Malaysia and China friendship
Dear friends,
I was sent an article on aseanaffairs.com by one of my students… As many of you know, I was born in Taiwan, and have always been interested in places of pilgrimage in China. This article is about the relationship between China and Malaysia… and I find this article interesting because I have been living in Malaysia for 20 years now and have considered Malaysia as my home. It’s good to know more about these two countries… One which I call my birthplace, and the other my home.
Malaysia has for many years established a strong relationship with China. The relationship goes all the way back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) where Zheng He, China’s most famous navigator visited the then Malaya five times through the Straits of Malacca for trading purposes… this is one of the reasons why until today the Chinese are enthusiastic about working with Malaysia as it has many historical connections to China. The trust has been developed over the years…
For a powerhouse like China to choose Malaysia as the biggest trading partner among Asean members, reflects well on Malaysia. China and Malaysia have a good friendship and have great commerce also. This article was very interesting indeed and I thought to share it here.
Tsem Rinpoche
Malaysia, Asean’s biggest trading partner for China, sets up Island for Chinese investors
30-Oct-2012
Across the blue Strait of Malacca, there will be a man-made island, that is poised to become a new travel hub of Malaysia, and is set to appear in 2020.
Northwest China’s Gansu Chamber of Commerce, along with Malaysia’s Mestika and IEPU, have invested 1.3 billion yuan (US$206 million) to establish the island as a new landmark in Malacca that engages in the travel, entertainment, commerce, culture and resort businesses, most of which will involve Chinese investors.
“Walking through Malacca, the legendary ancient city, I feel little exotic atmosphere, because the major business street is full of shops and hotels with a glittering array of Chinese billboards,” said Song Liuming, a Chinese tourist.
Linking the Pacific and Indian oceans and located at the crossroads of Asia and Oceania, the Strait of Malacca has been a trading passage since the days of Zheng He, China’s most famous navigator, who visited it five times during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Today, Chinese people are enthusiastic about investing this ancient city, which has many historical connections to China.
According to the market researcher MYC MM2H, most of the investment in the 607-hectare island is from Chinese investors.
In this traditional economic hub of Malaysia, the most active businessmen are undoubtedly Chinese. Chinese companies are also the country’s biggest trading partner.
Song, an entrepreneur from Jiangsu province, said that he saw business opportunities in the travel industry and was sure it would be very profitable to invest and set up a tourist agency in the country.
“There are a lot of beautiful resorts in Malaysia that are attracting more and more Chinese tourists. But the travel service is still not as developed as that in the Chinese market,” Song said.
China has become Malaysia’s third-largest source of tourists, following Indonesia and Singapore. In the first half of the year, 758,300 Chinese tourists visited Malaysia, up 34 per cent year-on-year, according to the Malaysia Tourism Bureau.
Li Liping, general manager of Zhejiang Tonghui Investment Company, said he plans to invest in Malaysia’s catering industry.
“Our company has set up a comprehensive network in China’s catering industry and our next plan is to go abroad,” said Li.
Li revealed that Malaysia will be the company’s first overseas investment destination, where it will open a Chinese restaurant, to take advantage of the two countries’ linguistic and cultural similarities.
Ong Chong Yi, minister counsellor for economic affairs at the Malaysian embassy in China, told China Daily that over the past three years, Chinese investors have been active in the construction sector in Malaysia but have less presence in the service sector.
The liberalisation of the country’s service sector gives Chinese companies opportunities to explore new areas of business, Ong said.
“We concentrate on attracting high technology, knowledge and capital-intensive investment tailored to economic growth and development,” he said.
While private companies are trying to grasp investment opportunities in Malaysia, China’s State-owned enterprises have tapped into the market, which is China’s largest trading partner among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean.
In a move to gain a greater market presence in Southeast Asia’s steel industry, China’s State-owned steelmaker Shougang Group launched a project in December 2011 to build a 1.8 billion yuan ($288.3 million) integrated steel plant in Malaysia through a joint venture with the local steelmaker Hiap Teck Venture Berhad.
Built in Terengganu State in northern Malaysia, the project results from the largest Chinese foreign direct investment in Malaysia so far.
