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5/1/1999 - Behind the Smile: Guizhou’s Reaction to the Chinese Embassy Bombing by Daniel B. Wright

Behind Smile Guizhou Reaction Chinese Embassy Bombing Mr President there anything behind smile question posed President Clinton Beijing University student duringClinton July visit China GUIZHOU China May Mr Peter Bird Martin Executive Director Institute Current World Affairs West Wheelock St Hanover New Hampshire 03755 USA Dear Peter It something Hong Kong gangster movie When I awoke Guiyang hotel slipped under Urgent Call beeper number 126343434 Mr Chen Only people I Guiyang I could recall named Chen Clueless curious I called number Mr Chen Yes Do today replied shadowy voice I there urgent matter I early afternoon Meet coffee Uh excuse I number friends Chen I cannot place voice Who You Don anyone about I immediately walked hotel front trace Turns staff Mr Chen senior level manager hotel At least thought At I elevator coffee There corner empty restaurant dressed middle Mr Chen never revealed organization I suspect state security apparatus reading Chinese Golf Digest slowly stirring coffee Nervous voice Mr Chen repeatedly waved reminded anyone about conversation You special teshu person We Mr Chen looking We special teshu organization You Actually I quite normal person teshu ortunity I quipped baffled I fellow Institute Current World Affairs I continued describing Charles Crane vision ICWA history I learning Guizhou sprinkling conversation names several heavyweights Guizhou politics supporters already I approached unusual meeting refusing secrecy So indeed opportunity I ICWA quite special There thing I refuse thing organizations above board That personal principle requirement institute I trying understand China doing attract friends organiza tions Guizhou I think province Do problem No You doing research That At point during conversation I still quite wanted I learned Che former fighter pilot Chinese Air Force What think about bombing Chinese Embassy Belgrade I asked relishing opportunity question bomber pilot Guizhou Was intentional With utmost seriousness Chen leaned toward No question about U S intended strike embassy The U S government least faction within government wants destabilize China From looks bombing reverse galvanized China In short right looks Clinton helped Jiang Zemin unify country around traction during difficult But longer incident could severely destabilize China But stability China Asia America terest Why would U S destabilize China After world economies increasingly integrated Stability Asia United States But growing powerf China Chen tained Still I Though I believe mistake could happen I cannot accept U S would deliberately I believe simply tragically accident We moved another topic Though bizarre encounter mystery pilot dozens Guizhou residents I spoken about NATO May bombing Chinese Embassy Belgrade The bombing seems slapped I spoke southwest China backwater Besides handful westerners living province Guizhou solid symbols United States There McDonald Pizza Huts Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants certainly U S government offices Even spontaneity depth reaction among person streets reach government extensive propaganda machine vided unusual opportunity plumb depths Chinese As foreign policy crises domes responses about country people crisis itself AS WE SAW IT Americans woman cursed proached Guiyang airport Sunday morning May after bombing As Peter weekend I traveling Lu heard briefly detail about embassy bombing The woman comment immediately aware something wrong How I We I awkwardly attempting defuse anger You bombed Embassy killed people Uh I thought myself decided would nothing Our driver emotional He happened three injured When I asked train station could purchase tickets journey Guiyang Duyun following morning That there people testing around train station I insert three middle We changed route headed directly toward DBW quiet riverside guesthouse Guiyang university district outskirts As neared university traffic backed clogged thousands student protesters We should known After minutes traffic began slowly Our eventually crawled alongside protesters keeping students marched emergency holding bright flags poster signs Now length window students pumped their fists toward Down Ameri Imperialism chanted I slumped hoping escape their Fortunately seemed engrossed examine contents parade crept along beside A student leader marching battal referred sheet shout Down NATO hegemony Down NATO hegemony returned In students parade walked disci plined column looked school marching Independence Day small America But instead banner front naming school assembly large characters Strongly Support Government Correct Policy Instead baton wielding bandleader school president The experience surreal It seemed strange China legacy student protest May Fourth Movement Anti Japanese student protests 1930s Cultural Revolution 1960s onstrations Spring But I middle Photographs modern Chinese history books living pictures proceeding right before Guizhou Province places How their fists I wondered How chant forth student leader It means university student China I cluded To become protesters overnight without dress rehearsal students history textbook pictures I It couldn celebrated Anniversary May Fourth Movement AND THE REST OF