body-container-line-1
08.04.2013 Opinion

Do We Hate The Chinese?

By Ghanaian Chronicle
Do We Hate The Chinese?
08.04.2013 LISTEN

By I. K. Gyasi
By all the canons of international law, we are a nation -Kwame Nkrumah

While I do not like stereotyping, I cannot help, but state categorically, that Ghana is not a xenophobic country that hates or fears foreigners.

The 1971 Aliens Compliance Order will prayerfully remain the only discount note in an otherwise near-perfect harmony that has characterised relations between us and other people of the world.

It is absolute nonsense, rubbish, and bunkum for anyone to think or say that the government and the people at large have adopted a 'Hate-China' policy to drive out the Chinese in our midst.

As Kwame Nkrumah stated, we are a nation, sovereign and independent. We have a national interest. And when our national interest is threatened in any way, it is our duty to protect that national interest. China's own history provides a very good example of the length to which a country will go to stop foreigners, or even local unpatriotic elements, from endangering security.

Up to the beginning of the 19 th Century, the Imperial Government of China practically kept out foreigners from China, thus restricting contact between   the Chinese and foreign nationals.

China exported large quantities of silk and tea to the West. In turn, the West, particularly Britain, smuggled opium into China. The smuggled opium was paid for in silver, and this was seriously dislocating the economy of China.

In 1838, the newly-appointed Imperial Commissioner of Canton seized 20,000 (Twenty thousand) chests of smuggled opium, mainly a British consignment.

This justifiable action by China was a pretext for Britain to declare war against China. As Professor D. K. Fieldhouse, a British historian, noted in his book, THE COLONIAL EMPIRE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY FROM THE 18TH CENTURY, 'Britain had no moral or legal case; her decision to act was characteristic of the frequently low moral standards of European dealings with other countries during the nineteenth century.'

Be that as it may, Britain went to war, won it, and forced on the Chinese the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, a treaty which the Chinese described as the 'unequal treaties.'

Under the Treaty of Nanking, Britain forcibly seized Hong Kong and gained access to all Chinese ports. In addition, Britain continued to smuggle opium into China, resulting in the improvement and moral degeneration of the opium users.

Also, under the Treaty, Britain brazenly kidnapped Chinese people as labourers for the mines, plantations, and the construction camps of its (Britain's) colonies throughout the Pacific.

When China protested against the inimical and unequal terms of the treaty, Britain told China to respect international law. One of the greatest beneficiaries of the seizure of Hong Kong was William Jardine, a notorious drug trafficker.

China did not only lose the war, but, in addition to the other unequal terms, she had to pay for the cost of the war. Of course, Britain sowed the seeds of future conflict. No wonder that Boxer Rebellion raised its head.

In 1900, the Boxers, as the protestors against foreigners were called, destroyed everything they considered foreign. Says WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA: 'They (the Boxers) slaughtered Chinese Christians, missionaries and other persons from foreign countries, and anyone they found who supported Western ideas. They burned houses, schools and churches.'

Indeed, the Boxers got the support of the Manchu government when they helped them to besiege foreign embassies. It took the combined strength of the troops of eight nations to put down the rebellion.

The Chinese did not take kindly to being treated as second class citizens in their own country. In fact, it is said that European social clubs had the inscription openly displayed, thus: 'No Chinese or dogs allowed.'

What moral lesson is to be drawn from this narration of a small but significant part of Chinese history? It is that, up to a point, a country or its people would fight to defend their dignity, rights and sovereignty. They would be prepared even to kill or be killed. An estimated 200 (two hundred) members of the Boxers group died.

Let the point be stated again that the government and the people of Ghana do not hate the Chinese or other foreigners in the country.

We have had Chinese nationals living peacefully in our midst, at least, since our independence in 1957. Nkrumah made us know about Chairman Mao Tse Tsung and his Foreign Minister, Chou En Lai. Nkrumah liked the special Chinese suits, as worn by Chairman Mao and other members of the Chinese Communist Party.

At one time in our history, going to a Chinese restaurant became the vogue. We now have Indian and Korean restaurants too. We are familiar with Chinese traditional medicines, Chinese clinics, and Chinese acupuncture.

The Chinese are into construction of all kinds - roads, and now the Bui Dam.

Still, at the Government-to-Government level, we have been told of Chinese loans, grants and other forms of assistance too numerous to mention.

Let me ask: Which Chinese national has been targeted or harmed under xenophobic impulses by the Ghanaian or a Government of Ghana? The Chinese brought problems upon themselves when they ventured into the mining of our gold.

They are said to be engaged in the illegal mining, against the laws of Ghana. They use heavy-duty earth-moving equipment. Farm lands have been destroyed, and water which the people drink has been poisoned.

Did the Chinese continue to look on while foreigners took their lands, enslaved them, and made them second class citizens in their own towns/country?

I hear that some Chinese people, intending to set up industries, have decided to pack and leave. I say that this is their privilege and right.

No Ghana government has kicked out the Chinese who are building the Bui Dam. Chinese construction companies are still here building roads and putting up buildings. Who has asked them to go?

The Chinese, and other foreigners for that matter, who enter the country legally to carry out activities that are also legal and not restricted to Ghanaians, have no fear of our government or any citizen.

Can Ghanaians go to China or any other country and behave as if that country had no laws?

 

body-container-line