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WHITBY’S CHINA CRISIS

21-03-2008

In last night’s Birmingham Mail, Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg cast a critical eye over Mike Whitby’s close relationship with China.

I hope Birmingham’s globe-trotting Council leader Mike Whitby has had time to catch up with the news since returning from the MIPIM property conference in Cannes last week.

He might just have noticed what’s going on in China, the nation he has cultivated above all others on his extensive international travels.

Whitby has frequently trumpeted the job opportunities that can come from forging greater links with the world’s newest economic superpower.

Yet over the past few days, the Beijing government has taken time out from becoming the workshop of the world to slaughter dozens of its citizens in Tibet who dared to ask for independence.

Once again, officials responsible for the massacre of students in Tiananmen Square 20 years ago have been shown in their true totalitarian colours.

Many observers hoped that allowing China to host the Olympics this year would open up the country to a more relaxed style of government.

It’s also claimed that promoting trade links will bring about a more liberal outlook among the country’s leaders, too - yet so far we’ve seen precious little evidence of it.

Ordinary citizens are still denied uncensored internet access. Religious freedom is strictly limited. And, as we’ve seen, public protests are put down with the brutal, jackboot force.

Are these the kind of people we want to be doing business with?

As a consumer and a taxpayer, I’d sooner my money was spent dealing with a country whose people are free to speak their minds and who can challenge their leaders without fear of being shot dead in the street.

Over to you, Mike.

(To read the full version of this article, click here )

The Stirrer also wrote about car clamping in last night’s column - click here to see it )

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