The Western media have always resorted to double standards when it comes to China. What they have done after the Xinjiang riots can be hardly regarded as fair and objective, says an article in Beijing Daily. Excerpt:
The Western media's coverage of the July 5 riots in Urumqi and its aftermath has been biased.
They termed the serious violent crimes committed by the rioters as "conflicts caused by discriminatory ethnic policy". A section of the Western media has always seen China through tainted glasses. It has distorted the facts in Xinjiang and taken the side of the criminals. What it has done is totally against the ethics of journalism.
Some Western countries did call for restraint, but many of their politicians kept protesting. A few "human rights" organizations even alleged that those arrested "may be treated unjustly". Any reasonable person can understand that their intention is to divert public attention in order to provoke contrasting feelings.
The Western media have always used double standards to arrive at a conclusion. They strongly supported the French government to maintain order by force during the 2005 minority riots in the suburbs of Pairs.
In 1992, when racial riots broke out in Los Angeles, the US government said it would take all necessary measures to restore order. After Sept 11, 2001, the US government has been waging a war in many countries on the pretext of fighting terrorism. It is strange that the Western media have not appealed to their own governments for restraint and to respect human rights.
The West should stop using the media as a political tool and adopting double standards, especially on the issues of terrorism and violence.
(China Daily July 15, 2009)