Once the plant is fully operational, it will have an annual production capacity of 3.5 million metric tonnes of steel slabs. The first stage of the project will be finished by the middle of 2013, when its annual production capacity will reach 1.5 million tonnes.
“China’s steel industry is suffering from overcapacity and that is why we are venturing abroad,” said Hu Bin, president of Shougang Group, one of China’s largest State-run steel companies.
“Asean is a huge and developing market. I think the bloc has great potential and we are tapping into it via Malaysia,” Xinhua News Agency quoted Hu as saying.
“We decided to invest in Malaysia because we find it economically stable,” he added, pointing out that the plant is strategically located next to a deepsea port for exports.
Around 40 per cent of the products from the new plant are expected to be shipped to neighbouring Asean countries, especially Indonesia and Thailand, which consume more than 4 million tonnes of steel slabs annually.
Since 2009, Malaysia has been China’s largest trading partner among Asean members, and China has surpassed Singapore to become Malaysia’s largest export market.
“Due to its advantageous geographical position and stable political and economic conditions, the Malaysian market is a gateway for Chinese investors to enter other Asean markets,” said Ong from the Malaysian embassy.
YBhg Tan Sri Datuk Mustafa Mansur, chairman of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers, said that Chinese investors could seek investment opportunities in eight industries in Malaysia, including oil and gas, sustainable energy, water, hydroelectric power and food processing.
Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Muhyiddin, deputy prime minister of Malaysia, has vowed to provide Chinese investors with a profitable investment conditions.
Muhyiddin said that apart from the traditional fields, infrastructure including real estate has become Chinese investors’ new target in Malaysia.
The Construction Industry Development Board of Malaysia has also called on Chinese companies to increase their investment in the industry.
The Malaysian government has allocated a total of 230 billion ringgit ($75 billion) for its investment plan. And 60 per cent of this government development expenditure is allocated for physical infrastructure development, while the rest will be spent on non-physical infrastructure development.
According to the board, domestic market participation by foreign contractors in Malaysia accounted for 16 per cent of the total project value in 2011, compared to 10 per cent in 2010.
The number of projects awarded decreased by 22 per cent but the monetary value increased by 34 per cent. This indicates that foreign contractors are securing fewer but higher value projects.
Foreign contractors undertake projects that require specialised expertise or those financed by foreign investors, the report said.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, Chinese contractors completed contracted construction valued at $21.5 billion in Asean markets.
China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd. is building a 22.5-km bridge connecting Penang to peninsular Malaysia. Construction of the bridge began in 2008, and 90 per cent of the project has been completed so far.
The Export-Import Bank of China has so far offered loans totalling $286 million to the project.
Many Chinese construction contractors have already started to invest in projects in the country.
“As the biggest market among Asean countries, we will seek business opportunities there to deepen our presence in emerging markets,” said Zha Changmiao, a spokesman for China Communication Construction Co. Ltd., the parent company of China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd.
China and Malaysia have boosted their investment ties in recent years. In 2010, China’s investment in Malaysia reached $65.97 million, up 22.7 per cent year-on-year.
Ong said that Malaysia is taking measures to boost Chinese investment in Malaysia, as it’s still in its infancy, compared to Malaysian investment in China.
By the end of 2011, Malaysia had invested nearly $6 billion in China, while China’s investment in Malaysia stood at just $800 million, according to the Malaysian embassy in China.
“The establishment of two economic cooperation zones will further boost bilateral investment and trade between the two countries,” Muhyiddin said.
The China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region is the third industrial park created through a partnership between China and a foreign government. The park serves as the latest symbol of the friendship between the two nations and a platform for cooperation.
A second industrial park between China and Malaysia will be opened at the end of the year in Kuantan in the Malaysian state of Pahang.
“There is no doubt that the Qinzhou and Kuantan industrial parks will create many trade and investment opportunities for both countries,” Ong said.
“We are expecting to attract 7 billion yuan in investments and create 5,500 jobs upon its full completion by 2020.”
Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, vice-president of Malaysian Chinese Association, said the 607-hectare park was expected to boost economic growth and generate downstream activities for the local business community.
