The Portrait of a Hypocritical "Olympic Host" : The Thief is Yelling
"Robbery! Robbery!" -- China accuses U.S. of hypocrisy in space/Reuters

--Micky's HO: In less than two months, China's long-awaited "Year of the
Olympics" has brought so much disasters and embarrassments to the host,
the Chinese government is eager to divert the world attention. --

China accuses U.S. of hypocrisy in space

Reuters

February 21, 2008 at 4:35 AM EST

BEIJING ― A leading Chinese newspaper has accused the United States of
hypocrisy in criticizing other nations' space ambitions while rejecting
a proposed space treaty and firing a missile to destroy one of its own
satellites.

The United States hit one of its own dying spy satellites with a missile
on Wednesday, Washington time ― Thursday in Beijing ― citing fears that
a normal re-entry would risk lives.

Earlier this month, Russia and China proposed a treaty to ban weapons in
space and the use or threat of force against satellites and other
spacecraft. But Washington rejected the proposal as unworkable and said
it instead favours confidence-building efforts, the New York Times reported.

China, which shot down one of its own satellites in January, 2007, is
monitoring Washington's destruction of the satellite.
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“The Chinese side is continuing to closely follow the U.S. action which
may influence the security of outer space and may harm other countries,”
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a regular news conference.

The ruling Communist Party's newspaper, the People's Daily, went
further, accusing the U.S. of dangerous space ambitions and
double-standards.

“The United States will not easily abandon its military advantage based
on space technology, and it is striving to expand and fully exploit this
advantage,” said the front-page commentary in the overseas edition of
the paper, which came out before Washington announced one of its
missiles had hit the satellite.

When China tested an anti-satellite missile a year ago, the Bush
administration and other governments criticized the act as dangerous.

The Chinese state newspaper said the United States was hypocritical.

“The United States, the world's top space power, has often accused other
countries of vigorously developing military space technology, but faced
with the Chinese-Russian proposal to restrict space armaments, it runs
in fear from what it claimed to love.”

The paper said Washington was “desperately trying to explain away” its
satellite shoot-down as “for purely non-military objectives”.

Nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction are banned from space
under a 1967 international treaty, but Washington's plans have caused
concerns about non-nuclear arms in space.

China accuses U.S. of hypocrisy in space

Reuters

Latest comment posted at 3:20 PM EST 21/02/08

Washington criticized Chinese test of anti-satellite missile a year ago
as dangerous ...Read the full article

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1.
Waleed Al-Shehri from Reality, Canada writes: 'The ruling
Communist Party's newspaper, the People's Daily, went further, accusing
the U.S. of dangerous space ambitions and double-standards.'

Just wondering why when Fox News breaks a story it isn't reported
as...

'The ruling Right Wing Conservative Party's news agency, Fox News,
went further, accusing Senator and Presidential hopeful, Barrack Obama
of being a Muslim Fundamentalist.

As far as the story is concerned...no real big news, the United
States are hypocrites. Who didn't know that?
* Posted 21/02/08 at 5:43 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
Comment
2.
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Mei-Xing Xu from Canada writes: usa can do no wrong, while
everyone else is wrong.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 6:43 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
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3.
W.A. Darnell from Canada writes: I can't believe China claiming
that the US is hypocritical. Why the very basis of their political rally
is to be a democracy-loving, freedom inspiring,
we-know-what's-best-for-the-rest-of-the-world beacon to the world. They
are not hypocritical; they are just helping the rest of the world be a
safer place. Look how they have helped world peace since GWB came to the
helm. How thankfulless can the Chinese be.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 7:27 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
Comment
4.
Mike MacDonald from Canada writes: Based on elementary orbital
physics; we have an orbiting satellite comprising a million pieces;
including the hydrazine vapour! Vapourized hydrazine is not going to
'fall to earth' and thereby 'burn-up'. We have now stuffed hydrazine
into our atmosphere along with all of the freon we've contributed over
the years. Do we know what this is doing to our atmosphere? Sounds like
this NASA project team comprised too many accountants. Why did they not
design a hydrazine cannister system for 'release back to earth for
recovery'.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 8:14 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
Comment
5.
Dan Van Gageldonk from Toronto, Canada writes: Yes the States are
hypocrites. So is China, so is Russia and every other country of note in
the world. Countries act like humans do in the fact that they will do
what is in their best interest 9 times out of 10. International altruism
doesn't really exist except for one time incidents usually being natural
disasters or horrible humanitarian crisis. I wouldn't ever sign a treaty
like this with these two repressive countries. They could keep
developing these weapons and nobody would know. The States despite their
shortfalls still is a pretty open country. If they violated this treaty
it would get out. So china calls the kettle black. Big deal.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 8:19 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
Comment
6.
Diogenes the Cynic from Canada writes: Does not make for a safer
world, but at least sets the historical record straight, as was done for
world nuclear disarmament during the Cold War. Responsibilities are made
to rest where they belong. Not fantastic for body, perhaps, but good for
the soul.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 8:50 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
Comment
7.
G Money from Hamilton, Canada writes: I thought hypocrisy was
official U.S. policy?
* Posted 21/02/08 at 9:00 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
Comment
8.
WILLY HATT from Canada writes: Oh but when China did it last year
it was okay ?????
* Posted 21/02/08 at 9:01 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
Comment
9.
Don Quixote from the Banana Belt Ont., Canada writes: New games
coming up soon: Shoot your enemies info & spy satellite out of the sky......
* Posted 21/02/08 at 9:04 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
Comment
10.
Henriette Heroux from Canada writes: This is not a matter of who'
right and who's wrong. It is a matter of human survival. The world needs
international treatises signed by all parties agreeing not to militarize
space. That is what Canada should promote and newspapers like the Globe
should analyze. The world needs international treaties signed by all
parties agreeing to nuclear and world disarmament. That is what Canada
should go back to promoting, on the international stage; that is what
newspapers like the Globe should analyze, promote and campaign for.
Those are matters of human survival, not gossip.... which makes matters
more difficult for our media, needless to say...
* Posted 21/02/08 at 9:49 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
Comment
11.
Henriette Heroux from Canada writes: I favour treaties over
treatises... Sorry for the mistake.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 10:16 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
Comment
12.
Kirk . from Ajax, Canada writes: How can governments (China, US,
Canada, UK, Saudi, etc) continue blowing smoke at us when it is so easy
now for the average person to find out the truth and see through the fog
of misinformation?

