Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama arrived in the nation’s capital for a 10-day Buddhist ritual known as the Kalachakra for World Peace. His visit is the first since retiring as the political leader of Tibet’s government. But that’s still likely to upset China, according to Voice of America. There’s no word yet if President Obama will invite him to the White House. We have a busy morning at Heritage. Beginning at 10 a.m. ET, our Center for Legal and Judicial Studies hosts its annual Scholars and Scribes Review the …
Last week, the establishment media played up reports that China surpassed Japan as the world’s second largest economy as measured by gross domestic product (GDP). Contrary to the amount of attention it received, the development is not as important as it was made to sound. First of all, if the PRC reported its economic data accurately, China probably passed Japan several years ago. Second, after adjusting for different prices within economies —known as purchasing power parity— China actually passed Japan way back in 1995. In other words, this is old …
Tenzin Dorjee, Executive Director of Students for a Free Tibet, recently sat down with Heritage’s Dr. Lee Edwards, Distinguished Fellow in Conservative Thought, to offer insight on the ethnic and religious tensions plaguing China. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfKQOJFm64E[/youtube] From Xinjiang to Tibet, tensions continue to cloud the Chinese government’s vision of a harmonious and stable society. Many see the CCP’s policies toward religious freedom and ethnic diversity as more divisive than harmonizing. The Chinese government, on the other hand, blames external agitators in the West for the social unrest in China. The lack …
It was a sad week for American support for oppressed nations. The White House announced that it will not be meeting for now with the Dalai Lama, one of the world’s pre-eminent defenders of human rights and most recognized religious leaders, during his visit to Washington. President Obama will wait until he has had a chance to travel to China in November, one of the world’s five remaining communist dictatorships. It is a strange and troubling reversal for “the leader of the free world.” The cause of Tibet has in …
Residents and visitors of New York City will experience an odd phenomenon tonight. The Empire State Building, a symbol of American strength, determination and might will be colored Red and Yellow to honor the 60th anniversary of China’s communist regime taking power. Lighting the building for special occasions is not abnormal, as it has been lit to honor everything from the Fourth of July, to Caribbean tourism, to the Yankees and Mets, or to honor the film, The Wizard of Oz. But is it appropriate to honor what happened in …
As anti-government riots spread beyond Tibet and into other provinces, the Chinese government already admits at least 325 people have been injured and 16 people have died. Tibetan exile groups put the death toll at closer to 80 even as they mobilize more troops and paramilitary units into the region. The United States cannot ignore the geopolitical and moral implications of Tibetan dissent and most craft a measured response going into this summer’s Olympic games in Beijing. Heritage senior fellow John Tkacik advises: The President’s presence in Beijing, and all …
