China Institutes Confucius Peace Prize As Counterpart To Nobel Peace Prize
China is continuing its efforts to play down the importance of the awarding of Nobel Peace Prize scheduled for Friday this week as it comes under renewed criticism for keeping in prison Li Xiaobo, winner of the prize this year.
After convincing several countries to boycott the ceremony in Oslo where laureate Li Xiaobo is expected to receive his award, China created an alternative prize for peace, called Confucius Peace Prize.
The new prize was awarded this week for the first time to former Taiwan vice president Lien Chan who received it for promoting peace between Taiwan and the mainland China.
It is not known who composes the committee that decides the prize winner, but it is known that the prize is closely connected to the Chinese Ministry of Culture.
The prize was first made public three weeks ago, in an opinion piece published in the China-backed Global Times, where it was pictured as a means for the Chinese people to express their opinions on peace and human rights.
Confucius Peace Prize is also meant to “teach Westerners how to cultivate their spirits,” and kindly treat the people who have other national values and lifestyles.
Simultaneously, China is harassing some 250 people who are blocked from traveling, arrested and placed under house arrest in hopes that no Chinese will be there to claim the prize.
The Communist regime had also been able to convince 19 countries to boycott the ceremony in Oslo, and others are expected to follow.11