Liow said the project would not have materialised without the full support and commitment of the state government led by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.
“The federal and Pahang governments share a close working relationship and mission to bring about economic prosperity and lift up the well-being of the people,” Liow said.
After the completion of Kuantan Industrial Park, Malaysia’s iron ore could be exported from Kuantan port to Qinzhou port to support the development of the shipping and automobile industries in the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park, according to Ong.
Meanwhile, Kuantan port will become a container terminal hub in Southeast Asia, establishing smooth interaction with the Qinzhou tax-free port. US$1 = 6.24 Chinese yuan, US$1 = 3.05 Malaysian ringgit.
Malaysia’s current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak with Chinese Premier His Excellency Wen Jiabao
Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi with Chinese Premier His Excellency Wen Jiabao
Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad with Chinese Premier His Excellency Wen Jiabao
Malaysia and China having in a warm liberal discussion
Chinese Premier His Excellency Wen Jiabao’s official visit to Malaysia
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak along with His Excellency Wen Jiabao in Johor, Malaysia to officiate the economic developments between China and Malaysia
His Excellency Wen Jiabao speaking at the Malaysia-China Economic, Trade & Investment Cooperation Forum
His Excellency Wen Jiabao speaking at a function at University of Malaya in Malaysia
Source: http://www.aseanaffairs.com/malaysia_news/investment/
malaysia_asean_s_biggest_trading_partner_for_china_sets_up_island_for_chinese_investors
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It’s great to know that China and Malaysia have very good relationshipsand for the fact that Malaysia is China’s biggest trading partner, I’m kinda proud of Malaysia because out of so many countries, China had chosen Malaysia to become his trading partner.
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
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It is good to know that the relationship that China and Malaysia has come to a fruition based on trust and long term commitments to both parties involved. This translates to mutual economic gain for both countries which is in direct relation to the well being of its citizens.
This fact alone is something to be rejoiced because whether we like it or not, the smooth running of a country is undoubtedly linked to its strength of economy. There is no denying that!
Malaysia has a long term relationship with China since many years back in 1970s where the then prime minister Tun Razak was one of the first few leaders who made ties with China. Because of the early ties with China, Malaysia has enjoyed the strong relationship with China until today.
Many of the Chinese in Malaysia has started going to China and assist China back in the 1970s. One of these early pioneers is Robert Kuok who is still having huge business in China today.
Now that China has new leadership (Xi Jin Pin), I hope Malaysia and China will continue to enjoy the strong relationship!
It was in the year 1974 when Malaysia’s 2nd Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak visited the People’s Republic of China and called on Chairman Mao Zedong. This was the start of bilateral ties with China. China’s resources are plenty. We will benefit in one way or another by establishing good relationship with China.
Indeed Malaysia and China have a long history of friendship since the days of our 2nd Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak. Next year, 2014 will be designated as “Malaysia-China Friendship Year” to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China.
中马多年来一直都维持着和睦和谐、互相鼓励互相学习的良好关系。无论是政治、经济、文化或是教育，中国与马来西亚两国的互动和交流可说是频密，甚至是密切的。
让我们来重温马中关系发展史：
1974年，敦拉萨访北京，於5月31日与周恩来签署马中建交联合公报。马来西亚成为第一个与中国建交的东盟国家。
1979年，马中建交五周年，拿督胡先翁首相5月访北京，邓小平亲到机场迎接。
1981年，中国总理赵紫阳8月访马，寻求促进两国经贸关系。
1988年，马政府於1月取消商家入口中国货必须通过国企申请入口准证AP，向国企缴交0.5%佣金的制度。此举降低商家的成本负担，简化了与华做生意的手续，为日后马中贸易飞跃成长奠下基础。
1989年，马来西亚政府取消人民前往中国旅游的限制。
1992年，中国国家主席杨尚昆正月访马。双方签署科学与工艺合作协议。马中友好协会成立。
1993年，马哈迪首相6月率领百多名商人访华，见证马中签署友好协定。我国商人与中国签署逾50项谅解备忘录和投资协定，两国关系大跃进。
2002年，胡锦涛副主席4月访马，显示新一代中国领导人重视马中关系。马中双边商业理事会成立。马中双边贸易突破100亿美元，达142亿美元。
2003年，副首相阿都拉9月访华，显示行将上任的大马新首相将继续推动马中关系。双方决定列2004年为马中友好年。同年，马中双边贸易突破200亿美元。
以上种种事件看来，马中关系也是一步一脚印走出来的。当中不乏有猜疑，但两国都慢慢携手，从迷雾走出，步向光明。这无疑让我更加珍惜这难得的中马之情。过去种种的历史因素、政治因素，能走到今天的局面，那其中没有理所当然，有的是不懈的精神，和相互尊重的诚意。 🙂
Malaysia and China have had a long history of friendship and ties – with the Malaysian Chinese community being the second largest ethnic group in Malaysia, this is not a big surprise. When Tun Mahathir was Prime Minister of Malaysia, he was one of the first national leaders in the world to emphasise on a ‘Look East’ policy. Many people didn’t agree with him then but now it is proven that the East is where the economic power is shifting.
