Let time and fact speak for itself (10/27/2003)


China's success in its first manned spaceflight put the whole nation into a great excitement. We've witnessed heaps of congratulations to Chinese leaders from foreign personages of importance and favorable comments from the world's media. However, there are few yelps from few alien media uttering some mockeries. Their irresponsible remarks in exception for playing down China's aerospace technology seem to show us a looming mentality of the cold war, and the arrogance and prejudice, the by-products of such mentality.

For example, an editorial in a western paper on Oct. 15 alleged that in China, People's Daily, CPC's mouthpiece, mentioned with unusual frankness the not-to-be ignored military significance of their manned spaceflight and expressed their pleasure with its future application on military espionage. It also claimed that Chinese leaders have special interest in image project and enormous monument whereas leaving behind what their people really want. Although another western paper followed suit by saying that the real purpose of China's space program was in pursuance of establishing its status as a superpower and that China, aiming at extensively exploiting the space for its own interest, made the event a political lever to make the rest of the world look at her in a respective way. Therefore, the space travel of Shenzhou, as they asserted, is a rather doubtable event, necessary to be on the alert of it.

Not to mention that some western papers made a deliberate misinterpretation out of the article by People's Daily in introducing the booming development of the world's manned spaceflight it went even farther to regard the breakthrough of great scientific importance heartening the entire Chinese nation and attracting the world's attention as an "image project" and an event doubtful for their likes to be on the alert of it. What a paradox they've made!. The great chasm is not due to the inadequate knowledge, but the different points of departure. A famous Chinese poem goes like this: "Ridges in the front, peaks on the side, the mountains are of different height." Holding a normal attitude one would never come to such a conclusion as the aforementioned in regard with the rise of China. The fear, slander, and hostility held by the few toward China's successful spaceflight have just brought to light their ulterior motives. How could they make a positive response to China's development if they hold such an attitude? No wonder they cast doubtful eyes on everything that is happening in China. In their sockets, anything that China has achieved would turn out a threat, a worry to them and make them feel nervous.

As a matter of fact, the love for peace is one of the fundamental characteristics of the Chinese people. Different to the space race between the US and the former Soviet Union in the cold war period China's space exploration is mainly aimed at developing and utilizing the outer space peacefully in order to bring benefit to mankind. The scientific tests that have been made on Shenzhou V on space life, space materials and remote sensing will surely push forward the development of space science and technology. Instead of being a superpower for military expansion China's space technology on military value will be used only to serve for our national defense. This is primarily determined by the national policy and disposition of the Chinese nation. The worries, vigilance, and cold-war conjecture of few countries and persons are in no way necessary.

China, in the right course of development, is ready to listen to anything advisable, suggestions and even criticisms from our friends. Any arrogant or indiscreet remarks or hostile reprimands are unwelcome. Though, we can still get something good out from those arrogant lectures and unfriendly allegations. For example, it will be to our avail in terms of developing our aerospace technology on the one hand and on the other vigorously improving the work of health care, education and other systems beneficial to our people.

As a set target and historical mission China is going in for a comprehensive well-off society, speeding up the socialist modernization drive to make it a developed, rich, and prosperous country so as to render more contributions to the progressive cause of mankind. No matter what others are grumbling or gossiping or how they are viewing of China the Chinese nation will march staunchly towards her great rejuvenation. This rejuvenation will eventually be good for the world's peace and development. Should you not believe it, time and fact will speak eloquently for itself.