current situation in Tibet. I would suggest people to read this article. You will have a better understanding about Tibet.
http://www.flonnet.com/fl1718/17180040.htm
(3) The politics of Tibet: a 2007 reality check
N. Ram
http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/05/stories/2007070559671300.htm
The author Narasimhan Ram has a quite impressive resume. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narasimhan_Ram)
(4) As most of you must see a Buddhist crying in front of the western media to say there is no Buddhist got involved in this riot. Here is something about the fact he doesn’t know. So Could he please add ” as the one I don’t know”?
http://club.backchina.com/main/viewthread.php?tid=646877&extra=page%3D1
I’m open to 2-side story. I know the CPC indeed made a lot of mistake, but you can’t either deny lots of benefit it brings to not only the Chinese Han people, but also the Tibetans.
One thing I, and most Chinese people can not bare is that the whole western media attitude towards this issue. When the media use the word ” Peaceful demonstration, Protest, Crackdown”, I just wonder what the emotion for normal people when they first hear these words? When the mob kill innocent people, burn shops, are they peaceful? what would happen in your western countries? Two example: 1992 Los Angeles riots AND the 1999 WTO riots in Seattle. What’s your word for the crackdown:Hypocrites. Interesting?
There are 13 billion Chinese people in that country. Have the media gave insight reports on their thoughts? No.
There are 2.3 million people living in Tibet. Have the media gave insight reports on these ordinary people? No
There are a few monks in Tibet and 150,000 in exile. Have the media gave insight reports on them? Yes, and so much. And that part of the story is what you most heard on TV.
Biased?
I’m just an ordinary people who have the chance to study abroad. What I’m thinking is just as one of the other 13 billion Chinese people. We embrace you western friends, and prize your democracy politic system, fairness legislation, and well human right. But on this issue, we are indeed disappointed with what we heard and see. Human right is not a politic weapon. When you use it, you just loss a friend.
Chinese media is biased and it’s easy to spot. Western media is biased but the general western public couldn’t accept the fact and ignore it.
on 29th, March,2008, Toronto, Canada, there are more than three hundreds people protest against violence, against distorted news, against biased western media. why the western media doesn’t report that at all??? there are also other similar protests carried in England, Germany, Australia, have you heard any of those? NO, if you doubt my words, check out youtube! just type anti-western media distortion, anti violence. you would find loads results…
STATEMENT on “CNN statement on Tibet coverage”
It is glad to know that CNN has realized the tremendously negative publicity it had earned itself over the Internet recently, and it has abandoned its usual “keep silent” way of dealing with credibility charges by putting out a statement clearing itself on its Tibet coverage, which had been criticized for distorting facts and taking side by many bloggers and news agencies all over the world. The pressure must have been huge that CNN the experienced defendant against credibility accusations (number speaks, googling “CNN lies” returns 653,000 results, more than double of the 305,000 results for “Spitzer prostitution”, the hottest news this year) has to respond.
As witnesses of the false reports from CNN, we recognize the effort CNN makes to polis***ainted image, however, we can only find the statement in its whole an evasive and vague piece trying only to make excuses. We feel pity for CNN again acting in such a dishonest and unapologetic way.
Taking a quick look at what CNN has to say, one will find CNN’s excuse for cropping picture laughable. Web based publication has great deal of freedom in presenting multimedia materials including pictures. CNN could have posted the picture in its entirety while moving text to the rest of the area without any trouble at all. Web pages are not printed materials, resizing and reframing paragraphs are virtually costless and effortless. In fact, after being attacked for cropping the picture, CNN modified the page to put a zoomed out version of the entire original photo, without having to move text format at all. Then why did CNN need to crop it in the first place? Also, CNN argues in the statement that the picture was captioned “Tibetans throw stones”, then by what motive would a rational editor crop out the exact part of people throwing stones? No excuse can possibly be found to justify the discrepancy between what CNN did and what CNN claims.
Besides, CNN’s factual mistakes are not limited to the picture or calling Tibet as a country. During its TV airing until as late as March 25th, when multiple sources had confirmed Tibet riot violent and deadly, CNN anchors repeated called Tibetan turbulence a “peaceful protest”. It was exceptionally misleading and was a major distortion of fact. Even after http://www.anti-CNN.com had published the mistakes of CNN and other news outlets, Lou Dobbs of CNN continued to use the same wrong descriptions in his TV program. Even an whole team of unprofessional reporters and editors would not be a strong excuse to make up for this.
