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Beijing on the night of 14 July
Lau Guan Kim Updated: 2004-01-31 10:14
When I was in Beijing in July 2001 I witnessed an unforgettable scene. If my memory is correct, that was 14 July, a hot summer evening. China on that evening at around 10,00pm just learnt the news of its successful bid for the 2008 Olympics.
In the streets cars were blaring their horns, and people were hugging each other and crying. The fireworks burst forth, and visible for the entire world to see the jubilation of the Chinese nation.
Days before that, I saw big TV screens in restaurants and shopping centres preparing for that day so those and the guests could watch the show on 14 July.
Before I could settle down in my hotel, a call came from a staff of the Swiss-run hotel to tell me about Beijing 2008.
I was also in tears, and how I wish my parents were alive to watch this. At least the spirit of my mother buried in a plot of land in Fuzhou must have rest in peace over this triumphant moment of China.
In my questioning and discussions, my driver and guide said China would have to fight to reunify Taiwan with China. He believed the US is much better than the other imperial nations that almost carved up China.
But he said something, which I could not dismiss from my mind. Whereas when China was poor, the Red Guards and other radicals could be more ultranationalistic and not worried about the consequences simply because there was nothing for China to loose any more. New China is now more prosperous, and had to be careful not to throw it away by behaving like the Red Guards of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution.
On Taiwan, those I spoke to in the streets were adamant and that China should not allow Taiwan to get away with independence.
Many said it must be a fight to the finish.
As for Mao Zedong, Beijing Olympic 2008 is possible because he laid a foundation for a strong New China. He started with nothing, and it is not strictly correct to make him palpable for all the 'economic woes' during his time, with blockade and sanctions, sadly of all nations, by the US.
Mao Zedong was wrong with the mistakes in Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution, but there can never be any doubt he had no intention of destroying China.
But still Mao Zedong must share that blame.
Of the present leadership, I came away the Chinese love Zhu Rongji. They compared him favourably with the venerated Zhou Enlai.
On that night of 14 July 2001, I know China is safe in the hands of the present leadership, and in the young men and women, the hope of a more prosperous, strong and benevolent China.
And I share this sentiment with the great Chinese people that evening:
Zhongguo wansui, wan wansui!
Lau Guan Kim
Singapore
Last updated 2004-01-31. Permission granted to use this article if source is acknowledged.
| The above content represents the view of the author only. |
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