There's been a huge pick-up on what Hillary Clinton has had to say about China and its efforts to stop democratisation. With reference to the Arab Spring, she's told Jeffrey Goldberg, "They're worried, and they are trying to stop history, which is a fool's errand. They cannot do it. But they're going to hold it off as long as possible." Here's the full interview. Do you agree with the Secretary of State? Or has she failed to understand the importance of economic growth and stability to many Chinese? This blog post explains why some Chinese do want democracy but only a very different pace to what happened in Egypt and Tunisia. Is it na茂ve to believe that rapid change will come and is even desired in many parts of China?
You won't be surprised that the Chinese government is not impressed with what's been said. Vice-Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai has said that China is making progress on human rights and is at a different stage of its development to America. Is that a reasonable point?
Your comments
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18:53
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Ben J here- moving on to talk about Greece with callers there, after a day of strikes over austerity measures, just over a year after the bail-out of the economy. Any questions for our Greek callers?
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18:52
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Ben J here- moving on to talk about Greece with callers there, after a day of strikes over austerity measures, just over a year after the big protests there
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18:35
117673486
Rapid development of democracy is not realistic. It is like expecting a 2 year old child to act like a 40-45 year old adult. There is a process of learning and development--growing pains included.
--Bill, Maryland USA
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18:32
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@麻豆社_whys if America is so bad on human rights then why so much foreign aid? Why the promotion of democracy?
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18:29
117784619
@麻豆社_WHYS it's not about how the US has messed up human rights its about how china can get it right. No gvnmnt is perfct but should try to B
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18:24
117771443
@麻豆社_WHYS So that 9/11 does not repeat itself d us must check its foreign policy bearin in mind that China cant be treated like weak nation
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18:23
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<p>
Jacob - I think she was out of line. Its not her call. We are definately living in an exciting time with all the protests for more freedoms but we are naive if we think for a second that all the change we are crying for will happen NOW.</p>
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18:19
108470832
China鈥檚 minorities are undergoing relentless sinacization. In 20 or 30 years there won鈥檛 be any more Tibetan speakers. I for one am concerned. Ottilie
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18:20
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<p>
Tony in Kenya - She is absolutely right. For the critics: what kind of nation are you living in and could you live in China given a chance? Do have the taste for a police state?</p>
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18:18
114811550
RT @麻豆社_WHYS: Murphy Wu, Chinese woman on #whys: "Clinton's words are audacious. But the Chinese government is smart and strategic."
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18:16
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<p>
Niresh in Nepal - America has no right to talk about others. Rather, they should just maintain human rights in their own country.</p>
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17:44
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Hello - Ben J here. We''re talking about China & Hillary Clinton on the programme shortly. Do you agree with her comments? (see our blog post) Also, we''ll speak to Greeks later about whether their lives have improved since the bail-out a year ago.
On air: Clinton & China
| Wednesday, 5 May 2011 | 17:19 - 20:30 GMT
There's been a huge pick-up on what Hillary Clinton has had to say about China and its efforts to stop democratisation. With reference to the Arab Spring, she's told Jeffrey Goldberg, "They're worried, and they are trying to stop history, which is a fool's errand. They cannot do it. But they're going to hold it off as long as possible." Here's the full interview.
Do you agree with the Secretary of State? Or has she failed to understand the importance of economic growth and stability to many Chinese? This blog post explains why some Chinese do want democracy but only a very different pace to what happened in Egypt and Tunisia. Is it na茂ve to believe that rapid change will come and is even desired in many parts of China?
You won't be surprised that the Chinese government is not impressed with what's been said. Vice-Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai has said that China is making progress on human rights and is at a different stage of its development to America. Is that a reasonable point?
Your comments
Comment sent via host
Ben J here- moving on to talk about Greece with callers there, after a day of strikes over austerity measures, just over a year after the bail-out of the economy. Any questions for our Greek callers?
Comment sent via host
Ben J here- moving on to talk about Greece with callers there, after a day of strikes over austerity measures, just over a year after the big protests there
Comment sent via SMS
Rapid development of democracy is not realistic. It is like expecting a 2 year old child to act like a 40-45 year old adult. There is a process of learning and development--growing pains included. --Bill, Maryland USA
Comment sent via unknown: 23057
@麻豆社_whys if America is so bad on human rights then why so much foreign aid? Why the promotion of democracy?
Comment sent via unknown: 23057
@麻豆社_WHYS it's not about how the US has messed up human rights its about how china can get it right. No gvnmnt is perfct but should try to B
Comment sent via unknown: 23057
@麻豆社_WHYS So that 9/11 does not repeat itself d us must check its foreign policy bearin in mind that China cant be treated like weak nation
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Jacob - I think she was out of line. Its not her call. We are definately living in an exciting time with all the protests for more freedoms but we are naive if we think for a second that all the change we are crying for will happen NOW.</p>
Comment sent via SMS
China鈥檚 minorities are undergoing relentless sinacization. In 20 or 30 years there won鈥檛 be any more Tibetan speakers. I for one am concerned. Ottilie
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Tony in Kenya - She is absolutely right. For the critics: what kind of nation are you living in and could you live in China given a chance? Do have the taste for a police state?</p>
Comment sent via unknown: 23057
RT @麻豆社_WHYS: Murphy Wu, Chinese woman on #whys: "Clinton's words are audacious. But the Chinese government is smart and strategic."
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Niresh in Nepal - America has no right to talk about others. Rather, they should just maintain human rights in their own country.</p>
Comment sent via host
Hello - Ben J here. We''re talking about China & Hillary Clinton on the programme shortly. Do you agree with her comments? (see our blog post) Also, we''ll speak to Greeks later about whether their lives have improved since the bail-out a year ago.