CNN also repetitively refused to identify the dead as victims of the riot, and in their carefully calculated lines constantly implied that they were protesters left dead by government actions, while in fact, they were murdered by those CNN-called “peaceful protesters”.
Observing all these facts, no one could be convinced that CNN’s distortions and erroneous messages were simply editorial or technical mistakes. They are consistent and still on-going, in favor of one side of the story.
In addition, CNN has in its reports repetitively excluded Tibetan ethnics from the Chinese. This is unacceptable, or in the American term, politically incorrect. It is just similar to calling African American and Caucasian American as Blacks and American.
While the German news agency RTL had quickly acknowledged and apologized for its mistake after http://www.anti-cnn.com pointed it out, professionals in journalism at CNN still refuse to acknowledge mistakes to redeem trust. We have to say, the denial issued by CNN on March 28th was just a weak and pathetic attempt to weasle away from the systematic lying campaign CNN had conducted in the past weeks.
By FridayInLove Anti-cnn.com
I have no intention to discuss any excuse of chinese govr on the restriction of Tibet reporting associawith the western media.
BUt, my greatest-freedom-fighter-western-media “friends”
it does not meant use this as a excuse to make fake reporting!!!!
As an oversea Chinese, I dislike Chinese gov’t in many aspects and I probably know more about its propaganda than most readers here. I always view Western medias such as BBC, CNN… etc as honest and unbiased then I came across this:
http://www.zonaeuropa.com/20080326_1.htm
which has said a lot of what’s in my mind:
“Do not attempt a comparsion of western media with Chinese media, because Chinese netizens know a lot more about their media than westerners and they have their own workarounds. Some of them may even have the illusion that western media are always truthful. It won’t do to tell them: “Since the Chinese media are rotten, we are surely entitled to suck (but not as much)!” No, that would only serve to inflame feelings.”
I was invited by the BBC last week to take part in its World Service’s programme “World Have Your Say” on the topic of western media bias towards Tibet. Unfortunately I missed the airing time as I received the email after the programme obviously because of our time zone difference. (and thank God too, I have been suffering from a serious stage flight that I can’t overcome for decades…. I wonder if I would be able to say what I wanted to say on air :P) I have to commend the BBC. They are among the first western media to do a reflect on the media bias issue.
Since the Vancouver Sun wrote an article yesterday carrying my name on the same topic, I guess I’ll make a further response on the topic here. I’ll also post this on the BBC website.
(BTW, the Vancouver Sun said I couldn’t be reached on Monday for a response but I didn’t think I got any phone messages or emails. I’m usually good at responding to emails, especially I’ll be getting a Windows Mobile (yey, a new toy!) which would enhance my response time further 🙂 But for cell phone, I admit I’m not too good at that coz I’m receiving too many spam calls each day…(oh yes, if anyone know how to stop those marketing calls from spamming my cell, pls kindly let me know).)
First of all, I do think China is unwise to expell all foreign reporters, including Hong Kong’s who are usually seen as “part of the family”. I read reports from various sources that at least during the initial phase of the crackdown, the para-military and cops were ordered to exercise extreme restraint and not to “fight back even being attacked”. At least one western tourist’s report said that the first casualty in the crackdown could very possibly be that of a young Chinese cop.
If the authorities have given such an order, they should have allowed foreign reporters to shoot some pictures of the dead cops. Again, as I said previously, it’s a cultural thing that China has to catch up with learning about the rules of game in world politics and propaganda. Take the initial phase of the US invasion of Iraq for example, the Bush administration has successfully conveyed a message to the world that the US was really fighting a “war on terror”. They did this by allowing embedded reporters to cover the war in a highly restrictive fashion… no matter how, they were able to control the messages publicized to their advantage (at least during the first few weeks of the war).
For this reason, I strongly believe that China has made a big mistake of not allowing some reporters to stay at Lhasa.
BUT….
There is no excuse for the western media to defend themselves when they failed to even report on the FACTS. That’s what I was talking about media bias. The FACTS are, the western media have been conveniently using photos of Indian and Nepalese police beating up Tibetan monks and protesters and naming them Chinese police or not stating clearly that they were Indian or Nepalese.
And the same mistake/tactic has been used over and over again across all major mainstream western media…. CNN, German TV, CTV, Global etc. And the BBC has mistakenly named an army nurse lifting an injured man onto an ambulance as proof of “heavy military presence” on the streets of Lhasa.
These are all BASIC, FUNDAMENTAL journalism.
