Editorial: Australian govt disappoints with Kadeer visa
- Source: Global Times
- [00:49 August 10 2009]
- Comments
The Australian government underestimated the rage among the Chinese population that would be aroused when it approved a visa for Rebiya Kadeer, a Xinjiang separatist in exile, so she could attend the Melbourne International Film Festival.
In an online poll conducted by the Global Times Saturday, 88.2 percent of respondents favored retaliating against Australia for hosting a national enemy of China by boycotting Australia as a destination for travel or study.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, before allowing Kadeer to enter the country, dismissed China’s strong protest, saying that Kadeer is not a terrorist and that there was no reason why she should be denied a visa.
Geoff Raby, the Australian ambassador to China, made a similar claim after being summoned by the Chinese vice foreign minister over the controversial decision. In an interview with Phoenix TV, Raby defended the decision, saying that if there were no problems with Kadeer’s application procedures, there was no reason not to issue her a visa.
The argument holds some water, since the visa was issued based on the legal procedures of Australia.
However, Australians should understand why the decision deeply disappointed China: Kadeer is not just any ordinary visitor.
The Australian foreign ministry was aware of the purpose of Kadeer’s trip. A documentary film about her personal life was scheduled to screen at the film festival. With language that appeals to foreign ears, The 10 Conditions of Love selectively depicted Kadeer as a woman who sacrificed love of her family for the freedom of her people.
Saluting a criminal is an insult to the innocent who were victimized in the July 5 riots in Urumqi. It was also an open confrontation with Chinese people who value national unity over any other political issue.
By allowing a separatist – and a mastermind behind the bloody riots – to enter its territory and spread her message, the Australian foreign ministry made a serious error in judgment.
To make it worse, the supposedly veteran Australian diplomats seemed to not fully understand the seriousness of the incident, and expressed hopes that mutual relations would not be affected by it.
In the same interview, Raby stated that “I believe that both countries do not wish for recent events which were originally uninfluential to impede the full development of positive and firm bilateral relations.”
That is naïve thinking.
It is not unusual for foreign politicians to woo domestic audiences by giving Chinese dissidents high status despite the strong sentiment of the Chinese people. They learn their lesson later.
If these politicians truly intend to keep sound relations with China, they have to take into consideration the disappointment their decisions can cause.