China accusing any government of being hypocritical is a joke. The
improved human rights leading up to the Olympics is mostly PR and paper.
Is the US administration hypocritical? Of course they are. This isn't
even anti Bush. The democrats do the same thing when in power.

These types of international political swipes are both boring and
laughable.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 10:28 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
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13.
Silent Majority from Canada writes: China criticizing the US;
priceless. The US is and will continue to be the worlds only real
superpower, and that's as it should be.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 10:50 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
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14.
Boreal Moose from Canada writes: Silent Majority from Canada
writes: China criticizing the US; priceless. The US is and will continue
to be the worlds only real superpower, and that's as it should be.

Careful, Silent Majority. From 1945 to 1990 the USA was able to
spend its miltary rival literally into the dust in the largest arms race
in human history. But an arms race over the next 50 years, pitting the
USA against an economy of 1.4 billion people, with an 11%% growth rate
per annum willlikely turn out quite differently.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 11:05 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
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15.
J.C. Davies from Canada writes:
Here's the difference between what the USA has just done and what
China did last year:

China destroyed a satellite that was in a high orbit (800 km above
earth), China gave no advance warning rather it would not even admit
what it had done for days. By destroying the satellite at sucg a high
orbit the debris created will remain in orbit and a hazard to other
satellites and spacecraft for decades if not centuries.

Meanwhile the USA gave advance warning of its intent to shoot down
the satellite. It was hit while in a low orbit ensuring that the debris
created will not interfere with other satellites or space craft but
insead the ebris should burn up in the atmosphere.

The USA acted like a mature responsible nation. China acted like
an immature irresponsible nation.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 12:24 PM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
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16.
J.C. Davies from Canada writes:
'But an arms race over the next 50 years, pitting the USA against
an economy of 1.4 billion people, with an 11%% growth rate per annum
willlikely turn out quite differently.'

Of the 1.4 billion people in China, 1.3 billion live in poverty.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 12:41 PM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
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17.
Henriette Heroux from Canada writes: J.C. Davies from Canada
writes: 'Of the 1.4 billion people in China, 1.3 billion live in
poverty.' $$$$$ What strikes people most, whenever they leave this land
of daily propaganda to visit, or to live in China, is to discover that
China is not an underdeveloped country (just like the Americans
discovering health care and education in Cuba). Seeing what a modern
country China has become (while remaining a country with such a long
history), and comparing it to Canada, makes them so angry it is amusing
to watch... They can't bear the thought of having been deceived for so
long by the likes of J.C. Davies. This I have seen with my own eyes,
heard with my own ears, to the point of boredom... Have money to bet:
put it on that being the infallible reaction of those who will soon come
to know China. You cannot but win big!
* Posted 21/02/08 at 12:54 PM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
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18.
lynn R from Canada writes: J.C. Davies from Canada, Mind to share
the source info where you got your comments below? Who knows if what you
said is true or just another lie made up by the US government? Ohh, we
have to invade Iraq, because there are weapons of mass destruction over
there? What the truth turned out to be? I don't believe anything the
Chinese communism party said until I have other, different source of
news to say so. The same rule apply to the US government too.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
J.C. Davies from Canada writes: Here's the difference between what the
USA has just done and what China did last year: China destroyed a
satellite that was in a high orbit (800 km above earth), China gave no
advance warning rather it would not even admit what it had done for
days. By destroying the satellite at sucg a high orbit the debris
created will remain in orbit and a hazard to other satellites and
spacecraft for decades if not centuries. Meanwhile the USA gave advance
warning of its intent to shoot down the satellite. It was hit while in a
low orbit ensuring that the debris created will not interfere with other
satellites or space craft but insead the ebris should burn up in the
atmosphere. The USA acted like a mature responsible nation. China acted
like an immature irresponsible nation.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 1:01 PM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
Comment
19.
Liberal Granola Bar from Canada writes: Ah ha this is Rich coming
from a country that will only grant access to the 'full Internet' to teh
worlds press for the Olympics. However your everyday China man or woman
will still have to deal with senscors. China, who is spending billions
and billions on their military while 10 to 20%% of their poplulation
starves and lives with little to no rights.

