WEST'S STANCE ON TIBET INFURIATES YOUNG CHINESE FED PROPAGANDA BY THEIR GOVERNMENT

The Chinese need to open their eyes. Seriously, they need to use their fingers and prop their eyes open so they can see.

Like many young people in the West, Wang Shaoqing longs to travel through Tibet one day, to experience its stunning scenery and witness the culture. Like them, too, he is deeply concerned by the troubles of the past fortnight and what he sees as an inadequate international response.

'We find it hard to understand why the West has always used the Tibetan issue to oppress China ... Tibet is a historically indispensable part of the Chinese nation,' complained Wang, 23, a Beijing college student, blaming the Dalai Lama and his followers for inciting riots.

His remarks underscore the cultural gulf between Chinese and Western observers of the unrest.

In part, they reflect the Chinese government's powerful propaganda drive. Chinese and Tibetan TV channels have repeatedly screened graphic images from Lhasa: monks throwing stones at young riot police; mobs launching unprovoked and probably lethal attacks on bystanders.

They have not shown largely peaceful protests in other areas or the paramilitary police use of teargas and gunfire in response; quoted exile groups' claims that up to 100 have died in the crackdown; or explained the grievances of Tibetans.

Oh no he didn't. Wang Shaoqing did not just complain that the West is oppressing China? The Chinese preaching about oppression is like Justin Timberlake preaching about cool. It's just not believable.