Foreign and Military Affairs
A prize that goes against Nobel's ideas
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-14 21:18
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BEIJING - The decision of the Norwegian Nobel Committee to award this year's Nobel Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo, a convicted Chinese criminal, goes against the principles of the prize and the ideas of its founder.
The awarding demonstrates that the once prestigious prize has degenerated into a political tool of some Western powers.
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According to Nobel's wishes, the Peace Prize should be awarded to person(s) who "shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."
However, Liu has been imprisoned for agitation aimed to subvert the Chinese government. What he has done goes against Alfred Nobel's will of peace.
Just as Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu put it, the Nobel Committee's decision was "blasphemy" and "a violation of the principles of the Peace Prize."
The decision to honor Liu mocks the century-old Nobel Peace Prize and serves as an insult to its many outstanding laureates.
In its nearly 110-year-old history, a number of heroes and noble figures, such as Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela, have been awarded. Is it not ironic to put Liu in the same league with such big names?
Selection of laureates for the Nobel Peace Prize should have been a serious business. Unfortunately, the Nobel Committee could not resist the temptation of using the prize as a political tool.
As the name indicates, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to those who promote peace. However, the committee awarded it in 1989 to the Dalai Lama, who strove to separate China and disrupt ethnic harmony. This year, the committee honored a person who has violated Chinese law.
Law-breakers are punished in all civilized societies. Why should the Nobel Committee neglect this basic principle when it comes to China?
The general public in China is wondering why the Nobel Committee adopts double standards when dealing with China. By awarding a prestigious peace prize to Liu, the committee has disgraced itself.
The decision also shows that a few Westerners are unable to come to terms with China's growth, and therefore try to tarnish the image of China by all means.
Following the announcement of this year's peace prize, some forces in the West started to attack China again. The situation runs counter to Alfred Nobel's wishes for "fraternity between nations."
With its economy flourishing, China has made more and more contributions to the prosperity and economic growth of the world at large. However, a few people in the West intentionally turn a blind eye to China's contributions. They want to see China through colored spectacles and try to politicize many issues related to China.
It is a pity that this year's Nobel Peace Prize has degenerated into a political tool of the West. It is also a pity that the Chinese people, who have generally respected the Nobel prizes, get disappointed at this year's awarding of the Peace Prize.