I believe that each country and its government have positive and negative points. If we want to focus on the negative, we become negative, but if we look on the positive, then our outlook also becomes positive. It does not mean that anyone necessarily endorses everything their government does, which is why governments have accountability. After all, nobody’s perfect but instead of criticizing, it is up to us to choose to look at the positive or negative.
Speaking as a Malaysian, I am happy that China and Malaysia has strong economic ties. In a world where the global economy is in turmoil, especially in Europe, every country would like their own country to be economically stable. When people have food on their table, it is more likely that there will be social stability as well. Malaysia is doing its best to ensure that our country is economically and politically stable, which is no mean feat. China is a huge and growing market for Malaysia – it transcends race or culture. China can pick whichever country it wants to trade with, so it is something that such a relatively small country like Malaysia is a preferred country for bilateral cooperation. The least we can do to support this is to abide by the laws of our country and respect our leaders and their international policies.
How inspiring, to learn that Malaysian and Chinese officials are having a “warm liberal discussion”!thank you rinpoche for this post.
Did you guys know both China and Malaysia has jointly established an industrial park in Southwest China’s Qinzhou city? This shows how good the relationship is of the both countries!
And also, stats showed that bilateral trade between the two countries in 2011 reached $90 billion, making China Malaysia’s largest export market for the first time and maintaining its status as the Malaysia’s biggest source of imports!
All these figures reaffirms the importance of Malaysia’s relationship with China.
Interesting article and to note how much we’re all so closely connected… China and Malaysia have had a warm relationship history… we used to study this in our schools…
Hang Li Po was the fourth wife of Malaccan Sultan Mansur Shah (reigned 1456-1477).Sultan Mansur Shah dispatched Tun Perpatih Putih, the 6th bendahara of the Sultanate of Malacca, his envoy to China and carried a letter from the Sultan to the Ming Emperor. [1]
Tun Perpatih Putih succeeded in impressing the Emperor of Ming with the fame and grandeur of Sultan Mansur Shah. In the year 1459, a princess Hang Li Po (or Hang Liu), was sent by the emperor of Ming to marry Malacca Sultan Mansur Shah. The princess came with her entourage 500 male servants and a few hundred handmaidens. After the marriage with the Sultan, the princess embraced into Islam followed by her servants and handmaidens. They eventually settled in Bukit Cina, Malacca.The descendants of these people, from mixed marriages with the local natives, are known today as Peranakan: Baba (the male title) and Nyonya (the female title).[2]
Admiral Zheng He,is a favorite of the Yongle Emperor who sent princess Hang Li Po to Malacca in year 1459. There a some Chinese Muslims Soldier who accompined the princess was together with Parameswara and refugees of the declining Srivijaya kingdom, they came from Palembang, Java and other places. They were soldiers and so they served as warrior and bodyguard to protect the Sultanate of Malacca and His Empiress.
I can get the gist of why Rinpoche is particularly happy with the relationship that Malaysia and China is developing. After all, who would say anything bad when two nations are looking forward to be closer and work together, this good relationship although viewed as something for economical benefits, will blossom into something more in the near future… this are first steps to making the world a beautiful place.
