【新唐人2013年11月22日訊】日前,美國駐中國大使駱家輝發表辭去駐華大使職務聲明,引起全球媒體轟動,中國民眾急忙盤點駱家輝任大使期間,因清廉的作風,在中國受到的委屈。專家認為,駱家輝對中國的影響遠大於對中美關係的影響。
明年初正式辭職的美國駐中國大使駱家輝(Gary Locke)在20號的離職聲明中表示,他將回到美國西雅圖與家人團聚。而他在接受美國《洛杉磯時報》採訪時說,辭職回鄉的原因是「為了孩子回美國讀中學」。
作為美國首位華裔的州長、商務部部長、及駐華大使,駱家輝一開始就注定是中國媒體的寵兒。
他乘經濟艙來中國上任,親自背背包、坐計程車到大使館,讓孩子上普通學校﹔上任後,聘請中國人辦理簽證﹔堅持每天公布北京空氣中細懸浮微粒PM2.5的指數。加上在華期間,趕上重慶市公安局長王立軍闖入成都美領館,還有,救助逃脫軟禁的陳光誠事件,以及他廉潔親民的作風,不但顛覆了中國民眾對於美國乃至美國政治的認知,對反腐無力的中共而言,無疑也是一種巨大的對比與反諷。
駱家輝在任期間乘坐經濟艙到大連出席夏季達沃斯論壇﹔參加博鰲論壇時,因為會場酒店住宿費高於美國政府差旅標準,而另選普通的酒店﹔帶美國副總統拜登去吃中國小吃﹔拿優惠券購買咖啡等,都被中國網民拿來與中共官員的不良作風作比較。
香港城市大學政治學教授鄭宇碩:「大使的辭職,應該對中美關係的影響不會太大的,但是駱家輝大使在過去的兩年多,給中國的國民樹立了一個很好的形象,一個民主國家的高官過著很簡樸的生活,他們也常常用他的作風和中國的高官來比較。」
不過,中共媒體批評他這些做法是「刻意給中國難堪」。
去年5月,《北京日報》批評駱家輝喝咖啡、坐經濟艙是「包裝成平民的作秀行為」,媒體要求駱家輝公布財產,並稱他為標準的美國政客,演技拙劣等。不過網友很快就找出駱家輝早已公布的財產回應。
2011年9月,駱家輝在《央視》自曝全家排隊遊長城。評論認為,駱家輝的排隊,更讓那些需要清場遊覽的中共官員難受。
駱家輝還曾多次就中國人權狀況提出批評,並就中國對海外投資的限制表示﹕中美經濟合作最大障礙之一就是中國在很多領域還是缺乏開放、透明。他對中共當局在過去幾年變本加厲的干預市場,感到憂慮。
有評論認為,駱家輝對中共對他的指摘概括承受,顯示了一個政治家的臨危不懼。中共官方媒體對他的妖魔化指摘,他也淡然以對,更增加了中國民眾對他的好感。
旅美原大陸史學教授劉因全:「他這個辭職是屬於一個很堅決的一個決心,我就是不幹了,至於我幹甚麼,不幹甚麼都無所謂,我最多當老百姓去。」
駱家輝辭職後,中共外交部作出回應,讚賞駱家輝為促進中美交流合作所做的積極努力。
資深媒體人丁來峰發表微博反諷說:中國網友揭發了駱家輝三大所謂「罪狀」:一是擅自在美使館檢測我國家空氣質量,使原本幸福驕傲的中國人遭到了PM2.5的困擾﹔第二擅自自己背包坐經濟艙,影響了我國官員的光輝形象﹔三是擅自宣揚西方普世價值觀,損害了中國青少年心智的健康。
中國《長城抗戰網》主編賈元良:「駱家輝作為一個華人,在世界舞臺充分展現了自己的睿智,通過他的這種角色的扮演,也說明瞭華人在世界舞臺上應有的地位和作用。」
網友發表《駱家輝改變中國》的博文說,身為華裔的駱家輝的所作所為讓中共官方頗為尷尬、難堪,所以,駱家輝的主動辭職,可看作是「一個中國式的大團圓結局」,「而另一個結局是,駱家輝將作為最有影響力的駐華大使載入史冊。」
採訪編輯/劉惠 後製/李勇
Gary Locke’s Resigns, Affecting China More Than China-U.S. Relations
A couple of days ago, U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke
published a statement of resignation,
becoming a media highlight.
