LETTERS Hot War hysteria
Sir: I was astonished to read Anne Apple- baum's article 'Full of eastern menace' (23 September), which was full of absurdity and confusing logic.
The writer censured that 'they [China] don't want to accept the rules which others have made'. She made no secret of what she meant. They are, in her words, 'western rules that govern world trade and politics'. It is well known that China has always had a very good record of abiding by the Char- ter of the United Nations and other inter- national and bilateral agreements. On the contrary, it was certain western countries that violated their agreements with China and went back on their solemn commit- ments. China, along with other developing countries, has no obligation to 'play by the western rules'.
In the writer's words: 'China's rapid eco- nomic growth is what has created that pos- sibility [of a Cold War].' If her logic, i.e., the more advanced the economy is, the more threats it constitutes, is justified, must the West, which is far more advanced than China, be the biggest threat to the world? If not, must the continued underdevelopment of China be the guarantee of world peace? China's modern history is one of resisting aggression by foreign powers but never one of territorial expansion or invasion of other countries. Confucius, the ancient Chinese philosopher, said, `Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.' Having suffered profoundly from invasion for a long period of time, China will never threaten or invade other nations, and it will remain an active force for promoting peace and development in the world.
The writer made the sensation that China may be a military threat, 'a problem for Nato', and that 'evolution of China into public enemy number one has begun'. She also alleged that China's purchase of scores of Russian aircrafts started the arms race among countries in the region. But how will she explain the United States sale of 150 F- 16s and France's sale of 60 Mirages to Tai- wan? She particularly referred to Nato as a counterweight to China, saying that 'Mili- tary conflicts generally begin as either ideo- logical or economic conflicts, and we in the West, and America in particular, have both with China'. This is amazing. Doesn't she think that the West fighting a Cold War against China is not enough, and so should start a 'Hot War'? I believe that even in today's West, such hysteric remarks will find few audience.
At the time when the Conservative gov- ernment repeatedly expresses its wish to improve its relations with China, The Spec- tator published such an arrogant, biased and belligerent article. People cannot but ask, what does this really imply? Time is changing, and such out-moded mentalities as 'Cold War' nostalgia and 'Hot War' hys- teria are out of place and doomed to failure.
Ma Yuzhen
Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Embassy of the People's Republic of China, 49-51 Portland Place, London W1
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