CRI听力：German Public Rethink Stances towards China

Politicians and the general public in Germany are reassessing their attitudes toward the fatal riots in March in China's Tibet Autonomous Region in the wake of biased reports by some German media.

Some people are saying the problems in Tibet, which is considered an internal affair of China, should be judged fairly.

CRI Reporter Chen Xi brings you the details.

Reporter:

As was common with a variety of international media, newspapers, TV and radio programs in Germany negatively reported the riots in Tibet in March.

But many politicians, scholars and media insiders from Germany have started to realize their bias against China.

They say that a thorough understanding about China is very necessary among the public in the West.

Antje Vollmer is the former vice president of the German parliament.

"I think one of our confusions is that the German media did not fulfill their obligations of evaluation towards the Tibet issue, even the whole of China at large. The public must understand the changes which happened in China in the past 30 years through our media."

She adds that the Tibetan exiles and those in China vary dramatically, suggesting people should see what is happening in Tibet with their own eyes.(www.hxen.net)

Thomas Heberer, a leading China expert in Germany, has accused some media as being irresponsible.

"A new trend emerged in the late 1990s. Some journalists and media have already started a move which deepened our bias to China. These have been beyond the politics, which I think might create disastrous aftermath in the future."

Talking about the anti-Tibet independence protests by overseas Chinese in German cities as Berlin and Munich, Heberer said it was acceptable.

"Concerning the so-called Tibet independence, every Chinese has the sense of national identity. So it is unacceptable about Chinese attitudes in this regard if it is not made totally understood. In addition, I think the Tibet issue is not one of religion, but of nationality."

He suggests German media consider positive factors when reporting on issues related to China.
Sven Hansen, an editor with Tageszeitung, a German newspaper, elaborates upon the different voices in the press industry currently in the West.

"At present, there is call of boycott and cooperation at the same time. In addition, there is also warning of the new Cold War, the double-standard moral criteria in the west, pride and arrogance. Different voices represent different interests, reflecting the contradictory stances towards China."