Our current Prime Minister have always been encouraging when it comes to the Chinese society. He has done so much to make sure that our multicultural country live in peace and harmony. The most recent case of which our PM showed his support and encouragement by allocating 30 million to Chinese schools for the children to have better facilities in their schools to learn. On top of that, many non chinese families are also sending their children to be educated in Chinese schools. This integration of culture in our society will bring much benefit to the future generation to live in greater harmony as we all understand and respect each other.
Personally, I come from a background where my ancestors were trader officials from China that went back as far as the 18th century. I like that China and Malaysia is harmonizing together. Truly good news to read
China is a world power which is unavoidable whether or not you like their policies… why? 1% of china is bigger than many countries. The economic strength of China is feared even by the western powers. The power of Asia stems from China and this will soon overtake, if not already, be the world super power. And now with Malaysia as one of the favored trading partners, it is excellent news for Malaysia. There is hope in Malaysia after all!!!
Wonderful to know China’s is now the trading with Malaysia extensively. There are more and more Chinese people coming to our shores again attracted by the people, food, culture and resources that Malaysia has to offer. Hope The Chinese will raise the bar to help nudge Malaysia to another level of competition and success.
Technically it is not wrong to say that Rinpoche is born in ‘China’ because Taiwan’s official state title is ‘Republic of China’ (as contrast to ‘People’s Republic of China’ for mainland China). On a different but perhaps related note, I remember coming across a speech by Dalai Lama claiming that he is ‘Chinese’ who is interested only in ‘meaningful autonomy’ for Tibet and never for ‘Tibetan independence’. The reference to HHDL claiming that he is ‘Chinese’ was soon censored, which I am not sure by whom, as I could not found it online a few months later. It seems that numerous politically sensitive materials faced the same fate, such as Mike Wallace’s interview with Deng Xiaoping on the Tiananmen Massacre. Now you see it, now you don’t. I respect the Rinpoche for transcending politics and seeing things from broader perspective, celebrating the cordial relations between Malaysia and China, a country which has persecuted Tibetans. Buddha lost his kingdom to war and genocide too. Yet he continued to preach to his ‘enemies’. This magnanimity is beyond our (and mine especially) capacity.
But he’s NOT “transcending politics.” He’s going out of his way here to praise evil men.
Zla’od, I have been following your comments on Tsem Rinpoche’s blog. You never have a nice thing to say about him. Since you so clearly do not like Rinpoche or agree with his views, why do you keep coming back to the blog? I think it is okay to disagree with Rinpoche’s opinions but you keep making thinly veiled personal, sarcastic remarks about him. What has Rinpoche ever done to you to deserve that? And why do you hide and be anonymous, and not reveal your real name, and make such snide comments? Only cowards do that. Or maybe if you reveal your true identity, people will see that you have no accomplishments to back up your insults, so it makes you like petty and jealous. Anyway so strange… you don’t like him and yet you keep coming back to the blog. Quite stupid actually.
See my reply in the above thread. For Lester (below), there are degrees of evil. At the risk of invoking Godwin’s law, I do see China as the moral equivalent of Nazi Germany, and have to wonder about the motives of the people cheering it on.
Well, your opinion of China being equivalent to Nazi Germany is commonplace amongst many westerners who have not been to China. You should go to China to see for yourself, feel the atmosphere and speak to the ordinary Chinese. I bet none of them would want to go to war for lebenstraum. Under the one child policy, few parents and few child are ultranationalist ic. As much as I hated the Chinese communist, I would stretch my imagination to consider China, as some western media do, the scourge of the Earth. Beat in mind that the West today was won by much more blood in their hands. Much more than many westerners today would care to recall or admit.
The reason why some people here so-called cheered, more accurately, welcomed the rise of China, is because they are living in Asia and could witnesses first hand the prosperity brought about strong ties with China. Asians are a pragmatic lot. We treasured harmony and peace over confrontation and tension. Well, not at the expense of sacrificing our freedom and wealth of course. But you see, China is pretty much harmless to most of us, not only because many of us here are of Chinese descent, but also due to the fact that we understood Chinese mentality. As. The saying goes, traveling ten thousand miles is better than reading ten thousand books. Visit the region, visit China.
