GOOD MORNING FROM LONDON
This Column is keen to bring balance to the debate about China. Different views need to be aired in order for people to make up their own minds on key issues such as Is China a force for Peace or War? Does China want to become the New Imperialist Power? Is China persecuting the Uyghurs? Are the people free or are they prisoners of the ruling Communist Party? Will China take back Taiwan by force? Are Belt and Road just a cover for creeping Chinese Expansion?
These are just a cross-section of issues that arise in any article or media coverage of China. But consideration of the issues is always one-sided and anti-China. Earlier this week Sky News ran a story about China, the Uighurs and the United Arab Emirates suggesting that China was pursuing Uighurs outside of China. The issue can be discussed but not if it is so completely one-sided. The report by Michael Chesshire was negative and the two people invited to air their views are well known for their anti-China views – Rahima Mahmut and Desmond Nice QC. It was a torrent of unchallenged anti-China comment – that in itself is not anti-democratic. Negative views about China do exist. But so do positive views but they never get media time. And that is anti-democratic.
China’s views and opinions need to be heard otherwise the viewing public remain uninformed. The Media fails the Public. They do not do their job. They give one side but not the other side. There are go-to people, including myself, who would be willing to go head-to-head with the critics of China. The debate may be lively but it will also be informative. And at the end of the day isn’t that what the viewers want – information, choice, different views?
NEXT POST-MONDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2022
PLEASE CONTACT ME IF THERE ARE ISSUES YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO ADDRESS
Graham Perry
