Michelle Kwan Hi Fives China, But the Missiles?
January 25th 2007 01:31
NEWS
Michelle Kwan, America's most decorated figure skater, having won the world championship five times and Olympic silver and gold, has become a successful diplomat.
Kwan was offered the job of Public Diplomacy Envoy, after a White House dinner with Chinese President Hu Jintao, U.S. President George W. Bush and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Kwan told Rice she was studying political science at the University of Denver. Rice, who earned her Ph.D. at Denver, later made her the offer.
Michelle, of Chinese descent, recently visited China in her new role. After hearing a girls choir sing the school's anthem: “Dandelion, dandelion flying to the east, flying to the west; floating in the breeze around the world; landing on the ground without a sound ... making friends wherever we go, sending down roots wherever we are,” she became teary-eyed.
Said Zheng Hong, principal of Dandelion School in Beijing, visited by Kwan said “She skates, she's Chinese, she's Disney and she's magic.”
Kwan waded into the crowd and surprised a young boy, Luo Haoming: "Hi. How are you? Nice to meet you. Give me “five’’," said she; the boy smiled and instantly gave her ‘‘five”.
VIEWS:
Nice going, Michelle! It would seem you are a natural: “Give me five,” huh? It would seem the term is now world-wide. Isn’t it wonderful that a new(?) friendly greeting has gained attention over the entire world. Friendly greetings, that’s the way to begin a good relationship. Maybe the Muslim Sheik in Australia who exhorts children to become “Martyrs” (see a previous story) could learn from Michelle Kwan - who knows? Again, kudos to Michelle Kwan.
NEWS:
The United States said China conducted a test earlier this month in which an old Chinese weather satellite was destroyed by a missile. This has raised concerns in Asia and the United States about the rising militarization of space and prompted governments to demand explanations from Beijing, while Russia expressed skepticism about the test.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said he was unaware of such a test. Liu Jianchao told reporters that he couldn't comment on the reports because he had no knowledge of such a test. He said China supported the peaceful use of space.
Still, officials in Japan and Australia immediately demanded China explain its actions.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who was in New York, said Sydney opposed the test and had called upon Beijing's ambassador to Australia, Madame Fu Ying, for an explanation. He told reporters Friday that Sydney had not yet heard back from the Chinese government.
Downer expressed several concerns about the Chinese test.
"First of all, the destroyed satellite's causing damage to other satellites," Downer told reporters outside Australia's U.N. Mission after his first meeting with the new U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
"Secondly, it's well known that satellites have important military applications, as it raises questions about this whole issue of the militarization of outer space. ... The Chinese have always opposed the militarization of outer space, so that's why we look forward hearing what they say about the issue."
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tokyo has asked Beijing for an explanation and stressed the importance of the peaceful use of space. "We must use space for peace," he told reporters. "We are asking the Chinese government about the test."
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro also criticized Beijing for failing to give advance notice to Tokyo. He also suggested that Tokyo doubted the test was conducted for "a peaceful use."
Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Japan's top government spokesman, suggested that China's lack of transparency over its military development could trigger suspicions about its motives in the region.
In Britain, Prime Minister Tony Blair's spokesman voiced concerns that the debris from the test could strike other satellites orbiting the earth.
"We have concerns about the impact of debris in space and have expressed that concern," Blair's official spokesman said, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government policy. He added "the manner in which this test was conducted is inconsistent with the spirit of China's statement to the U.N. and other bodies on the military use of space."
Dana Perino, deputy White House press secretary, said Friday that Chinese officials have not yet responded to concerns expressed by the U.S. "We do want cooperation on a civil space strategy, so until we hear back from them or have more information, I don't have any more to add," she said.
South Korea has also conveyed its concerns to China, according to the Foreign Ministry.
But Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said he was skeptical about the reported test.
"I'm afraid that it didn't have an anti-satellite basis. And, maybe, it's good that it didn't," Ivanov said in televised remarks, adding that Russia was against the militarization of space.
A Russian military expert, Maj. Gen. Vyacheslav Fateyev, was critical of the test but added that "it shows that Beijing has a strong capability," ITAR-Tass news agency reported
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tokyo has asked Beijing for an explanation and stressed the importance of the peaceful use of space. "We must use space for peace," he told reporters. "We are asking the Chinese government about the test."
VIEWS:
Anyone remember the recent James Bond movie where a renegade Russian general used a satellite to destroy a satellite tracking station in Russia. Zounds, this sounds very similar. Chinese representatives don't know anything about it; yeah, sure. Russia says "What missile? What satellite? There's a county named China?" Does the ostrich really bury its head in the sand when it wants to avoid what is? Sounds awfully like a military thing to me!!