I don’t agree with my colleague of another Chinese media outlet who told the Vancouver Sun that “Chinese readers have to realize that western media are critical of all governments”, and “he conceded his own newspaper sometimes makes factual errors or poorly crops a photograph, but said that doesn’t make Sing Tao Daily a Chinese government pawn.”
Yes, every media outlet make some kinds of factual errors here and there everyday. But for the same, across-the-board mistake made by most major mainstream media in major western countries? Com’on, there must be something going on. And I believe, a quick answer to that is: prejudice.
And, who was talking about being a Chinese government pawn? That’s not the whole point. Being critical is one thing. You can condemn the Chinese government for blacking out and you can question whether they are secretly killing thousands of people because of that.
But there is no either-or on the principle of factual reporting. Being critical of the western media does not translate into one being the mouthpiece of the Chinese government. Canadian peace activist David McIntosh questions about the integrity of the Tibet coverage by the western media too, is he a communist?
Gabriel Yiu was right when he said there are real differences in the English and Chinese media coverage of events in Tibet. Let’s focus on the Hong Kong’s Chinese media, which my colleague emphasized that all “are privately owned” and not subject to the PRC infiltration of propaganda.
Since the Hong Kong media was the last ordered to leave Lhasa, they were able to shoot a bit more pictures of the initial phase of the Lhasa riot than most other western reporters. I saw pretty balanced reporting: they showed visuals of cops searching house by house (in fact, they provided such footage to CNN etc), of rioters burning stores and hitting people. They interviewed witnesses, such as taxi drivers, who described the horror on the streets. Of course, they also showed footage of the Dalai Lama and they reported on the the estimates of deaths by both sides. But most importantly, the Hong Kong media footage have refrained from making quick judgemental decisions/conclusions as many mainstream media have (I’ll try to collect more data on this later).
I attach a copy of the Vancouver Sun article here (for easy reference only).
Tibet coverage ‘twisted, biased’
Unrest in Tibet is not only fuelling controversy around the world. It is also stirring up strong opinions in Vancouver’s Chinese-language media.
One editor at the Chinese-language Ming Pao newspaper has accused western news media of “twisted, biased reporting on the Tibet issue.”
In a blog, titled Chinese in Vancouver, Ming Pao assignment editor Susanna Ng specifically criticized Canadian TV coverage of events in and around Tibet, including clips aired on CTV and Global.
Ng said some TV stations have repeatedly aired video of Nepalese police clamping down on Tibetan protesters, and stating incorrectly that the video was shot in Lhasa, Tibet, implying that it was Chinese police who were beating up protesters.
“Unfortunately, it looks like our Canadian reporters remain ignorant about what’s going on,” she wrote.
However, Victor Ho, the editor-in-chief of Vancouver edition of the rival Sing Tao Daily, said Monday that Chinese readers have to realize that western media are critical of all governments, not only the Communist Party-led government in Beijing.
Ng could not be reached Monday. But she wrote in her English-language blog: “Waves of rage roar over all major online Chinese-Canadian forums, with people angrily posting their angst against ‘another example’ of western media bias.”
Ho said the incorrect identification shows that journalists are sometimes careless, but that doesn’t prove the Western media are necessarily hostile to the government of China.
He conceded his own newspaper sometimes makes factual errors or poorly crops a photograph, but said that doesn’t make Sing Tao Daily a Chinese government pawn.
Ho also rejected suggestions that local English and Chinese-language newspapers’ coverage of the Tibet situation are completely different from each other. Chinese-language newspapers also use western sources such as the Reuters news agency, not just government sources from the People’s Republic of China, he said.
“The Chinese newspapers here are all privately owned, not official organs of the Chinese government,” Ho said in an interview.
Gabriel Yu, a columnist with Global Chinese Press, said he thinks there are real differences in the English and Chinese media coverage of events in Tibet.
Yu said the western media have been relying more on western correspondents and cellphone images taken by western tourists, while Chinese-language media companies based in Hong Kong are using more information and video footage released in China.
As a result, Yu said, viewers of Chinese-language TV news broadcasts see more of the “dark side and violence of the riots,” including assaults against ethnic Chinese in Tibet. The Chinese news media also interviewed injured ethnic Chinese in hospitals.
Yu said the local Chinese-language media have reported some of the comments of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Buddhist leader, but not nearly as much as the western media.
He said English-language television has shown lots of footage of Tibetan protesters in India and Nepal being attacked by police in those countries.
“Many viewers may not be able to distinguish Nepal from Tibet,” he added.
