Draft:Wang Qianyuan incident

Duke University student Wang Qianyuan in front of the Flag of Tibet

The Wang Qianyuan incident is an incident that occurred in April of 2008 at Duke University involving the participation of first-year Chinese international student Wang Qianyuan (Chinese: 王千源; pinyin: Wáng Qiānyuán, née Chinese: 王佳妮; pinyin: Wáng Jiāní), whose English name is Grace Wang, in a protest involving both supporters of the Central Tibetan Administration and those in favour of the Chinese government. She was accused of being in support of Tibetan independence and condemned as a hanjian, or a traitor to the Han Chinese nation and state, by certain Chinese international students and netizens, inciting controversy in and outside of China as well as condemnations and harassment against Wang and her family. On April 17, Chinese state media CCTV published an online article on its homepage that called her the "most detestable international student". Wang Qianyuan herself indicated that she was appearing as a mediator between the two sides, and that she did not herself support Tibetan independence. The incident received attention from both Chinese-language media and western outlets like the New York Times and Washington Post.

Background

On April 9, 2008, as a result of controversy over the 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay, protests were held at Duke University in which supporters of the Chinese government clashed with supporters of the Central Tibetan Administration.

Wang Qianyuan first appeared in Duke University East Campus, where she debated with Chinese students in English and helped write "Free Tibet, Save Tibet" on the backs of supporters of Tibetan independence. She later appeared in Duke University West Campus between the two groups of protesters, made a T-shaped gesture, and attempted to contact the leaders of the two sides to call for dialogue between them, and was rebuffed by both sides. She later had a dispute with students opposed to Tibetan independence, attracting attention from Chinese people around her, and photos and videos were taken of her. A Chinese report indicates that while receiving an interview from National Public Radio, she expressed great disappointment over George W. Bush's refusal to boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The NPR's reports on April 18 and 22 mentioned Wang Qianyuan but did not include references to President Bush.

According to reporting by the New York Times Wang urged an organizer in the protest in favour of Tibetan independence at the time to avoid targeting Duke students and engage in dialogue with the other side, at which point the organizer indicated that dialogue would not bring about any benefits. The article also quotes a Chinese student who indicated that Wang "claimed she wanted to make communications between both sides, but actually she did nothing before that night" and that she "didn’t communicate with any organizers". The student indicated that only a few students were angry at her and many students sought to protect her, with the majority believing that she did not deserve to be treated the way she was being treated.

Responses

On the day of the incident, in order to clarify her own viewpoint, Wang Qianyuan drafted an open letter to fellow Duke University classmates. She indicates that Tibet is Chinese territory and that caution is needed in regard to the matter.

Sun Tzu said: "pursue not a cornered foe". He also said, "blunt their strength and cultivate gentleness". Lao Tzu said, "great excellence is like water". In the world of tactics, attacking the heart is the key. Favourable timing is not as good as advantageous geography, but advantageous geography is not as good as unity among people. The one who achieves great feats is able to bear that which others cannot bear and therefore accomplish that which others cannot accomplish.

The rise of China calls for putting people to use, so we need to have the ability to tolerate and accept people. I am not telling you to wait passively, but rather to actively prepare for the fight. Only by clearing away your anger will your mind become clear and your thinking agile, such that your decisions are correct; by seeing the situation clearly, you will be able to face it with ease.

When two boxers face off against each other, the smarter one will often take a step back to allow the other side to reveal their flaws before dealing the final blow. A foolish boxer shows off their moves right from the start and makes use of all their abilities, only to allow the other side to figure them out and get dragged around by their foe. Right now, we're newcomers to the United States; our position is not stable. Behaving this hotheadedly and this emotionally will lead to unthinkable results.

Have you not head that "underneath the stick and baton, there are no filial sons"?

Underneath a subjugating fist, whose effusive expressions of assent could truly come from the heart? The country needs to be governed by virtue, and people need to be convinced through reason. Instead of seeking quick gratification and fighting for victory in a single day, we need to retreat so that we can attack and lay low building up bravery so that we can achieve. The Emperor Wu of Han's "reign of great accomplishment" started off with the extremely powerful tactic of "rule by non-action" with his Decree to Push Forth Mercy. On the surface, the decree followed the will of the vassal states and made grace flow to the corners of the empire; in reality, it split large states into smaller states that were unable to act on their own and resolved conflicts naturally. We need to work to make the balance of justice lean to our side and leave the pressure of public opinion for our opponents, such that their fists land on spider webs and they are only seeking pain for themselves like a clown. What's the point of fighting a bitter fight only to create endless troubles for ourselves?