-Caveat Lector- Peter Zhang's Column Clinton's policy disasters from China and Thailand to Serbia The New Australian No. 119, 17-23 May 1999 On 4 June 1989 thousands of students flooded into Tiananmen Square to demand liberty and democracy. Inspired by America's example, they carried large models of the Statue of Liberty; the American embassy, which had given asylum to the dissident Feng Lizhi, was treated as if it was sacred ground. This was the moment when the Soviet Empire was crumbling and, thanks to Ronald Reagan, America's power and moral standing had no equal. China's leadership was unnerved and confused. Ten years later thousands of students are once again flooding into Tiananmen Square, not to demand liberty or justice but to damn the United States and desecrate its flag. Where once the police had to prevent students from paying homage to the US embassy they now have to stop them from burning it down. A leadership that was uncertain of its future and authority has now reasserted itself and is as politically confident as ever, treating with contempt US objections to human rights abuses while sneering at calls for greater political liberalisation. What brought about this radical and dangerous change in perceptions? The answer is President William Jefferson Clinton. Within a matter of years this depraved and cowardly man has virtually destroyed the moral authority of the United States among China's emerging intelligentsia and ignited a very dangerous brand of nationalism. Even the Chinese leadership cannot believe its luck. Not only did this man sell his country's secrets to Beijing, he even destroyed its moral credibility among the Chinese people. And for what? Of course Beijing has helped organise and channel the demonstrations. It would have been stupid not to. Nonetheless, the outpouring of hate and anger was spontaneous. Once again, Chinese nationalists reasoned, China was being treated with contempt by gui laos just as in the nineteenth century. Old wounds have now been reopened and new ones inflicted. All of this was sadly predictable. While other papers and magazines were publishing stories about China's so-called communist regime The New Australian was drawing attention to the sinister rise of Chinese nationalism whose nineteenth century cousins spawned German and Japanese militarism1. Though it is true that China does not have the kind of traditions that gave rise to German and Japanese militaris it does have an authoritarian tradition that can, in my opinion, be channelled into a militaristic culture. On the other hand, this would then run into the Chinese respect for commerce and its strong materialistic drive2. This, however, is speculation and what really matters at the moment is the present for it will shape the future. And right now it is Clinton who is turning out to be the trigger that is detonating Chinese nationalism, to the delight of China's rulers. The ramifications are far reaching and dangerous. Far from impressing China, as did Desert Storm, the Serbian war has convinced many in the leadership that the US is truly a paper tiger. Sure it has the military means but it does not have the will, or so it is thought. If Americans, as one official told me, had the strength of character and moral fortitude they believe themselves to possess they would have thrown Clinton out of the Oval Office. I personally dispute this assessment. But what I think is of no consequence. The important thing is that many influential people in Beijing are beginning to think this way � and that is dangerous for all of us. Clinton is one of those odious creatures whose moral turpitude sees them ignore even the near-term consequences of their actions, no matter how damaging, in favour of immediate gratification. This is something that Beijing has exploited with its usual political cunning. An excellent example is Clinton's unbelievably stupid and arrogant action of vetoing the candidacy of the Thai Deputy Prime Minister Supachai Panitchpakdi to the director-generalship of the World Trade Organisation, even though no one seriously disputes he is by far the superior candidate. So why the veto after promising to support him?3 Because he opposed the insertion of labour clauses into free trade agreements because they are designed destroy Asian jobs. And who insisted on these clauses? Why American unions who are also big donators to the Clinton and Gore campaigns. Not content with breaking his promise to Thailand he then insults and treats the country with utter contempt, despite the fact that it has been one of America's strongest Asian allies. And who is Clinton now supporting? Mike Moore, former prime minister of New Zealand, the country that abandoned the Western alliance even as Thailand stood shoulder to shoulder with Washington. Thailand has now come to realise how latter-day America treats loyal allies. The result is that anti-American sentiment is on the rise in the country and this is fuelling the call for a reorientation of foreign policy away from the US and the West. And guess who is moving to fill the vacuum? Yes, Beijing. Even now, as the Serbian and Asian fiascoes unfold, Americans do not realise the price they are going to pay for not having forced Clinton from office and discounted character as a mark of leadership. **COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. 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