Read this link and decide for yourself
http://www.workers.org/2008/world/anti-china_olympics_0403/
In Memory of Chinese and Tibetan innocent civilian victims caused by Lama’s Terrorist act.
Buddhist are suppose to be peaceful people, if you get access to see how the monks use knives to stabb innocent people left right and center (this is probably blocked by western MEDIA/Countries – so much as western media freedom!), would you support Lama??????
I am a devoted buddhist, and I respect TIBET, but after I saw the incident, NO WAY am I supporting LAMA the BUDDHIST murderer, shame shame shame!
http://www.anti-cnn.com/
read this and decide for yourself, like I said, I am American brained washed, I need evidence to take sides, and Chinese in Mainland and abroad take a united stance against the Western Media and countries trying to portray China as a bad country just to ruin the 2008 olympics !!!!!!!!!!!!!
All Chinese (mainland and abroad about 2 billions in number) will boycott CNN, BBC, and any countries that want to the boycott the 2008 Olympics, we will NOT go visit those countries when it’s their turn to hold the Olympics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Western media is biased for sure, even local Canadian think so, Chinese government try so hard to impove the country and human right, the western media don’t see it, and biased new every where, no one media really show the different voice from china and chinese people, even my Canadian friends feel it is not fair for china, they ask me why you Chinese don’t fright with it, I said we are trying to, but they don’t listen, what we can do?
George from USA seems like have a very dark side. I was in tiananmen and I was a student and a protester at that time, but I still don’t think Chinese governemnt is that bad like the western media says. also the government is impoving. People should look forward, not always look back, and give people chance to impove themselves. Too bad that some westernmedia and people don’t understand it. always look at thingsby old opinion, and that become bias.
I realize that the U.S. media also filters angry Chinese comments on some of their bloggs, because they are afraid Chinese from around the world unite and . . .. …
Stephen Den’s post and URLs above are representative of something that there should be more of on WHYS.
It represents reasoned and documented views from the other side.
Bravo, Stephen Den!
I am raged by the recent riot broke out in Tibet again. Obviously AMerica can not let go of it’s dirty hands and nose in other’s business!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bill L – U.S.A
Pelosi/Bush/United States/France/Germany and any country that supports the usa
Tibet unrest is an internal affair of China. Comparing the Tibetan population to 1.5 billion, it’s about 1%
If you stir hatred that points toward you/usa! It’s 2+ billion Chinese in mainland and abroad, plus other race that HATE you!!!! That is GLOBAL UNREST which sets the stage for world war III!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you know how serious that is and can you afford it?????????
It’s obviously that when reporting some incidents like Tibetan riots, the western media only say that china crackdown the ”peaceful” riots without saying how the riots happened and how many innocent peoples have been killed by the peaceful rioters before China took actions. That is apparently biased. I remember that during the 1997 OPEC Summit many peaceful demonstrators at UBC Vancouver were crackdown by the Canadian police. I couldn’t how the Police would have dealt with those protesters if they really had initiated violent demonstrations such burned down shops or killed others. So how would you like China to deal with the violent situation when shops were burned and innocent people were killed? Sit back and relax? Think about it!
It’s obviously that when reporting some incidents like Tibetan riots, the western media only say that china crackdown the ”peaceful” riots without saying how the riots happened and how many innocent peoples have been killed by the peaceful rioters before China took actions. That is apparently biased. I remember that during the 1997 OPEC Summit many peaceful demonstrators at UBC Vancouver were cracked down by the Canadian police. I couldn’t imagine how the Police would have dealt with those protesters if they really had initiated violent demonstrations such as burned down shops or killed others. So how would you like China to deal with the violent situation when shops were burned and innocent people were killed? Sit back and relax? Think about it!
Jim, think about what you wrote after you see this article.
http://en.epochtimes.com/news/8-3-29/67906.html
It’s glaringly blatant how biased the western media generally represented by american and british publications eg. the economist are in its interpretation and reporting of china. While I understand that it cannot help itself but see the world through american/british-tinted eye-glasses, I’m perturbed by how sure it is of the supposed superiority of western civilization. The idea that the Olympics is China’s coming-out party to join the rest of the civilized (i.e. western) world is again western interpretation based on hubris. This is another episode of clashing civilizations that will recurr with increasing frequency. Having dragged isolationist china kicking and screaming into the world system in the 18th century, china should now realize that the west doesn’t really want china to be part of the system. To change the system as Germany and Japan tried in the past, the world descended into WWII. If we descend into WWIII, the western press and its peoples must share in the blame.