GUIZHOU PROVINCE Demonstrations Guizhou capital Guiyang lasted On Monday May people class In cities towns outside capital reaction dramatic equally profound One friend Duyun where Make people reports small cities China hinter areas country never heard shocked deeply This until bombing tremendous respect United States values nation Now think The public protest Duyun procession about three wheel motorized pedicabs Single paraded slowly mainstreet holding signs protest Other people reactions largely personal But whether public private theme responses together everyone lieves bombing deliberate The average woman street Guizhou cannot accept anything They certain So issue becomes bombing deliberate would U S government intentionally strike China A businessman I train western Guizhou offered explanation The U S trying China strength would reply nation If government vigorously respond U S could further confirm stands alone world dominant superpower A county leader Zunyi proudly insecurity boasted Americans underestimate strength Chinese people feelings minzu ganqing strong reaction bombing A young different reason believed attack deliberate I U S struck Chinese Embassy punishment warning government supporting Yugoslavia government We probably selling weapons Serbs The U S would bombed embassy That friends I believe From ground Guizhou difficult understand people believe U S intended strike genuinely enraged How should billion tually happens Never weaponry matter The sentiment shared nationwide A survey Beijing Shanghai Guangzhou residents conducted Beiji based Horizon Research several after bombing reported people interviewed believed attack deliberate Agence France Presse May Institute Current World Affairs advanced remains capable mistakes humans input information Most Chinese overestimate western technology Never dozen ambassadors residents other civilian targets mistakenly Most Chinese heard nothing those errors Never Chinese citizens heard little about plight million refugees Kosovo Prior embassy bombing media showed Chinese government daily berating NATO volvement Yugoslavia infringement country territorial integrity If innocent lives portrayed blooded deliberate monic action Remember Only small number Chinese access CNN The firmly gunpowde weeks before guided siles struck Chinese embassy When Chinese spirit ignited Al ready tender memory imagined historical grievances foreign aggression Chinese psyche whacked again Why would another first response question about bombing complain China gotten kicked around Look We invented gunpowder ended getting Opium War Why always victim Why commonly repeated phrases since bombing The Chinese people never bullied TRUE COLORS Nationalistic sentiment creates complicated relation between people views their govern toward bombing The corollary government leader strong enough stand world danger losing their Get tough And required removal either Read history books Ev Chinese regime century except Communists fallen perception people enough resist foreign insults injury Maybe after bombing government levels Beijing Duyun lightning quick front protesters nation Maybe explains vitriolic rhetoric government controlled press In Chinese different getting U S issues their constituents consumption those enable remain power And Even township level Guizhou Province meetings government social organizations called denounce bombing study important speeches The newspaper Liupanshui Guizhou westernmost region reported proceedings district Commu Party meeting discuss bombing The barbaric bombing Chinese Embas Yugoslavia U S NATO forces presents three revelations First western enemies desire eliminate never remain alert Second U S called human rights democracy freedom humani tarianism empty So called U S rights actually hegemonism under banner human rights violate rights And finally weakness remain beaten The Chinese people bullied The protect ourselves stronger construct country build capacities nation In Guizhou southeastern region front May Qiannan Daily presented separate paragraphs reporting meetings local government social ganizations From office workers local educa commission reported discuss condemn barbaric criminal bombing In fashion government every level colors PEOPLE S RAGE To focus government response bombing however would significance bluster people outrage genuine reaching streets small Guizhou The people anger should underesti mated should understood Sure government manipulated people emotions through media reports orchestrating demonstra tions But people insin Chinese people attuned nuance events West realize Though their infor mation sources nearly diverse those countries reading leaves Chi government rhetoric decades As world Chinese increas ingly influenced nationalism Long communism defined meant Chinese And fading impressive economic growth provided satisfying greatne The Chinese identity increasingly informed nationalism powerful unpredictable combination pride security beneath surface sciousness As foundation people response Liupanshui Daily May DBW nationalism played important Chinese question their views America While wonder behind Clinton smile think laser guided missiles Like tanks Tiananmen Square indelible images embassy bombed rubble ashes three journalists being carried airplane likely harden Chinese people images U S And thing about images difficult