Commentary: Libels against China, butts of jokes

The path of China's stunning development is littered with attempts by those ill-disposed towards or ill-prepared for the game-changing reality to vilify and even demonize the rising Asian giant.

In the mouth of the China doomsayers and bashers, the Chinese economy is teetering on the brink of a collapse, Beijing is causing a war in South China Sea, and human rights in the world's most populous country are just abysmal.

Now in the wake of the world-shocking terrorist attack against French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, some are pointing the finger at the Chinese media, accusing them of showing not even a shred of sympathy and attempting to demonize the holy freedom of expression in Western countries.

As can be easily observed, a major part of the flock are condescending yet frustrated Westerners who refuse to disabuse themselves of the alluring but outdated illusion that their institutions represent the optimal fabric of human civilization and thus the end of history.

Although unable to stop the ascent of the big nation from the East, they have been trying to fault China at every step and block China at every turn. They will not hesitate to use such lowbrow means as demagoguery and sensationalism to hoodwink the public.

But only to no avail. In case after case, truth and facts on the ground have turned those mongering doom and fear over China into the butts of jokes.

China has now grown into the world's second-largest economy, with increasing resilience and sustainability thanks to its steadfast restructuring efforts. The freedom of navigation has never been disrupted in the busy South China Sea, and Beijing is mustering regional support with good faith to keep it that way. And the substantial improvement of the well-being of the Chinese people has gained worldwide recognition and acclaim.

As regards the Charlie Hebdo incident, the Chinese media have not just unequivocally condemned the Paris carnage and deeply sympathized with the traumatized French nation, but rationally delved into the root causes of terrorism and extremism in order to help prevent any repetition of such tragedies, as all responsible news providers will do.

Besides, free speech is also held dear in China. Like Western ones, the Chinese constitution contains no "but" in the article enshrining the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press. However, words have consequences, and that universal common sense means that there is always a "but" between the lines.

The world should unswervingly defend free speech, both against the abridgment of it and against the abuse of it. The ones truly demonizing free speech are not those who speak with prudence but those who deliberately fuel divide and hatred.

Meanwhile, on a broader scale, those always placing China at the crosshairs are only a small part of the Western public crying for attention on the sidelines. A vast majority follows the trend of the times and welcomes China's increasingly significant and constructive role in world peace and development.

And more encouragingly, the majority of the open-minded and cooperation-oriented is expanding further rapidly. The West needs to maintain the positive shift of public opinion. The pride in one's own civilization should on no account be allowed to swell to the point that it hinders mutually beneficial engagement with others.

On the part of China, it has rightly become less sensitive to Western defamation and derision. Its domestic success and global contribution have entitled it to more self-confidence in the international arena. Forge ahead with its peaceful development, and let history do the rest. Endi