The reason for the pro-China protest

We are 72 members of the Chinese community who participated in the voluntary protest against the "Pro-Tibet" vigil April 9. The purpose of sending this letter is not to argue, nor to educate, but rather to let the Duke community understand perceptions of Chinese community on this issue in order to encourage more and effective communications.

We are writing in response to your news report "Pro-Tibet, pro-China" on April 10. The article failed to mention the reason behind the voluntary gathering of 400 Chinese people in front of the Chapel to protest a vigil participated in by about 15 people. Also, we want to clarify some facts during the protest.

On the morning of April 8, the Duke Human Rights Coalition drummed up an event on Facebook. The event was described as "Forget the Olympic Torch Relay for China's genocide Olympics, join in on the relay of the Tibetan Flag on Duke's campus and a short Candle Vigil at the Duke Chapel," and was to be held on the same day when the Beijing Olympic Torch was relayed in San Francisco. Their claim of a "genocide Olympics" was groundless and spiteful. Moreover, they wrote in the blurb "For over 50 years, China has occupied a formerly autonomous country, Tibet." However, in Chinese history, Tibet was incorporated into China during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). It is a fact that no nation in the world has ever formally recognized Tibet as an independent country. Therefore, the vigil severely denigrated the Beijing Olympics and the vigil's description distorted the historical truth that Tibet belongs to China. More than 400 Chinese people voluntarily gathered to speak up and to counter attempts to mislead the public. Our chanting of "liars, liars" was not against any individual words the "Pro-Tibet" protestors said, but against the collective action they performed-their propaganda of "Genocide Olympics" and "a formerly autonomous country, Tibet." Our protest was not to intimidate them but to express our disagreement with their intentions to mix politics with the Olympics and to boycott the Beijing Olympics with political excuses based on distorted historical facts.

Cong Jin, Graduate student, molecular genetics and microbiology. Rui Wang, computational biology and bioinformatics. Cong Jin, molecular biology and microbiology.

Alice Ding, Trinity. Chenghui Cai, mechanical engineering and materials science. Yiquan Wu, mechanical engineering and materials science. Yi Zhan, computer science. Weina Wang, biochemistry. Ming Qian, electrical and computer engineering. Hao Wang, statistics. Hang Qi, chemistry. Changlong Wu, civil & environmental engineering. Yan Huang, economics. Peidong Yu, physics. Jianwei Li, environmental sciences. Lingchu Yu, computer science. Da Huang, electrical engineering. Liang Zhang, statistics. Huaxin Sheng, anesthesiology. Yanhui Liu, electrical and computer engineering. Shu Dai, mathematics. Jianyang Zeng, computer science. Xuan Chi, economics. Zhiya Zhao, electrical and computer engineering. Man Wu. Xing Guo, pharmacology and cancer biology. Yifeng Zhou, economics. Guohua Zhu, literature. Xuefeng Wei, biomedical engineering. Lu Chi, UNC-Chapel Hill. Guangchun Chen, public policy. Jinrong Liu, chemistry. Xuekui Xi, physics and astronomy. Yazhong Tao, cell & developmental biology. Xiaobin Shen, economics. Shaunna Shen, human vaccine institute. Lianna Li, biomedical sciences. Qinghua Huang, asian and african languages and literature. Xiaodong Sun, technology systems. Jing Ying, literature program. Chong Wei, UNC. Yayuan Zhang, electrical engineering. Xiang Wang, chemistry at UNC. Ge Jing. Xiuzhu Qu. Yang Zhao, geological science. Peng Yang, biomedical engineering. Jinli Ma, radiation oncology. Zhi Ouyang, statistics. Congcong Li, economics. Yi Wang, biochemistry. Jianwen Que, cell biology. Nan Jiang, chemistry. Jianan Hou, mechanical engineering. Jing Lu, neurobiology. Xinying Li, economics. Zhenglei Gao, statistics. Jie Hu, physics. Weining Bian, biomedical engineering. Hongxia Yang, statistics. Weihong Lai, surgery. Wei Wu, neurobiology. Erxin Wu, Trinity. Lixian Zhong, pharmacology. Bing Yu, biomedical engineering. Qi An, electrical and computer engineering. Gang Ye, electrical and computer engineering. Feng Xu, mathematics. Chao Yu, biomedical engineering. Hui Wang, pharmacology. Tao Chen, mechanical engineering. Shuquan Zong.