In China, the human right it not great, but what about America, and all the other western countries, don’t tell me the government is treating everyone as equal all the time. In western countries it is also about the majority that counts, what about the minority, do they always have a say? I don’t think so. My point is when you start yapping about another country’s human rights record,you better make sure your own country’s is clean also. Some of the people out there who criticize China really don’t know what they are talking about. In the West, I almost never ever had seen anything positive about China. But the truth and the fact is, the CCP government has done more good to its people than bad over the past 2 decades. Today, China is developing to improve its society in various aspects. China is much more open to the world than it was 30 years before and dramatic changes happened. The situation of the world has moved on, but unfortunately the mood of the cold war persists. Some western media still work hard to emphasize the “devilish nature of communism”. China has constantly been devilized by medias and is under double standard under many issues. Why should the western society criticize China intensely while they are having or have had similar problems? My perception is that many well developed western societies have fear for the rise of a new powerful competitor.
Vido clip from Youtube:
About myself:
I was one of the protesters against Chinese government in Tian An Men Square, Beijing in 1989. I did not eat in 7 days with many students from different universities. I am a US citizen now living in SF bay area for about 10 years.
I went to Tibet with my husband and 6 years old son last August, stayed there for about a week with US passport of course. My cousin is a senior now in Lhasa university for his accounting master degree, and he has been there for 3 years. Lhasa is the capital city of Tibet autonomous region.
Regarding the Tibetan riot, my cousin knows more because he is there. A riot is a riot, just like the one in Paris, the one in LA. Rioters do arson, killing civilians, looting, etc. Any government would do something to take control to protect the majority people’s right.
There is question about why Chinese government would not let Tibetan people go if they do not like being part of China? Then think about why President Lincoln did not let the southern states go, and had civil war? Why U.K. does not let northern Ireland go? I believe you should know there were riots in northern Ireland for independence.
There is question about whether it is legitimate to own a region which was seized in ancient time. Well, if thousands of year are still not legitimate enough, shall we all leave US, and return it to native Indian?
There is a claim saying that those Chinese living outside of China are brain washed or totally nationalists. Then think about why it did not happen in 1989 Tian An Men Square protest. Back then most of Chinese outside of China chose to believe CNN, and other main stream media, and were on the same side to against Chinese government?
There is a statement saying that there are no human rights in Tibet. The questions are:
Have you been there?
Have you talked to many Tibetan people living in Tibet?
Do you know the history of Tibet?
Do you know why China lost of control of Tibet of the beginning of 20 century?
Do you know prior to 1959, Chinese government restored the authority of Tibet, majority of people there were in the state of Slavery?
Do you know Chinese government minority policy? Minorities in China have more rights, such as free education, etc?
The fact is even Dalai Lama said that Tibet is part of China, and it is very beneficiary to Tibetan economy for Tibet to stay within China. That means he knows Chinese government provided lots of supports to Tibet especially in recent years. You can go there to take a look at by yourself. Search from Google, you should be able to find a travel agent easily, but I do not think it is a good timing now for your safety.
Let me explain why so many Chinese outside of China got mad about the media this time:
1. Olympics is a peaceful event. Torch relay is sacred ceremony to show that people around the world are determined to create a peaceful world no matter of all of the difference. It is okay to use this event as venue to get attention around the world, but people should not use violent protest. But the media has been always put the spotlight to those protesters, but not the major event, let alone more pro Olympics supporters. Just use San Francisco stop as an example. There were about a thousand protesters, but there were ten times more pro Olympics supporters there to support and witness the event. However all of the media gave more words to those protesters, and just a couple of lines about tens of thousands of pro Olympics supporters. They also assumed that some of the supporters are organized by Chinese government. People are mad that the media ignored the majority of people’s voice, and assumed that we are no brainers, and listen to Chinese government.
2. Use fake or processed pictures/videos to give impression and conclusion of crackdown the peaceful protest. It is good that so far a Germany media and BBC had stated that they did not cover all sides for what happened. It is basic moral requirement for a profession journalist to report what happened around the world using factual data. They cannot say I can report fake news because I cannot go there. There are media, like HK Phoenix Satellite TV that were there. They could use material from there, but they did not because they had chosen side, and made conclusion already. That is called biased or stereotyped.
3. Besides the above 2 reasons, I think we are mad are mainly because we are disappointed with main stream media. I have defended US especially open media for the last 10 years, but found out they are not much better than Chinese news media for international affair. I have not read news from Chinese media for the last ten years. Now what should I read? I still remember how despaired after I read the news from San Francisco Chronicle about the Torch relay in SF at the night of April 10. You know how it feels when your dream is crashed. That is how I felt at that night. My suggestion is to try to find the truth from Internet. Do not get fed by ignorance from media especially for international affairs.