I am afraid this is the way things are in samsara. Even the Third Dalai Lama and Karmapas have to work with ‘evil’ rulers to spread the faith. In fact, I would be interested to know which government on this planet is not ‘evil’.
Btw, I am no fan of China.
Hi Lester,
May I know in further detail about the statement “…a country which has persecuted Tibetans. Buddha lost his kingdom to war and genocide too. Yet he continued to preach to his ‘enemies’.”
appreciate.
How inspiring, to learn that Malaysian and Chinese officials are having a “warm liberal discussion”! You want to know who else is having a “warm, liberal discussion”? (Google Tibet + immolations)
Really, I salute your equanimity, for being able to cheer on the likes of Wen Jiabao. By the way, your identification of his birthplace as “China” represents, shall we say, a minority view among Taiwan-born people. But perhaps in the future, we can look forward to more Chinese efforts to change minds and hearts through trade, culture, diplomacy, prison camps, etc.
(I mean “your birthplace”)
Zla’od, I have been following your comments on Tsem Rinpoche’s blog. You never have a nice thing to say about him. Since you so clearly do not like Rinpoche or agree with his views, why do you keep coming back to the blog? I think it is okay to disagree with Rinpoche’s opinions but you keep making thinly veiled personal, sarcastic remarks about him. What has Rinpoche ever done to you to deserve that? And why do you hide and be anonymous, and not reveal your real name, and make such snide comments? Only cowards do that. Or maybe if you reveal your true identity, people will see that you have no accomplishments to back up your insults, so it makes you like petty and jealous.
Anyway so strange… you don’t like him and yet you keep coming back to the blog. Quite stupid actually.
Believe it or not, I like Tsem Rinpoche, and admire him in many ways, though I do find him manipulative. Perhaps it is just my personality to be overcritical. (And perhaps the subculture of Kechara is undercritical.) I study a number of New Religious Movements, and have a personal interest in Tibetan Buddhism and other aspects of Inner Asia. Since you ask, my “real” name is David Bell, and I publish as Bei Dawei (貝大衛) in order to avoid confusion with other David Bells. (“Zla’od” is my Tibetan name, written in Wylie transliteration.) I concede your point about my lack of accomplishments, and hope to do better in the future.
I share the same sentiments. Not all Mahayana schools placed the same emphasis on guru devotion as the Tibetans. Why ancient masters claimed that any Mahayana teacher who has taught us even an iota of knowledge must be accorded the respect of a divine guru puzzled me. I personally have some experiences with manipulative teachers and am especially guarded against religious personality worship. Buddha was correct when he urged his students to trust no authority, including himself. I guess I would not make an ideal Vajrayana practitioner.
Why you would continue to revisit the blog of someone you find manipulative is counter-intuitive. Since Rinpoche’s own teachers have no problems with him, it is strange that you should.
I would say that to prevent accumulating more negative karma, you should stop coming to this blog, getting annoyed by what you see, and then thinking bad thoughts about a lama that an entire monastery has recognised as being an abbot incarnate. To think negative thoughts about someone who holds their vows creates the causes for us to develop wrong view (which I guess we sometimes excuse as being analytical).
And perhaps Kechara is undercritical but because both you and I are not direct students, nor close to Rinpoche are we in the best position to judge?
And to Lester, no they do not but it doesn’t make guru devotion any less valid. If you listen to the logic behind it, it makes sense – a statue cannot teach you Dharma and books cannot show you how to practise. Perhaps it works for all, but it definitely works for some. Otherwise Gaden, Sera and Drepung are all wrong and sorry lor, I don’t think my judgement is better than 10000+ lamas.
Would you rely and trust your own mind, when your mind is the one that is seeking enlightenment? Sorry to hear you have had experiences with those types of teachers but it’s no reason to hold a grudge against the whole tradition.
Sorry Lester, I meant to say perhaps it does not work for all, but it definitely works for some.
