The Norwegian government is only marginally responsible for the Nobel Peace Prize — its parliament appoints the five-person selection committee — but you wouldn’t know it judging by China’s durian-sized grudge, with spikes of everlasting disdain.
Quick recap: in 2010, while serving his fourth prison term, Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize despite protestations and threats from the Chinese government. Liu’s not the best winner, but not the worst, either. Yet China’s juvenile response — the country is wont to hopelessly bungle stuff like this — did more to prove the Nobel Committee right than any activist could have hoped. Visas to Norwegians were denied, and a shipment of Norwegian salmon was forced to sit in customs until the food was spoiled.
Two years later — even after Mo Yan’s Nobel win (we’re just hours away from his live talk) — it’s clear that China is still pouting. Take a look at this list of 45 countries whose citizens are eligible for 72-hour visa-free stays in Beijing (starting January 1):
– Austria;
– Belgium;
– the Czech Republic;
– Denmark;
– Estonia;
– Finland;
– France;
– Germany;
– Greece;
– Hungary;
– Iceland;
– Italy;
– Latvia;
– the Republic of Lithuania;
– Luxembourg;
– the Republic of Malta;
– the Netherlands;
– Poland;
– Portugal;
– the Republic of Slovakia;
– the Republic of Slovenia;
– Spain;
– Sweden;
– Swiss;
– Russia;
– the United Kingdom of Britain;
– the Republic of Ireland;
– Cyprus;
– Bulgaria;
– Romania;
– Ukraine;
– the United States of America;
– Canada;
– Brazil;
– Mexico
– Argentina;
– Chile;
– Australia;
– New Zealand;
– the Republic of Korea;
– Japan;
– Singapore;
– Brunei;
– the United Arab Emirates;
– Qatar.
Finland is there. Sweden is there. Norway? Fuck Norway.
Is this silly? Yes. Made more so by the fact that the Nobel Committee does a fine enough job of discrediting itself without the help of others. We’ve said this dozens of times, but let’s go again: the Chinese government is terribly bad at PR. It has an image problem, as in it often sends the world a picture of its butt cheeks pressed against a car window as its official response to serious issues. Stop doing that, China. You’re not 12. Come to think of it, you’re not a frat boy in college, either. Act like a grownup, and people will take you seriously. At the very least, maybe Norway will stop vetoing your attempts to get a seat on the Arctic Council.
see my comment to previous post.
“china” is not twelve. it’s the chinese government which is a bunch of thugs and murderers.
China is 5,000, as we all know.
p.s. I’ve commented on this before, but it’s worth repeating since I agree with you: “China” should never be confused with “the Chinese government.” But c’mon, you can allow for the occasional expedient.
So what has Moldova, Belarus, Turkey, Montenegro, Monaco, Macedonia, Liechtenstein, Kazakhstan, Croatia, Albania, Armenia has done to China that omits them.
Normay didn’t get it. Beijing Cream and Shanghaiist cries like 12 -year olds. Pathetic.
Thanks for choosing to comment here. I actually didn’t see the Shanghaiist post — plain missed it, probably because they have so much stuff these days — otherwise would have gone a different route than calling the government a child. It’s a classic trope, slightly overused; I’ll be more conscious about deploying it selectively in the future.
Because Norway is a respectful first world country. Twat
Yeah, respectable country that jails a mass murderer that claims 77 people for 21 years in a comfortable jail cell. Twat.
Every country has judicial system flaws. You’re just making a fool of yourself.
Better than a country that kills 3,000 of its own youth and don’t send anyone to prison for it. Twat.
I don’t think the Chinese ambassadors too these countries could find them on the map, thus they have also been excluded.
So what has Moldova, Belarus, (Turkey excl), Montenegro, Monaco, Macedonia, Liechtenstein, Kazakhstan, Croatia, Albania, Armenia has done to China that omits them.
They are sewers posing as nation states, Jason.
Its that easy.
Haha!!
The reason for Turkey is simple, the gov is afraid they would ally with the Uyghurs. (And people from Liechtenstein get everywhere a Swiss gets.)
This country is pathetic. China has no idea that things like this make the world laugh at it.
Check this out
Xinhua: Shanghai allows visa-free stay for transit travelers from 45 countries
Of course no Norway.