My parents are Chinese, but they immigrated to Vietnam in their twenties. I was born in Vietnam. I came to the U.S. when I was young. However, I’ve read LOTs of books about China all my life. The first time I went to China to climb the great wall, I was in tears! This was the first time I saw with my own eyes the things my ancestors had done thousands of years ago in order to protect China and allow a place (GREAT WALL) for me to stand on and celebrate today. Words can not describe my triumphant moment on Great Wall. It was too overwhelmed! I felt I was reborn with resurrected Chinese pride. I will continue to visit China in years to come!
No matter where I live or travel in this world, I know my Chinese heart and soul will always stay with China!
Yes. The western media has been definitely biased against China. Not only to the Chinese Government, but also toward Chinese people.
Does anybody see a little bit sympathy showed to the Tibet Riot victims from BBC, CNN, CBC……? NO.
Does anybody see a fair report of hundreds of thousands of Oversea Chinese people gathering in Toronto, Ottawa, Sydney, London, Paris …. to show their support on Olympics Torch Relay, and their support for the action Chinese Government taken to protect their citizens and their sovereignty. NO.
Instead, the western media have been working hard to make huge scenes from a few Tibet protesters(What do they protest for? Tibetans was freed from Slavery since 1951 after DALAI LAMA and all the slave owners fled to India.)
Western Media has been so used to put the the Chinese People down because we are normally quiet, silent, hard working, do not like confrontation, swallow unfair bitterness…
Olympics will wake up the Chinese people around the globe. All ethnic Chinese people, it is time to walk with the our back straight! It is time to look into the Westerner’s Eyes to tell them: WE ARE EQUAL! Olympics will be succeed no matter what!! Dear Le–Chinese in U.S.A. I absolutely share your feelings about our Home Country.
No matter where I live or travel in this world, I know my Chinese heart and soul will always stay with China!
Dear Peony,
China will NOT split when she people like you and me!
“Olympics will wake up the Chinese people around the globe. All ethnic Chinese people, it is time to walk with the our back straight! It is time to look into the Westerner’s Eyes to tell them: WE ARE EQUAL! Olympics will be succeed no matter what!!”
Many Chinese in Vietnam and U.S. also share our feelings.
Global voices online forum,
Lots of Chinese make value comments/arguments there
http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2008/04/13/china-fallout-from-the-free-tibet-protests/#comment-1430925
http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2008/04/06/china-chinese-protest-in-london-you-never-see-on-bbc/
http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2008/04/13/china-fallout-from-the-free-tibet-protests/#comment-1430925
The answer to the question is “YES”, the western media is biased against China. Even in the opening question y Madeleine itself is biased, as it is not only Chinese press and government accuse western media of biased against Chine, it is majority of 1.4 billions of Chinese accuse the western media of demonising China, and hurting Chinese feeling. 1.4 billion Chinese live in this planet too, they have more than 4000 years civilization and they deserve human rights too. Their voice must be heard. The western media must stop ignoring Chinese people’s voice.
Western media, whether TV, magazines or newspapers tend to be biased as well as condescending in nature towards China and other developing countries. The worst abusers of human rights have been and still are from the west. Oborigines from US, Australia and NZ were systematically annihilated and continued to be discriminated while many developing countries including China, Africa and Asia have been colonised by the Western whites. The humiliation of Iraqis by a western power that lied to the world that Saddam’s Iraq has wmd is indicative of hypocrisy and low moral standing of the West and its media. Western media’s attitude reflects their editors’ sense of superiority and moral standing which is a legacy of their countries’ big bully mentality in colonizing and humiliating other countries. Yes. Western media is extremely biased against China.
Are you talking about western media,no doubt,it is admirable really admirable with remarkable role in every field of life.
Look at the BBC WORLD many of its programms educate the people it keeps well informed its watchers about the changing circumstances in the world and provide its viewers minute after minute report.Due to reliable,independent role it has become unique intersted channel in the world.We can describe BBC WORLD as a crown of the western media’s kingdom.
At this moment,TIME,NEWSWEEK can not be overlooked,archive of knowledge can be described both the magzines.CNN has also different and crucial role in the western media.Some people think its stste-owned channel but may be wrong to some extent.
The fact is that western media is ruling over the entire world it has played a crucial role in making the opinon of world leaders and the peoples as well.
