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Subscribe to RSSPORTLAND, Ore. -- A vivid mural in an Oregon town that depicts a Tibetan monk's immolation and promotes independence for Taiwan has created a dust-up with China, whose consular officials have asked the city to take "effective measures" to stop such advocacy.
The mayor of the town of Corvallis, where a Taiwanese-American businessman installed the downtown mural to express his political views, responded by telling consular officials free speech laws barred the town from taking any action.
The status of Taiwan and the human rights situation in Tibet is a contentious political issue for China, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province to be eventually unified with the mainland.
See a picture of the mural in this article from the Corvallis Gazette-Times
Tensions over Tibet are at their highest in years after a spate of protests over Chinese rule and self-immolations by Tibetan activists, which have prompted a Chinese security crackdown.
"There is only one China in the world, and both Tibet and Taiwan are parts of China. It is a fact recognized by the U.S. and most other countries in the world," read an August 8 letter to Corvallis city leaders from China's Consulate in San Francisco.
"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," it added.
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'Freedom of artistic expression'
The brightly colored mural, painted last month, runs 100 feet long and about 10 feet high along the top of a building at a busy intersection owned by businessman David Lin, who came to America from Taiwan in the 1970s.
The mural shows the immolation of a Tibetan monk against a bright yellow background and depicts a Tibetan monk being beaten by Chinese police, in addition to what the Corvallis Gazette-Times described as "images of Taiwan as a bulwark of freedom."
Lin, 65, told Reuters he had long been concerned about China's role in Taiwan and Tibet, and commissioned the mural because: "I feel that somebody has to stand up and do something."
Lin told the Corvallis Gazette-Times that he was "under a lot of pressure to take down the mural," saying his family and friends were concerned about possibly being arrested if they go to China.
Still, he did not plan to remove it. "I'll just keep it the same. ... I've got to live my life, that's all."
PhotoBlog: Tibetan man sets himself on fire in protest
Municipal leaders said they had informed the consular officials that there was no room for the city government to get involved in such a matter.
"I responded to them that I was sorry to learn the art work caused concern," Corvallis Mayor Julie Manning said, adding that she told Chinese officials in a written response that the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, "and this includes freedom of artistic expression."
The Chinese consulate then sent representatives to Corvallis to express concern in person on September 4. Vice Consul Zhang Hao and Deputy Consul General Song Ruan met with Manning and City Manager Jim Patterson. That meeting did not include any demands.
Corvallis, about 80 miles south of Portland, has a population of about 54,500 people. It is home to Oregon State University, which Patterson said has an estimated 1,600 Chinese students.
The Chinese consulate in San Francisco did not respond to an email request for comment and could not be reached by phone.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
If freedom of expression is a sacrad cow, so why the hack so many people oppose to an Indian shop named Hilter and displays swastika.
Because civilized people have the right to speak in opposition to those who promote or practice hate. Evidently, you fall within that category.
Don't you think what the Oregon mural also promotes or practice hate. It is no difference to the India Hitler shop.
Exactely. We routinely dictate "human rights" to China, while violating it to the core in every turn.
Why would anyone care what China felt about anything? It is a dictatorship and that is it. As to Corvalis, ho hum. It is a place you drive through on your way to no where.
Hey China,
F you.
Your government has become more arrogant than our own. You can go and cover up art in your own country, but you do not have any right and we don't care about your concern to cover up art here. We will not have our people shut our mouths just because it bothers your government.
PERIOD.
The government of China has absolutely no problem with condemning anyone who criticizes them for limiting freedom of speech, religion or other freedoms by saying that "...it is an internal matter" and critics should butt out. Evidently, they do not believe that what goes on in another country is an internal matter if it displeases China. Imagine what the world would be like if China ruled. There would be no freedom of any kind and anyone who resisted would be imprisoned (probably without a trial) or killed (as thousands were murdered at Tinnaman Square). It is unfortunate that they either do not understand or care about the freedoms that are standard rights in a democracy.
It does not matter if one speaks or is silent, it is still one's choice. Freedom of Expression is the First Amendment, which is our constitutional right. No one can force us to worship any thing, god, or any goddess. It is like a young Chinese woman intentionally to be a girl friend or a young wife of an old American rich man. Has the Chinese Consulate stopped those young women?
Democracy is like when the potential Chinese future president has chosen to visit a specific town, for he was a former student there, and that is his choice, regardless of the motives or his personal preference. It is the same thing: Freedom of Speech Freedom of Expression, to all and for all people.
Free Tibet, free Oregon.
An Indian shop named Hilter and displays swastika is also freedom of expression. Anyone who condemns the Indiann case and give praise to the Oregon case is hypocritic and plays double standard. Period.
Phuck you china!!
While I support the man's right to free speech, but isn't it a little ironic that this mural is in Corvallis - home of the Corvallis Tribe that was once free, and has since been brutally suppressed and continue to be subjugated to date?
SF Accountant. I will tell you why to boycott Chinese goods. 3 million U.S. jobs moved to China. China manipulates its currency. Sorry I have been to China and hated it. You like it so much then you move there and take their crappy products back with you.
Don't the Chinese know that we in America won't back down from our most precious freedom; the freedom of speech, unless of course that speech pisses off Muslims. Then our government will arrest you, TV cameras in tow, and throw your butt in jail. We have our principles, and if you don't like them China, we've got some other principles.
Wow China, get out much? Its on private property, dude can do what he wants.. Kind of bold for China, dont ya think? There are tons of problems back in china, how about you go back there and try to resolve some real issues? (the nerve of these people)
The whole world should have come down on China when they invaded and enslaved Tibet. NO, instead the world let them walk in and murder millions and enslave the rest. On the other hand the world attacks Iraq for doing the same thing to Kuwait. SHAME ON THE WORLD!
No one would have know if China had kept it's mouth shut. It would have been a local matter. The reason it bothers them so, is, because the mural is true. China is a despotic, dictatorial government.
Why all the talk about China owning the US? They own only 8% of the US Treasury debt......almost exactly as much as Japan and England combined. So why not talk about the Japanese and Brits owning the US? You people are really stupid.