recast While nationalism influences Chinese world aroused feelings Chinese people impact themselves their govern That double edged sword national Once force uncorked always stuff bottle That lesson May Fourth Movement What began May student response foreign grievance Treaty transferred Germany rights Shandong Province Japan instead restoring China movement remembered reach criticism everything perceived touch China The May Fourth Movement quickly became stump debate troubled nation Certainly different given between China today concern about country future place world there parallels realize Whether tragic events embassy bombing painful scratch Chinese nationalist laden psyche begin hemorrhage known Institute Current World Affairs decades China present lution perspective At final briefing Beijing June going U S Ambassador James Sasser himself hostage after bombing while U S China relationship superficially damaged structure sound Indeed relationships crisscross almost sector between China U S formed fabric between countries stronger In example U S business invested U S China today years later figure jumped U S billion But networks stretch beyond business Ten years Guizhou closed Americans Today ICWA fellow I Guizhou frequently travel places never American spoken Cultural educational govern exchanges innumerable personal relationships resulted greatly improved occasion understanding But guarantee On popular level important crease strengthen exchange between places Guizhou West Virginia Now important people forward toward other inward hostile It times these important continue other Tragedy presents opportunity deeper communication On official level neither China bashers Washing retrograde nationalists Beijing should allowed decide bombing affects relationship tween United States China The Chinese crisis composed characters danger opportunity The bombing crisis provided danger relationship clear At provided opportunity Beijing Washington reassess their relationship toward realistic mature lationship works toward inter countries If D Barnett still I would admonish Beijing Washing words The Economist reported Clinton adviser visit hospital where Doak receiving treatment What about China theft America nuclear secrets adviser asked Doak reply Stay Sincerely Index A adopt student advertising TV agricultural cooperative foundation nongye hezuo jijinhui agriculture AIDS ASEAN Aung San Suu Kyi B Baisuo Town Bank China Baoshan baozi Chinese breakfast dumpling Barnett Doak bathrooms battle Loushan Mountain Pass beekeeping Beijing Mercedes Benz Bi Jiangang Big Nest Village Blood Field bombing Belgrade Embassy bombing protests Boyao Township Braun Otto Buck Pearl Buddhism Bund Burghardt U S Consul General Raymond Burma Road Buyi Cai Ge Tang Calamity Reform China Candacraig Carter Jimmy Central Committee Communist Party Central Television CCTV charcoal Chen Chunfen Chen Dongfang Chen Junsheng Chen Mr Chen Zhixian Chennault Claire Chiang Kai China Southwest Airlines China Youth Development Foundation Chinese Academy Sciences Chinese Academy Social Sciences Chinese New Year Chinese Spring Festival Chishui River Chishui River crossing Maotai Chongqing Chuangzao Xiwang Creating Hope Chuzhou Wireless Communications Clinton President Bill CNN Coca Cola Company Communist communist revolution Communist Youth League computers Confucianism coolies corruption county towns cheng CPPCC Chinese People Pol itical Consultative Conference Crane Charles Crane John Crow Carl Cultural Revolution culture customs traditions D large character posters Daguan Village Dalian Daloushan Mountains Daoism Dazhai production brigade demonstrations Spring Deng Xiaoping Dong Dongguan drugs tower Dry Zone Dunkin Doughnuts Duyun E economic conditions trends economic growth economic transition education Education Economic Development Ethnic Minorities education schools education computer education elementary education financing education primary education private educational video ectronics factory environmental degradation ethnic groups See Buyi Dong Han Miao Shui F factory Field Dreams Fifteenth Party Congress filling station Fish Killing Festival fishing Flying Tigers Focal Point Jiaodian Fangtan Fourteenth Party Congress fundraising Fuquan City G Gao Gang Harbor geckos Geithner Peter geography Gettysburg National Battleground Grand Canal Great Leap Forward Great Wall Grey Anthony Guangdong Province Guangxi Province Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Guangzhou guerrilla warfare Guilin Guiyang Guizhou All City newspaper Guizhou Economic Daily Guizhou Province Guo Shuqing H Han Hard Rock Cafe He Yuanliang Hebei Province Henan Province history Hong Kong Hu Angang Hua Guofeng Hubei Province Human Development Index human rights Hunan Province I illiteracy impoverished township India infant mortality inflation Institute Current World Affairs internet investment capita Irrawaddy River J Japanese occupation Jesus Jiading Township Jiang Zemin Jiangsu Province Jiangxi Province Jiaotong University Jing Lin Jiuqian tujiu grown Judd Walter K Kaili Kang Xiaoguang karaoke Karnow Stanley Kosovo Kou bitter labor Kublai Kahn Kunming Kuomintang party L Lady Democracy ziyou nushen state owned enterprise workers Laid Worker Tax Alley workers Laos Lashio Lei Feng Leishan County Li Cheng Li Fangfang Li Jizhou Li Peng Li River Liaoning Province