Weakened Western Powers Plead for China’s Assistance in Darfur

Putatively, Steven Spielberg’s withdrawal from the Chinese Olympics Organizing Committee as an artistic consultant stems from China’s reluctance “to do more” against the civil war in Darfur, the Sudan. The truth is that this second-rate American director has been overshadowed by the legendary Chinese director Zhang Yimou, who heads the production of the opening and closing ceremonies. Zhang Yimou’s eye for colour and acrobatics and his inimitable grasp of story-telling spook the bearded American. So the little American took his small marbles and went home.

More interestingly, this episode has underscored China’s position as the pre-eminent global power. The West is so weak militarily and economically that it has to solicit the People’s Republic’s assistance in order to quell the civil war in Darfur.

Mao was right; China has stood up. Qi lai!