Thanks,
impatial,tranparent,relible and independence,western media is not biased,absolutely not.
Based on Associated Press as reported in MSNBC dated April 15, 2008, “China leads world in execution” in 2007. The number of persons executed in China in 2007 was 470, based on Amnesty International study. Overall 3,347 were executed in 51 countries. Given that China’s population was about 25% of the world population, while the number of people executed in China in 2007 was about 14% of the total executed in 51 countries, I get the impression that the number of persons executed in China was relatively low as a percentage of its population when compared to percentage executed elsewhere in 2007. Again, this is indicative of the extreme biasness the western media has against China.
Publishing the above comments speaks well for the uniqueness of the BBC.
Those who have been following closely will observe that what CHEN several weeks ago predicted would happen HAS happened.
We have a tendency to react reflexively to our ideological indoctrination. Media potentiate this and psychic inflation, followed by absurd action, ensues.
In addition to “balance” perhaps we should seel out and cherish contrarian opinion.
hello! fans
This is specially to my chinese brothers and sisters who are not aware of itself’s(chinese goverment) policy that we have no Human rights in china,xinjing and tibet.For example , The recents unrest in Tibet shows clearly that we have no rights in china.Although after the protest chinese army killed many protesters .this means if you fights against for your rights then one day they will kill you too.
so, what i want to say you is don’t critisized to US and Dalia lama who are seeking for peace and metual benifits .think of yourself and talk to other.
@ Kunga,
When the rioters killed the Hans, did they think that we are their brothers or sisters. They (rioters) chased people that look Han. Unfortunately sometimes they could not distinguish between Hanic and Tibetans, so few tibetans became victim too.
China will take care of tibetans, minorities and Hans etc if we are being good citizens. Freedom of speech will be practiced later on when China is fully developed.
Do you think U.S.A had freedom of speech when it was developing. Absolutely not, suppression of the Native Indians for many years, and other minorities. We can only see Native Americans history in the museums. Most of them are really poor and live in the areas only allowed by U.S.A governments nowadays.
U.S.A is developed, that’s why it implements laws for freedom of speech! and laws to protect minorities African Americans were segragated until 1960s.
Just be patient, and you will see all people in China have more equal rights! If tibet gains **dependence now, it will be exploited by other nations. The first one to jump in is U.S. followed by Canada, France, Germany, Brittain etc.
Look at Iraq, it’s in worse shape than before U.S. invasion! Now U.S. et al is trying to conquer Afghanistan, do you see the trend now? if tibet is split, it will be on the chart next!!!!!
Open your minds and eyes and see the true devil behind all this anti-olympic propaganda!
Recent western media biasness against China on issues related to Tibet seems to be part of the broader collusion by western powers to covertly destabilize China. This is the impression that one gets by reading a research paper written by F. William Engdahl entitled “Risky geopolitical game: Washington Plays ‘Tibet Roulette’ with China” (www.globalresearch.ca). In fact, BBC was implicated in this report for falsely reporting a prisoner in China having his kidneys surgically removed while he was alive. Even more intriquing is the recent report in the cyberspace that German state financed Friedrich Naumann Foundation is also involved in the conspiracy to embarass China by planning and financing the recent protests related to Tibet issues through collaboration with Dalai Lama. Maybe BBC can enlighten us on these damaging findings. Collaborations among western powers such as the US and the UK in deposing leaders such as President Salvador Allende of Chile and Prime Minister Mossadeq of Iran are well documented. Thus, it is only logical for those who browse the internet to believe there are ongoing collaborations among western powers including their mass media to embarass and destabilize China.
Many people are saying that “because China doesn’t do this, western media shouldn’t treat it fairly.”
Is this the democracy we so bring ourselves to defend? China is a “communist” country, so naturally, it will not provide a full coverage of the issue. But what about America? Is America a communist country? Why is western media also airing biased reports? Why are we also mislabling pictures? Why are we doing the same thing as what a communist country is doing?
Jack Cafferty’s words shocked me. If of all, he did explain WHY the Chinese are holding our dollars. He made it sound as if China robbed us of our greenbacks. Secondly, the words “junk”, “goons”, and “thugs” racist and vicious in nature. It was ambiguous to me whether Cafferty was referring to the government or its people, but it was enough to be severely offensive.
Furthermore, CNN and other western medias are blocking comments that speak on behave of the Chinese. I do not like the Chinese government, but I also do not like what our country is doing.
I wonder if this comment will go through.
