The article discusses a recent Spanish criminal court’s ruling to accept a Tibetan advocacy group’s indictment of former Chinese President Hu Jintao for genocide. Specifically, during his tenure as both Himalayan Communist Party Secretary, 1988-1992, and President of the People’s Republic of China, 2003-2013. This ruling theoretically should lead to demands for Hu Jintao’s arrest if he enters Spain or any country that shares an extradition treaty with Spain. However, the likelihood of his arrest occurring is probably negligible in practice. Although this ruling probably will lack gravitas, the fundamental principle goes back to the theme of China as an empire.
Following the Chinese troops’ occupation of Tibet in 1950, the following decade is famous for the exile of the Dalai Lama and other Buddhist leaders to India. Empire’s naturally struggle to maintain unity throughout the various parts they rule over; thus, it is not surprising that China is frequently a part of land and jurisdiction arguments. The Chinese continue to reiterate that the Tibetans were impoverished and economically stagnant, an issue China claims it has enabled the Tibetans to better deal with. Whether China has or has not had progress in making the people of Tibet better off, China’s ability to foster a unified country out of the old Chinese empire remains an important aspect of the country’s development. The vast diversity of the population, climate, topography, dialects, etc. all play roles in economic development. An exact reason why the term cultural sinicization has been a theme. In Hessler’s book, he highlights that employers frequently discriminate by region, despite laws prohibiting the very practice (318). Without a firm cultural identity, the “empire” that is China, will probably realize material income inequalities between different regions.
Works Cited: Sinicization of Tibet (Wikipedia) and China denounces Spanish court’s Tibet case against ex-president also Country Driving by Peter Hessler
Caution: Wikipedia is easy to edit [you can do it…] and is unreliable on controversial topics such as this. Look for academic sources
It is kind of interesting though, he probably cannot ever go to Spain again. Not that he necessarily wanted to. Does the EU have some kind of agreement on this kind of thing? Could Jintao be extradited if he went to France, for instance? Not that the EU wants to anger China, but it could become a spat if there is any legal “reciprocity,” if you will, in the EU.
As more and more Chinese leave their villages and move to the cities identity shifts. Personal connection to the land, village, “people”, etc… deteriorates and in replace a new identity forms. “The businessman/businesswoman” Professions can mean more and suddenly who counts as a “family member” slims down. As Tibetans move and begin interacting with more Chinese immigrants protests could decrease?