China tries to force US business to remove pro-Taiwan mural

The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco recently attempted to pressure the Mayor of Corvallis to order the removal of a mural advocating independence for Tibet and Taiwan from the walls of a private business.



The letter sent by the The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco read

“There is only one China in the world,” the letter reads in part, “and both Tibet and Taiwan are parts of China.”

“To avoid our precious friendship from being tainted by so-called ‘Tibet independence’ and ‘Taiwan independence,’ we sincerely hope you can understand our concerns and adopt effective measures to stop the activities advocating ‘Tibet independence’ and ‘Taiwan independence’ in Corvallis,” the letter states.

Shanghai List

The Mayor responded that the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech including freedom of artistic expression.”

Two Chinese officials, Vice Consul Zhang Hao and Deputy Consul General Song Ruan, then proceeded to fly to Oregon to speak to the mayor face to face.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei has defended the consulate's involvement in attempting to police what private American citizens can-and-can't have on their walls:

“The Chinese diplomats have the responsibility of expounding on China's position to the outside world and to other peoples in the world.”

Shanghai List

I personally feel that it is a bit much for the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco to be trying to force an Oregon mayor to order a private business to remove a pro-Tibet and pro-Taiwan mural.

reply to post by ollncasino


Occurs US private businesses can do whatever they want in their property, but money talks and BS walk, we all know that many of our states have been sold for money to foreign interest.

So depending how much of San Francisco and California overall economy belongs to China that is how politics will be play.

After all, our whore politicians belong to the pimps that buys them.

First the Muslims, now the Chinese. Seems like every one is trying to force us to do something. Sorry folks, this is America. We cant be forced into anything. And we have this little thing called"Freedom"

Originally posted by 369821
First the Muslims, now the Chinese. Seems like every one is trying to force us to do something. Sorry folks, this is America. We cant be forced into anything. And we have this little thing called"Freedom"

Um, didn't the Wikileaks data prove it's American diplomats who currently occupy the gutter ?

What's sauce for the goose ...

reply to post by ollncasino
this is how the world works in a communist dictatorship. They bully the people into gikving them what they want. As there is no room for freed thought or expression, or an ideal not supported by the state, they squash any and all decent every time it raises its head.

Other wise the people will revolt and demand a kinder gentler more representitive .gov. which will put their glorious leaders out in the cold, powerless, unable to feed their desire to subjigate, to keep the people low, and powerless.

Like anyone in those million man iphone factories really wants to be there. If they did they wouldn't have to put up nets to catch all the jumpers, or barbed wire to keep them in.

i can not wait to see how this plays along in California, after all if China wins on this one and the businessman is forced to remove the mural, we will find out who owns California

Between 2003 to 2010, as the chart prepared by the Rhodium Group shows, 35 states have been the recipients of China's largesse. Among the big winners: Texas, New York, Virginia and California. In fact, California received the largest number of Chinese investments and the broadest array of projects, including information technology, logistics, manufacturing, services and retail.

money.cnn.com...

California is the state with the biggest economy in the world

Chinese Direct Investment in California

asiasociety.org...

The big news is that the Chinese Development Bank might pour a cool $1.7 billion into a pair of stalled San Francisco housing developments. Yes, the same Chinese Development Bank that typically makes infrastructure investments in the developing world.

Read more: www.theatlantic.com...

San Francisco continues to extend a warm hand to the flush-with-cash Chinese business community. That was in evidence Tuesday at City Hall, where a delegation of more than 100 investors and government officials attended a celebration intended to further solidify economic ties with The City.

And while the event itself was largely ceremonial, it put on display the efforts of Mayor Ed Lee, San Francisco’s first Chinese-American mayor, to attract local investment from the world’s largest economy

Read more at the San Francisco Examiner: www.sfexaminer.com...

After reading all this I have to say that China is going to win on this one

Originally posted by ollncasino

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei has defended the consulate's involvement in attempting to police what private American citizens can-and-can't have on their walls:

“The Chinese diplomats have the responsibility of expounding on China's position to the outside world and to other peoples in the world.”

So it has begun.


Earth meet the New Boss, NOT the same and will be Worse than the old Boss....


Fair warning..

When ever I see articles such as this, the first thing that comes to mind is, "This is OUR country. If you don't like the rules, get out. If we went to China and did the same thing, it would be "Too bad, get over it". No one from any foreign government should have influence on what is done here.
If I were that Mayor, my response to their visit would be "It's staying, YOU are leaving.

reply to post by SLAYER69


Slayer,I have this nearly uncontrollable urge to repaint my walls.

The community I am originally from the chinese have the majority
interest in the major factories there.The office decor had to be changed
from blue to red to satisfy the chinese.

reply to post by DAVID64


True,but the same thing could be said about us as well.
I wonder just how much real estate here does foreign
countries own?

reply to post by mamabeth



Sadly, far too much.
I have no problem with foreign investors. The trouble starts when they try to change the rules to fit their idea of what we should be and how much control they should have.

reply to post by mamabeth


You know that physiologically that is way to tell the people that somebody has taken over and is in charge is all about submission.

Red also depending on the hue can cause headaches on some people because bring eye fatigue.

While looking like nothing is wrong, it does play in the mind of the workers, red china.

The Chinese representative has every right to ask for it to be taken down. And he also must respect the decision made by the wall owner.

As previously said, money talks when other things don't work. I'm sure the wall owner might re evaluate his color of paint if say the Chinese bought the new paint for say $11,000,000 or so? The wall owner might just change his mind.

Originally posted by ManOfHart
The Chinese representative has every right to ask for it to be taken down.

WHY?
It's not his country, nor wall, nor paint, nor his Goddamned business!

And he also must respect the decision made by the wall owner.

Damn straight skippy

As previously said, money talks when other things don't work. I'm sure the wall owner might re evaluate his color of paint if say the Chinese bought the new paint for say $11,000,000 or so? The wall owner might just change his mind.

True.
But will they go around paying off everybody who has something critical to say about China? If so, I see a very lucrative business in my future, Grabs his credit card and heads out to the paint store for supplies [ I mean investment]

reply to post by 369821


Yeah but Obama is in town, and they figure, hey, why not. 4 more years of Obama, and we will have lost our free speech. Mark my words.

reply to post by ollncasino


Ya know... I am more and more in favor of changing American policy on this topic.

We made a huge mistake when we adopted the one China policy and an even greater one when we supported the change in UN seat from Taiwan to China.

I say we correct that.. I think we should formally acknowledge Taiwan as an independant nation and re-establish diplomatic relations as such.

China is a sovereign country, as are we. They can think what they want, as can we.

The fact they think its appropriate to take this course of action towards US citizens shows just how out of touch the Chinese regime is.

reply to post by ollncasino


If they really want it removed, buy the business, and paint over it............

Originally posted by 369821
First the Muslims, now the Chinese. Seems like every one is trying to force us to do something. Sorry folks, this is America. We cant be forced into anything. And we have this little thing called"Freedom"

Interesting when the shoe is on the other foot isn't it?

Amerca has been forcing their ideals on the world for decades.

The freedom train is coming to a stop

reply to post by magma


Apparently ignorance is bliss.....

How dare the Chinese come to This country and try to dictate to Us what we can or cannot say or do when it's protected under our laws.

If the Chinese don't like it, they can Get The F Out !

If I knew they would see this post I'd exercise my right of free speech all over their non Constitution understanding arses.

How can you even be a Consulate General from another country in the USA when you don't even understand very basic U.S. law?