The struggle in China to find and maintain what the nation’s Communist leaders believe is a proper balance between old and new-style government continues. It is evident in recent policies that simultaneously have expanded economic freedom while tightening control of the political process and punishing dissidents. It is apparent, as well, in Tuesday’s decision by the government to prevent two prominent human rights activists and legal scholars from leaving the country on grounds that their travel could endanger national security.
As is often the case in Chinese matters, there probably is more to the incident than meets the eye. Mo Shaoping and He Weifang, the pair prevented from traveling abroad, have openly advocated political reform and expanded human rights. Their activities and movements in China, however, are closely monitored by security operatives, and it is unlikely anything they could say or do overseas would bring harm to China. Mo and He, however, provide a highly public way for China’s rulers to express their concern about Liu Xiaobo, winner of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize, for his advocacy of political reform and human rights in China.
Liu’s campaigns, supported by Mo and He, embarrassed Chinese leaders. The latter prefer that their own picture of a happy China be accepted around the globe rather than the more sinister one of a dictatorial state supplied by dissidents. Chinese leaders have done everything they can do to play down Liu’s prize. The government has trashed his reputation. It has attacked the Nobel committee for meddling in Chinese affairs. Mo and He were targeted, it seems, because the government feared they might try to attend Peace Prize ceremonies on Dec. 10. Both men deny the charge, pointing out that they lack the visas required to do so.
Travel bans aren’t the only way China is trying to control events. Its diplomats have made it clear that China will take a dim view of governments that send representatives to Nobel ceremonies. Chinese leaders fear that widespread acknowledgment of the award will undermine their power. Indeed, China is so opposed to Liu’s award that it has intimated that there could be economic reprisals against nations represented at the awards ceremony. Most nations, thankfully, have refused to bow to such pressure.
China’s ham-handed move to restrict individual speech and travel and its attempt to coerce nations to avoid the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony are likely to backfire.