Chinese netizens recount the injustice Locke suffered
during his tenure in China due to his clean-handed style.
Experts say that Gary affects China
more than Sino-America relations.
American Ambassador Gary Locke published
his resignation statement on Nov. 20, in which he says
he will return Seattle to reunite with his family.
When he was interviewed by Los Angeles Times, he said
he’s resigning so that his kids can attend high school in the U.S.
As a first American Governor of State, Minister of Commerce
and Ambassador to China from a Chinese family in America,
Locke was bound to be a favorite of Chinese media
since the beginning of his career as a diplomat.
When he went to China he took economy class flights,
carried his own luggage and took the taxi to the embassy,
and his children attend public school.
He helped Chinese people by shortening visa waiting times
and publishing Beijing’s daily air quality rating (PM 2.5).
In addition, during his tenure, he experienced
a series of major diplomatic events.
Wang Lijun, director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau
in Chongqing entered the U.S. consulate in Chengdu City.
Chen Guangcheng gained shelter in the embassy in Beijing
when he escaped from abusive house arrest.
Furthermore, Locke’s honest image and working style
not only overturned public prejudice about America
and American politics, but also undoubtedly produced
a distinctive contrast with CCP’s inefficient anti-corruption.
Locke took the economic class of a flight to attend
the Summer Davos Forum in Dalian City.
When he participated the Boao Forum for Asia,
he switched to a common hotel because the high price of
the hotel designated by the forum’s organizers
was beyond the amount permitted by the U.S. Government.
On one occasion, he took U.S. Vice President Joe Biden
to enjoy some Chinese snacks, and
on another he bought coffee using vouchers.
Many Chinese netizens have contrasted his actions
with the unhealthy style of CCP officials.
Zheng Yushuo, political professor at City University of
Hong Kong: “The ambassador’s resignation shouldn’t
have much impact on Sino-American relations.
But during the past two years of Locke’s ambassador service,
he’s established a very good image among Chinese people,
which is that a high-level official from a democratic country
lives a very simple life.
They often compare his style with his Chinese counterparts.”
However, the CCP’s media criticized his behavior
as attempts to “intentionally embarrass China.”
In May of 2012, Beijing Daily berated Locke’s drinking coffee
and taking economy class flights as him trying to play it off
like a common person, and asked him to disclose his assets,
and said he was a standard U.S. politician and was acting, etc.
But Chinese netizens soon found that Locke’s
property has long been public information.
In Sept. of 2011, in a interview with China Central TV, Locke
said his family waited in line for a tour of the Great Wall.
Critics say this matter further embarrassed CCP officials
who require that scenic spots be cleared out when they visit.
Locke also criticized China’s human rights status many times,
and on the limits on overseas investment in China, he says
the major barrier to Sino-American economic cooperation is
that there are still many fields that
China lacks openness and transparency in.
He worries about the increasing Chinese governmental
intervention in the market during recent years.
Commentators say Locke’s calm endurance
to all accusations from the CCP demonstrates
his political bravery in a complicated and dangerous situation.
He’s also kept indifferent to the demonized accusations of
him by the CCP’s official media,
which also increases his popularity among Chinese people.
Liu Yinquan, a Chinese history professor living in America:
“His resignation was made with a steadfast resolution.
He is determined not to continue the job.
As for what he will do or not do in the future, he does not care.
At lease he can return the life of an everyday person.”
After Locke’s resignation, Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry
made a public response and commending Locke’s efforts
to actively promote U.S.-China exchange and cooperation.
Senior media worker Ding Laifeng sarcastically says
on Weibo: Chinese netizens exposed Locke’s
so-called three crimes.
The first is his detecting our country’s air quality
without authorization, bringing the suffering of high
PM 2.5 concentration to the happy and proud Chinese people.
The second is his carrying his own luggage and
flying economy class without authorization,
undermining the glorious image of our country’s officials.
The third is his promotion of western universal values
without authorization, damaging the mental health
of Chinese youth.
Jia Yuanliang, China-based chief website editor:
“Locke fully shows the Chinese wisdom on the world stage.
The role he has played also illustrates the standing and roles
Chinese people should play on the world stage.”
One netizen posted a blog article Gary Locke Changed China,
saying that as a Chinese, what Locke is doing
embarrasses the CCP authorities very much.
So on one hand, Locke’s choice to resign can be seen as
“a Chinese-style happy ending”, and on the other hand
“Gary Locke will be recorded in the history
as the most influential American Ambassador to China.”