Libo County expectancy styles literacy Liu Liu Shaoqi Liu Shijie Liupanshui Long March Longli County Grasslands Luce Henry R Luodian County lusheng lusheng pipes M Madsen Richard Magenuojie Magenuojie grasslands Mandalay Mandarin Chinese Mangshi Entries refer ICWA Letter DBW Letter number given before entry DBW Manifest Destiny Mao jackets Mao Zedong Maotai Marco Polo May Fourth Movement Maymo McDonalds Mekong River Melvin Sheila Meng Shihua eating Miao Miao minority micro credit micro enterprises migrant labor migrant laborer Ministry Civil Affairs Ministry Education Ministry Electronics modernization mortality multimedia equipment mushrooms Myanmar Burma N Nanjing narcotics National Day celebration National League Democracy nationalism Nationalist Party natural New Pudong Area Ningbo Ninth Five Year Plan Nixon Richard governmental organizations NGO North Vietnam O child policy opium Oriental Pearl TV Tower Overland Chinese Overseas Chinese P paddies Pagan Pagan Period parties Party Congress People Bank China People Daily People Liberation Army capita GDP capita GNP capita income Ping diplomacy Pizza Hut Politburo population population floating Portman Ritz Carlton Hotel poverty Project Hope prostitution provinces China See Guangdong Guangxi Guizhou Hebei Henan Hubei Hunan Jiangsu Jiangxi Liaoning Sha Shanxi Sichuan Tibet Yunnan Zhejiang Purple Heart pushcart labor Q Qiandongnan Miao Dong Autonomous Prefecture Qiannan Computer Vocational Technical School Qiannan Daily Qiannan Education College Qiannan Miao Buyi Autonomous Prefecture Qiannan Prefecture Qiannan Prefecture Office Poverty Alleviation Qiao Shi Qing dynasty Qingdao R radar systems railroads Rangoon Yangon Red Army Red Army Martyrs Red Guard generation Red Guards Red Star Over China stops Reston James rivers See Chishui Irrawaddy Li Mekong Salween Xiang Yangtze Yellow Rogers Walter Rongjiang County Ross Edward A rubies Ruili Rural Chinese Government Administration rural development rural surplus labor S Salisbury Harrison E Salween River Sandu County Sandu Shui Ethnic Minority Autonomous County sapphires Sasser Ambassador James R Sasui temple school libraries school building schools established social forces shehui liliang banxue servi related activities Seventh Five Year Plan Sha Province Shan State Shanghai Shanxi Province Shaquille O Neal Shenzhen Shenzhen Airlines Co Shenzhen Hope School Shenzhen Representative Office Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Shui Shui Jianhua Sichuan Province Silk Road sister relationship skills transfers small development smuggling snakes Snow Edgar social conditions trends social safety ethnic Song Meilin South China Sea Southeast Asia financial crisis southern Southwest Airlines Soviet Union spirit screw Splendid Village Spring State Peace Development Council State Planning C ommission Macroeconomic Research state owned enterprise SOE production reform Steele A T Stilwell Joseph T Taiwan Taizhou City teacher training telephones Tengchong The Economist Hump The Long March The Untold Story Third Front industrial structure Third Front industrialization program third sector Third Front Construction period Tiananmen Square Tianjin Tibet Time magazine Tourism tourism statistics township xiang township village enterprises TVEs tradition transportation transportation travel permit U U S Air Force U S investment U S China Business Council unemployment unemployment hidden unemployment United Nations Human Development Index V Vietnam Vinzani Debbie Tim W Wang Mingguang warlords Wenzhou County where beautiful women White Swan hotel Who Lost China workers compensation workers protests Wu Jiapu X Xiang River Xiao Huang Village Xing Ni Xu Yongguang Y Yan Yan Period Yang Dali Yangon Yangtze River Yellow River Yingpan village Yonggui Chen Yunnan Province Z Zhang Suping Zhangjiagang Zhejiang Province Zhenhua Group zhiqing chaofan youth fried Zhongnanhai Zhou Enlai Zhou Guangshao Zhouqing Town Zhu De Zhu Rongji Zunyi Zunyi City Zunyi Conference Zunyi Conference museum Zunyi District Institute Current World Affairs Author Wright Daniel B Title ICWA Letters East Asia ISSN Imprint Institute Current World Affairs Hanover NH Material Type Serial Language English Frequency Monthly Other Regions Sub Saharan Africa South Asia Mideast North Africa Europe Russia The Americas ICWA Letters ISSN published Institute Current World Affairs Inc exempt operating foundation incorporated New York State offices located West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 The letters provided charge members ICWA available libraries professional researchers subscription Phone E Mail ICWA valley Fax Web Site Executive Director Peter Bird Martin Program Administrator Gary L Hansen Publications Manager Ellen Kozak Institute Current World Affairs The Crane Rogers Foundation The information contained publication reproduced without writer permission Institute Fellows chosen basis character previous experience They young professionals funded spend minimum years carrying designed programs study writing outside United States The Fellows required report their findings experiences field month They write subject formally informally The result unique reporting analysis periodic assessment international events issues Institute Current World Affairs THE CRANE ROGERS FOUNDATION Four West Wheelock Street Hanover New Hampshire 03755 USA