China who jsut shot down a satelite last year. CHina who turns a
blind eye in Darfur while they continue to give the corrupt brutatl
gov't cash to help fund their militia's.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 2:30 PM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
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20.
J.C. Davies from Canada writes:
'J.C. Davies from Canada, Mind to share the source info where you
got your comments below?'

The facts I cited are all easy to verify. Search out new stories
from last year about China's destruction of its satellite and you will
see that no advance notice was given, that the satellite was in a higher
orbit and that the debris is now space junk.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 2:31 PM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
Comment
21.
Liberal Granola Bar from Canada writes: Boreal Moose from
china........an arms race agaisnt chian would be a cake walk. Rememeber
grass hopper, China also needs to continue to builds its infrastructure.
CHina also is going to have to deal with its Un-free middle class. AS
these peole gain more and more wealth they are going to want a stronger
voice in gov't. THis will reslut in the COmmunist Dictaorship of CHina
funneling monies to other progects over the next century that will be an
extremly heavy burden to carry!!
* Posted 21/02/08 at 2:35 PM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
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22.
Charvine Adl from Canada writes: Having followed this as a
developing story, there is one fact missing from this article: the
Chinese test destroyed a satellite in active orbit, thus scattering
debris in an orbit that is actively used by other satellites, spacecraft
and the International Space Station. An impact with this debris could
cause a fatal accident. The US destruction was of a sattelite in failing
orbit with the debris expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere. One is
clearly mor hypocritical than the other.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 2:37 PM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
Comment
23.
Michael B from Canada writes: Dan Van Gageldonk from Toronto,
Canada says it all. No more really needs to be said.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 3:58 PM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
Comment
24.
K Ordos from Canada writes: Hypocrisy? This coming from a country
that has to steal technological innovation from other countries in order
to maintain the illusion that they have their act together? It's
laughable, it really is. Just remember that the West has achieved more
in 200 years than China has in the last 6000.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 3:59 PM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
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25.
X. T. from Canada writes: Henriette Heroux from Canada:
Just FYI, civilization exclusively belongs to USA and Canada.
Anywhere else in this world is simply a vast empty land roaming with
barbarians. This has been the case since 4000BC.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 4:15 PM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
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26.
sean smith from Canada writes: Pretty sad when the propaganda arm
of the Chinese government makes more sense than our propaganda arm of
Bay and Wall Streets. The US government's ongoing refusal to agree to
limit weapons in space is further proof that the US is the world's
leading rogue state totally beholden to their military industrial
complex. our media's cheerleading and refusal to point out the hypocrisy
of their actions is further proof of our corporate media's control by
these same corporate interests.

To the chickenhawks, keep cheering the billions wasted on these
Star Wars while western economies, the environment and civil rights keep
getting gutted to pay for it. It worked for the Romans.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 4:31 PM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
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27.
Henriette Heroux from Canada writes: X. T. from Canada writes:
Henriette Heroux from Canada:
Just FYI, civilization exclusively belongs to USA and Canada.
Anywhere else in this world is simply a vast empty land roaming with
barbarians. This has been the case since 4000BC. $$$$$ To all
'barbarians' living in Beijing, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Shanghai,
Yichang, Chongqing, Guilin, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, etc... Greetings to
you, and to all who live in your remarkably beautiful, hospitable,
charming, smiling country! With best wishes.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 6:17 PM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
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28.
k st-pierre from toronto, Canada writes: Sean Smith- Great post.
Spot on!
* Posted 21/02/08 at 6:27 PM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
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29.
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Mei-Xing Xu from Canada writes: J.C. Davies from Canada when was
the last time you were in China and what provinces did you stay in. In
my last trip I saw a massive middle class with fully stocked shops
people with money, people wearing designer clothing, modern buildings,
and you get struck by all the brand new cars, now just crap cars but
high end. Now in 1980 when I visited China, all I saw was poor people,
and no cars on those big roads, no cars at all! Don't sell yourself
short buddy, the China you portray is not the China that exists in reality.
* Posted 21/02/08 at 11:04 PM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
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30.
Alyssa Watson from Canada writes: Was intresting how cbc picked up
gates saying they were going to give china some information of the
"test" Wasnt this suppose to be shot down for saftey reasons?
* Posted 22/02/08 at 3:56 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
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31.
Globe Insider subscriber content
Mei-Xing Xu from Canada writes: you are right Alyssa it was a
test, a test to see if they could keep up to the Chinese. Of course its
disguised as safety reasons, but lies are hard to keep under control,
and people like Gates will slip and tell the truth inadvertently from
time to time.
* Posted 22/02/08 at 7:19 AM EST | Alert an Editor | Link to
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