Jackson, I agree, you are awesome!
Jackson Bailey, I find your statement ” I wonder if this comment will go through” interesting. Your comments went through, so was mine. I post some other comments through Chinadaily. It went through. But, my comments to NBC did not get through. Obviously, BBC and Chinadaily welcome diverse views including from me who does not reside in UK or China. But not NBC. How should I conclude? No freedom of expression of opinions through US media?
Who owns CNN? MSNBC? ABC?
NBC — General Electric
CBS — Westinghouse
Paramount TV. MTV — Viacom
ABC — Disney
CNN — Time Warner – AOL
Fox TV — NewsCorp
The more relevant question is not whether the western media is biased against China but why. There is a secret war going on and the media is part of the offence. I guess the Chinese will have to learn to master English first and develop their own alternative world English media platform. Until then, they just have to lump it.
It is never about Tibet, its people, justice or human rights. The Rwandan government enjoyed more favourable media coverage even after 1 million death in 1994. Population is drastically reduced in Iraq and scores of people are dying everyday as we speak. No – but China commits a worse crime than that – by being too big a threat.
No question about it. Only the very naive will see no biasness. Post 911 journalism in USA is downhill all the way. Self censorship and selective reporting on the rise. Journalist that don’t follow the patriotic trend (like CBS’s Kristina Borjesson) tend to get fired:
http://www.wanttoknow.info/mediacover-up
If you believe there is no western media bias, you are probably still buying the Iraq WMD tale too. Documented report of the current Tibet biasness,
CNN’s balanced reporting: This week, 46 stories on Tibet, 0 on Israel, despite air strikes Friday, 18 April 2008:
http://tvnewslies.org/tvnl/index.php/news/journalism-a-media/23-journalism-a-media-news-archive/1230-cnns-balanced-reporting-this-week-46-stories-on-tibet-0-on-israel-despite-air-strikes
Western Media Fabrications regarding the Tibet Riots Thursday, 17 April 2008
http://tvnewslies.org/tvnl/index.php/news/journalism-a-media/23-journalism-a-media-news-archive/1192-western-media-fabrications-regarding-the-tibet-riots
Note that the source i linked are not at all pro-China, if not somewhat anti-China. They reported lots of bad news about China/Tibet issue too. Their forum members enjoy China bashing sometimes.
Actually, we in the rest of the world understand the biasness, we have lots of media biasness in our respective home countries too. We won’t mind your media being bias. If not for the pretty amazing hypocrisy that western media still claim to do “FAIR & BALANCE” reporting.
From,
A bias Malaysian
They are bias in their own country.
They are bias in Iraq, where they get full media access, ie: wrongly claiming that Shia got the majority, thus creating lots of in fighting.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/DD6DEE52-C684-439D-B5D3-12D41D076CBC.htm
They got FULL media access in those 2 places above.
Are they bias in Tibet? When they got little media access? Come on, think about it, bias when they got FULL media access, what do you expect here? Do we even need the question?
The mainstream media in the UK is completely bias against anyone who their bosses tell them to be biased against.
The most atrocious lies were and still are told about Serbs. The most atrocious attacks and violence against Serbs was and is systematically ignored or downplayed in media reports.
I don’t believe anything I see in the western media anymore. Even if the facts are true the contexed is often manipulated.
For example Serbian victims of violence in Bosnia were often characterised as being muslims. Even at one obvously Orthodox Christian funeral the dead were refered to as muslim. The media have realised that to get public opinion onside is very easy….the mob are easily fooled or uninterested in the first place.
The comparisons using the UK are very poorly thought out. Northern Ireland and Scotland are part of the UK by choice. The majority population of both states have a pro-union bend. It’s getting to the point where the media can no longer be trusted, and whatever we see or hear must be questioned beyond the normal time constraints of most human beings.
Yes, the western media is definitely biased… They imposed their own value system to others, and assume all Chinese are suffering under their current government sovereignty. Why don’t they bashed on US double standard in handling international issues? I believe for the days to come, they will keep demonize China. They are ruining their own reputation, and in future only ignorant westerners will believe in their news.
For all of you people passionately bashing China, I urge you to personally visit China. I guarantee you that the real China that you see when you visit there is going to be very different from what Western media portrays.
There is no rampant human rights abuses in China, cities and skylines very well developed, and infrastructure highly advanced.
Westerners fear China’s rise and use their media to destroy China’s reputation. Don’t be fooled. Go visit China yourself. The only difference between Chinese and Western media is that Western media is biased in a very cunning way.