Michelle Kwan, America's most decorated figure skater, having won the world championship five times and Olympic silver and gold, has become a successful diplomat.
Kwan was offered the job of Public Diplomacy Envoy, after a White House dinner with Chinese President Hu Jintao, U.S. President George W. Bush and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Kwan told Rice she was studying political science at the University of Denver. Rice, who earned her Ph.D. at Denver, later made her the offer.
Michelle, of Chinese descent, recently visited China in her new role. After hearing a girls choir sing the school's anthem: “Dandelion, dandelion flying to the east, flying to the west; floating in the breeze around the world; landing on the ground without a sound ... making friends wherever we go, sending down roots wherever we are,” she became teary-eyed.
Said Zheng Hong, principal of Dandelion School in Beijing, visited by Kwan said “She skates, she's Chinese, she's Disney and she's magic.”
Kwan waded into the crowd and surprised a young boy, Luo Haoming: "Hi. How are you? Nice to meet you. Give me “five’’," said she; the boy smiled and instantly gave her ‘‘five”.
VIEWS:
Nice going, Michelle! It would seem you are a natural: “Give me five,” huh? It would seem the term is now world-wide. Isn’t it wonderful that a new(?) friendly greeting has gained attention over the entire world. Friendly greetings, that’s the way to begin a good relationship. Maybe the Muslim Sheik in Australia who exhorts children to become “Martyrs” (see a previous story) could learn from Michelle Kwan - who knows? Again, kudos to Michelle Kwan.
NEWS:
The United States said China conducted a test earlier this month in which an old Chinese weather satellite was destroyed by a missile. This has raised concerns in Asia and the United States about the rising militarization of space and prompted governments to demand explanations from Beijing, while Russia expressed skepticism about the test.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said he was unaware of such a test. Liu Jianchao told reporters that he couldn't comment on the reports because he had no knowledge of such a test. He said China supported the peaceful use of space.
Still, officials in Japan and Australia immediately demanded China explain its actions.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who was in New York, said Sydney opposed the test and had called upon Beijing's ambassador to Australia, Madame Fu Ying, for an explanation. He told reporters Friday that Sydney had not yet heard back from the Chinese government.
Downer expressed several concerns about the Chinese test.
"First of all, the destroyed satellite's causing damage to other satellites," Downer told reporters outside Australia's U.N. Mission after his first meeting with the new U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
"Secondly, it's well known that satellites have important military applications, as it raises questions about this whole issue of the militarization of outer space. ... The Chinese have always opposed the militarization of outer space, so that's why we look forward hearing what they say about the issue."
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tokyo has asked Beijing for an explanation and stressed the importance of the peaceful use of space. "We must use space for peace," he told reporters. "We are asking the Chinese government about the test."
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro also criticized Beijing for failing to give advance notice to Tokyo. He also suggested that Tokyo doubted the test was conducted for "a peaceful use."
Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Japan's top government spokesman, suggested that China's lack of transparency over its military development could trigger suspicions about its motives in the region.
In Britain, Prime Minister Tony Blair's spokesman voiced concerns that the debris from the test could strike other satellites orbiting the earth.
"We have concerns about the impact of debris in space and have expressed that concern," Blair's official spokesman said, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government policy. He added "the manner in which this test was conducted is inconsistent with the spirit of China's statement to the U.N. and other bodies on the military use of space."
Dana Perino, deputy White House press secretary, said Friday that Chinese officials have not yet responded to concerns expressed by the U.S. "We do want cooperation on a civil space strategy, so until we hear back from them or have more information, I don't have any more to add," she said.
South Korea has also conveyed its concerns to China, according to the Foreign Ministry.
But Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said he was skeptical about the reported test.
"I'm afraid that it didn't have an anti-satellite basis. And, maybe, it's good that it didn't," Ivanov said in televised remarks, adding that Russia was against the militarization of space.
A Russian military expert, Maj. Gen. Vyacheslav Fateyev, was critical of the test but added that "it shows that Beijing has a strong capability," ITAR-Tass news agency reported
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tokyo has asked Beijing for an explanation and stressed the importance of the peaceful use of space. "We must use space for peace," he told reporters. "We are asking the Chinese government about the test."
VIEWS:
Anyone remember the recent James Bond movie where a renegade Russian general used a satellite to destroy a satellite tracking station in Russia. Zounds, this sounds very similar. Chinese representatives don't know anything about it; yeah, sure. Russia says "What missile? What satellite? There's a county named China?" Does the ostrich really bury its head in the sand when it wants to avoid what is? Sounds awfully like a military thing to me!!
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