Zhao, Yingshun: Jon Meade Huntsman is a U.S. Ambassador that firmly supports democratic movements in China
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Date: 3/11/2011 5:07:14 PM
Sender: Zhao, Yingshun
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Zhao, Yingshun: Jon Meade Huntsman is a U.S. Ambassador that firmly supports democratic movements in China
赵英顺（Zhao，Yingshun）
Among all the U.S. ambassadors sent to China after the establishment of Sino-U.S. relations in 1979, James Lilley is the least welcome by CCP. It seems that Jon Meade Huntsman is even less favored now.
James Lilley (1928-2009) was born and raised in Qingdao, Shandong. He is familiar with China and has complicated feelings. He worked on China-related things for all his life. He seemed very excited when he was appointed Ambassador to China, “It is my wish to be the Ambassador to where I was born”.
The students’ movement outburst soon after James Lilley came into office. During that time, James Lilley went to college campuses to talk to students and showed sympathy for students’ requests. He strongly opposed CCP’s violent suppression of students’ movement. Especially, when the famous democratic activist Fang, Lizhi was wanted by CCP, he risked under great pressure to invite the Fangs into the U.S. Embassy and granted asylum for as long as 13 months. When the Fangs lived inside U.S Embassy, CCP was concerned they might flee under disguise in cars, therefore, police and inspection was enhanced, which interfered with embassy staff’s work and commute. James Lilley refused to hand over the Fangs under great pressure. After long negotiations, he eventually sent the Fangs out of the border.
Because of this, James Lilley is the least favored of all Ambassadors to China. All formal U.S. Ambassadors to China have been invited back to China for visits and seminars after they left the office. For example, Winston Lord used to attack China on human rights issues and was invited to visit China recently. James Lilley was the only one not invited.
Jon Meade Huntsman, (1960- ), also has deep relations with China. He loves the culture and can speak Chinese fluently. He is the only U.S. governor who can speak Chinese (before Jon Meade Huntsman was appointed the Ambassador to China, he was the Governor of Utah). He also adopted a Chinese girl. It is said that there was Chinese calligraphy and china in his governor mansion. His fluent Chinese was the best business card to communicate with Chinese.
After Jon Meade Huntsman was appointed the Ambassador to China in 2009, he was more concerned about China’s democratic human rights activities than James Lilley did.
Jon Meade Huntsman met with 5 human rights attorneys including Jiang, Tianyong in 2009 to discuss global human rights, religious freedom and suppression over family churches, etc; in 2010, he met with Zhang, Kai, Beijing Christian human rights lawyer and showed sympathy for persecution over him and planned to offer necessary help; in 2011, he paid a visit to Ni, Yulan, a Beijing human rights lawyer, whose electricity supply was cut off for 54 days, and took a photo with her.
In March 2010, students from over 30 Law Schools nationwide came to Beijing to participate in the college students’ debate, the content of which is human rights and constitutionality. Jon Meade Huntsman attended the debate and spoke that some people were arrested for talking about some important topics, arrested, and sentenced. This is against the Law in China.
In October 2010, Jon Meade Huntsman spoke at Sanwei Bookstore, a private bookstore for Chinese liberal intellectuals. When being asked about views on Liu, Xiaobo’s winning Nobel Peace Prize, Jon Meade Huntsman said that he agreed with the statements made by U.S. President and Secretary of the State to support him. These statements also reflected American people’s attitude.
What’s more eye catching is that on February 20, 2011, when Jasmine Revolution outburst in 13 major cities in China, Jon Meade Huntsman, wearing the uniform with U.S. national emblem appeared at the rally location in Beijing - McDonald’s at Wangfujing Avenue. It made quite a scene when he was recognized. Afterwards, CCP launched a massive media campaign, accusing Jon Meade Huntsman of inciting civil unrest in China and subverting Red regime and requesting that Jon Meade Huntsman goes back to U.S. Jon Meade Huntsman didn’t back down and fought back on the Embassy website 3 times. It seems that Jon Meade Huntsman will be the least favored U.S Ambassador to China by CCP, even less favored than his predecessor James Lilley.
Some people consider Jon Meade Huntsman’s behaviors as accumulating political capital for the President Campaign next year, increasing exposures and popularity, and storing political power; other people think that as the Ambassador, Jon Meade Huntsman was pushing forward China towards what is beneficial to U.S for the national interests of U.S in order to reduce America＇s future competitors.
However, if deeds done by Jon Meade Huntsman after he was appointed and the Sino-U.S historic relationship are being considered, his conducts showed his firm democratic ideas and historic mission. To a certain extent, they also showed how Americans who view freedom and human rights as their life, care and concern about the Chinese people who are under dictatorship, support to the Chinese democratic movement fighting persistently for liberty and freedom, protest and criticize the dictating government that ignores people’s benefits and treat the people rudely.
Historically, compared with other powerful countries, U.S. is rather friendly to China. For example, U.S refunded China for the 1900 (also called the year of Gengzi) movement, helped China establish modern colleges, promote for new type of education and train scientific talents; during World War 2, U.S gave China great material assistance and sent Air Force to China, and many military personnel gave their life; after World War 2, U.S eliminated opposition from other countries and supported China’s permanent seat in UN Security Council.
Reasons of such friendliness are because its respect for the mysterious, special and lasting civilization, other reasons being its sympathy for the peace-loving, hard-working but suffering nation. Another historic example could vividly explain this. During World War 2, before U.S take part in the war, American continent was isolated, President Roosevelt tried hard to persuade American people to give material or moral support to suffering countries. At a speech at the Congress, Roosevelt said, “some countries are struggling against the invasion from Fascist countries such as Germany, Italy and Japan, and we should support them, these countries including……”. The audience was silent when Roosevelt read the names of the countries being invaded, but when he said China, there was lasing and warm applause, which was very touching. It seems that Americans have special feelings for the Chinese.
Jon Meade Huntsman’s open support of China’s democracy movements continues the friendliness and support from Americans. It is said that he will resign to go back to America to participate in the President Campaign next year. Although the most recent research showed that the chances of Jon Meade Huntsman winning are remote, I still hope that he will carry out a great campaign.
Zhao, Yingshun
March 11, 2011
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