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Chinese Media Blasts US for Attack on Iraq
BEIJING, March 22 (AFP) - Chinese media on Saturday
blasted the United States for going to war against
Iraq, criticising Washington for imposing a military
solution in the face of continuing international calls
for peace.
The People's Daily, the Communist Party's mouthpiece,
published a commentary saying that soaring anti-war
voices before and after the outbreak of the war have "clearly"
reflected public opinions around the world.
The commentary said unlike the 1991 Gulf war, the
present one lacked legitimacy since it had not been
authorized by the United Nations.
"The use of force or threatened use of force to solve
international disputes would only lead to serious
consequences going contrary to one's wishes," the
commentary said.
It charged that the United States and its allies acted
in defiance and in disregard of opposition by the
international community by waging a war in the face of
global appeals for a peaceful settlement of the Iraq
crisis.
Chinese newspapers continued to devote a large amount
of newsprint to war coverage Saturday, with the
Beijing Youth Daily running four pages on the war,
including large photos and graphics.
The Beijing paper also reported that Chinese citizens
supported China's stance against the war and its call
for an immediate halt to military action so as to
reach a political resolution to the Iraq crisis.
"Our government has made a lot of effort to push for a
peaceful settlement of the Iraqi question," it quoted
Liu Kejie, deputy director of Beijing's Islam
Association as saying.
Anger against US military action is running strong
among China's Muslims, some of whom consider Iraqi
leader Saddam Hussein a hero.
Li Daqi, a professor at the University of Chinese
Medicine, was quoted by the paper saying the Chinese
government's statements opposing the war represented
the voice of Chinese people.
"China should express its own voice in international
affairs ... establish an image as a large nation and
maintain world peace," Li said.
On Thursday, the Chinese government issued a statement
soon after the Iraq war started, saying it was "seriously
concerned" over the United States' military action
against Iraq and called for an end to the actions.
On the streets, however, a number of Chinese people
privately indicated that Beijing's stance prior to
hostilities commencing was not strong enough.
Beijing is eager to preserve good relations with
Washington, but is wary that public opinion towards
the war and the United States might work against its
US policy agenda.
It has not allowed anti-war protests, and while
permitting the state-controlled media to cover the war
extensively, is careful to prevent anti-war or
anti-American sentiments from becoming too strong.
The People's Daily commentary, while saying the waves
of anti-war protests in other countries fully
reflected the ardent aspirations of the international
community for peace, made no mention of the lack of
protests in China.
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