Treading carefully with China
TO HIGHLIGHT China's repressive policies, protesters are attacking the Olympic torch as it wends its way to Beijing and the summer games.
It's embarrassing for the moment, but China knows the real score. In the long run, the drive for human profit always beats the drive for human rights.
Massachusetts offers a tiny but telling glimpse into that broad economic reality.
On April 1, University of Massachusetts president Jack M. Wilson announced an agreement with Chinese officials to offer government-sanctioned online classes in the communist nation of 1.3 billion. The deal, UMass officials said, could generate up to $5 million a year for the university. It resulted from extensive discussions and educational exchanges between UMass and Chinese officials over the past two years.
Just a year ago, UMass trustees voted to divest from Sudan because of government-sanctioned atrocities in the Darfur region. At the time of last April's divestiture vote, Wilson said, "I am delighted. . . This decision is consistent with the university's traditions and values."
Today, it's clear that while Wilson was praising divestiture, UMass officials were negotiating with China, Sudan's most important economic and political patron. China's tight political and business ties to the Sudanese government make it "an enabler to Sudan in its genocide in Darfur," wrote The
Asked to reconcile the two decisions, UMass spokesman Robert P. Connolly said, "The University of Massachusetts has a history of global engagement that is almost as old as the university itself and also has a proud history of standing up for justice and for human rights. Like nearly every major college or university in the United States, the University of Massachusetts has formed academic and research relationships with educational institutions in China. These relationships benefit UMass students who have to compete in an ever-shrinking world and will help to strengthen the state's innovation-based economy." However, as evidence of the university's awareness of less-positive aspects of this relationship, Connolly also noted that UMass received a $1.6 million federal grant to lead a judicial education and judicial reform project in China.
Legislation signed into law last November required Massachusetts to divest from companies that do business with the Sudanese government. At the time, Governor Deval Patrick said, "We want to send a clear signal that we, like so many people around the world, expect swift action to end the suffering of the Sudanese people. The Sudanese government must take a strong stand against the genocide in their country and bring real relief and progress to the people of the region."
That same month, Patrick embarked on a trade mission to China, during which he met with government, business, and academic officials to encourage more collaboration with Massachusetts businesses. The six-day trip led to agreements between Massachusetts and Chinese companies in life sciences, clean energy, transportation, and higher education. Yesterday, Patrick announced that Grand China Air is seeking approval for the first-ever direct air service between Beijing, Shanghai, and Boston.
"To compete in the global economy, we must engage the Chinese government, which controls the fastest-growing economy in the world. A comprehensive strategy in dealing with China and Asia is critical to a successful economy here in the Commonwealth, " explained Joe Landolfi, Patrick's spokesman. "The governor is sensitive to these concerns and he did bring them up at the appropriate times in meetings during the China trade mission."
China is such a huge market, political and academic leaders won't let human rights concerns stand in the way of economic concerns.
From a more global perspective, actor Richard Gere, a devout supporter of Tibet and the Dalai Lama, reminded protesters in San Francisco that the exiled leader supports the Olympic Games and read a message from him that said: "It is the legitimate right of every Tibetan to struggle for their freedoms and rights, but, on the other hand, it would be futile and not helpful to anyone if we do something that would create hatred in the minds of the Chinese people."
Even the Dalai Lama knows that dealing with China is a balancing act.
Joan Vennochi's e-mail address is vennochi@globe.com.
