Totalitarian states have considerable expertise in manipulating and influencing foreign opinion, it is of course in their political and economic interests to exercise a relentless policy of concealment, evasion and denial, by presenting a sanitised image to the world.
Xinhua Headquarters-China's Propaganda Agency
Image: ChinaHerald
During the 1920s Stalinist Russia was able to deceive a number of high-profile delegations, one such trip concluded by reporting that “It had witnessed Utopia in action”. Irish play-wright and author George Bernard Shaw received an invitation from Josef Stalin to tour the Soviet Union. The trip was carefully manipulated to include only what authorities wanted him to see.
Stalin-Master Manipulator
Despite their best efforts evidence of the Stalinist terror could not be concealed entirely. Incredibly Shaw simply ignored the suffering, returning to Britain to dismiss reports of widespread famine as malicious lies. Moreover, a staunch aetheist Shaw went on to declare Stalin’s Russia an example of “what would happen if Christ lived now.”
Shaw-Willing Accomplice to Stalinist Propaganda
In the 1930s, Nazi-Germany encouraged visitors, particularly US academics. Hitler siezed upon such trips as an important opportunity to present his regime in a softer light and to court international legitimacy. Unfortunately, a number of Americans were thoroughly deceived by such artifice, distracted by the carefully engineered allure that characterised such choreographed visits, only to subsequently present the American people with a whitewashed image of conditions inside Nazi-Germany. Acording to research by Professor Stephen H. Norwood of the University of Oklahoma following one such visit in 1936 American University Chancellor, Joseph Gray, assured US citizens that “everybody was working in Germany” and that German cities were “amazingly clean”.
China operates a similar strategy of deception and is keen to encourage foreign visitors to endorse its presence in Tibet and East Turkestan, by reporting on the supposed progress and economic benefits resulting from Beijing’s ‘enlightned’ rule. Much of this is of course transparent propaganda, yet there a few individuals who appear to have pre-determined willingness, not ony to accept such fabrications, but to actively assist in the promotion of such duplicity. At this point may we introduce recent comments, reportedly made by Australian MP, Michael Johnson. These are given prominence by communist China’s propaganda machine Xinhua. See: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/18/content_11029613.htm
Michael Johnson MP With China's Loyal Friend UNFPA Executive Director-Thoraya Obaid
Image: PGDP-Australia
“In early November 2008, I traveled with two Australian reporters to China’s Tibet Autonomous [sic] Region for four days of interviews. Lhasa was so beautiful! Against the blue sky, white clouds and white snow, the Potala Palace appeared grand and majestic. With fragrant delicacies, bright-colored Tibetan dresses and Tibetan songs lingering in my ears, I was attracted to the unique charm of the Tibetan culture. Tall buildings in the city sent a message of a modern metropolis, seemingly telling the world that Tibet was developing forward. During our stay in Lhasa, we visited a school equipped with complete facilities such as computers and libraries. We also had in-depth exchanges with locals and obtained a lot of valuable information regarding the local development situation in Lhasa. The world needs to know the colorful and modern Tibet. Following efforts made over the past decades, Tibet has made achievements in various fields. This includes social, economic and environmental developments that are for everyone to see.”
Unfortunately within draconian regimes such as communist China you cannot trust what your are told or even see. Take the case of the Golmud (Amdo) to Lhasa railway, a much trumpeted project, which Xinhua assured the world would bring untold benefit to the Tibetan people. Responding to international concerns over the subsequent ecologocal damge resulting from the railway communist China assured the world that every step was being taken to miminise any environmental damge. They even published photographic evidence to support that claim. An image was beamed aroud the world showing a herd of rare Tibetan antelope passing the contoversial new rail-line.
Exposed-China's Fake Image Of Tibet Railway
Image: Phayul
The only problem was that the photograph was a fake, as reported by Reuters February 19, 2008. Only days before its release it had been described as one of the “10 most impressive news photos of 2006″ China’s Central Television. The news resulted in the resignation of Liu Weiqiang, then Chief Editor of the Daqing Evening News in northeastern Heilongjiang province. It must be remembered that no national newspaper, let alone any official publication inside China can operate wthout the sanction of the state. In this case, featuring such a hugely important and sensitive issue, it is difficult not to consider that Xinhua would have had a role in the creation and publishing of this blatant forgery.
It sounds as if Michael Johnson visited a veritable paradise, perhaps he also witnessed “Utopia in action“? Not for his sight the suppression, midnight- knock-on-the-door, censorship, shootings, arrests, torture or forced sterilisations. Has this politician bothered to reflect on why he was not witness to communist China’s catalogue of abuse and the ongoing oppression of people inside Tibet?
We should of course extend some fairness, perhaps he has been victim to a cynical exercise in media manipulation by China? So let’s ask him directly. Please email Michael Johnson at:
Michael.Johnson.MP@aph.gov.au