I’m not saying we take everything on face value, and without prior analysis. But the mind and motivation we use to analyse must be checked. If you are analysing to find fault, then of course everything will appear wrong because you already want it to appear wrong. But if you’re analysing to see how you can apply it to your life, that is a different story.
To practise Dharma is to show compassion to EVERYONE, regardless of what they have done to you. I quote the Eight Verses of Mind Transformation: “when someone I have benefited, and in whom I have placed great trust hurts me very badly, I will practise seeing that person as my supreme teacher.” Given all that China has previously inflicted on the world, they are our supreme teacher in the practice of compassion and forgiveness. Given also all that China has previously inflicted on the world, all the more we need to show them compassion and mind transformation.
I am also able to draw a distinction between the policies of the government, and the actions of the people. I will not hold 1.2 bil people responsible for the actions of a government who are serving the interests of their people. Likewise the fact my government, the Malaysian government, are forging relationships with an economic power to ensure the continued prosperity of my society despite a global downturn makes me realise they have some responsbility towards our people.
(before you criticise the Malaysian government, let me remind you that I AM Malaysian and if you are not, I am therefore more familiar with the effects of my government’s policies on a grassroots level)
So my government has its failings, and the Chinese have their failings too. To fault the Chinese government for the actions their predecessors committed seems illogical. Why don’t I hold England accountable for the Crusades? Why not hold the American government accountable for the slave trade? Or the Australians for their marginalisation of the Aborigines? Where does this fault-finding end?
I guess some people are content for Dharma to remain simply the scholastic study of the mind and are reluctant to progress beyond that by making knowledge a catalyst for their transformation via an active implementation of the teachings. That is why I’m not surprised some of the world’s top scholars remain a**holes (excuse my French) while people who are not laden with formally recognised qualifications, say Mother Teresa, inspire us with their compassion.
At the risk of being too “scholastic,” yes, I do think that various countries should take responsibility for past injustices. In the case of Tibet, however, we are speaking of an *ongoing* injustice–for which Wen Jiabao, as Chinese premier, bears some responsibility.
Dear Zla’od, your mention of “Tibet + immolations” made me realize how fortunate I am to be a citizen of Malaysia, a Muslim country and yet be allowed to practice my own religion safely and openly. I do not agree fully with all the policies of the government of my country but then again, there are disenchanted people everywhere in the world, even in the most liberal of all countries. It is a fact of life. I am very fortunate that I do not have to take drastic measures to continue to be a Buddhist and a Chinese in this country and for that I owe a gratitude to the government.
And what is wrong with Malaysia doing trade with China or any other country for that matter? Trade with China will improve the livelihood of all Malaysian regardless of race and religion? Is that wrong? In Buddhism we learn that it is a virtue to have gratitude for the people who have helped the Dharma to grow and the Malaysian government has certainly done that, not only for Kechara but also other Buddhist centres in Malaysia. I am sorry, but what does that have to do with “Tibet + immolations”? Are you going to talk about The Gaza strip next, and then what is going on in Afghanistan, the Somali conflict, the Syrian civil war and Timbaktu?
Perhaps I am over-reacting. No, I am not opposed to trade agreements in principle (though in Taiwan’s case, these have had the effect of hollowing out our economy), and there is no escaping China’s gravitational effect. But this is grounds for sober reflection, not celebration.
I defer to your greater knowledge of the Malaysian political system. After all, you are the ones who have to live under it.
I mentioned Tibet because Tsem Rinpoche praised Wen Jiabao, who bears some responsibility for it. If he ever discusses the Middle East, I may well bring up Palestine, Syria, etc. By the way, I don’t know if you realize this, but Timbuktu (in northern Mali) is in fact a current geopolitcal hotspot.
i have just read Rinpoche’s comment preceding the article again and i do not see anything that could be even vaguely interpreted to say that Tsem Rinpoche was praising Wen Jiabao. Not that there is anything wrong if he did because his blog is his personal opinion and expression after all. I just wanted to point that out you were reading something into Rinpoche’s words which was not there.
See the photo captions. Or did he not write those?