Hey everyone. This is the same Joe Higgins who spent most of the past ten years condemning and protesting against the wars that the US was unleashing across the globe, its extraordinary rendition, and support for repressive regimes. And at the time there were no shortage of bozos answering him back with “what about China? What about Tibet?” I mention this in passing just in case people thought this was a completely different Joe Higgins from a completely different Socialist Party.

Although when the Chinese president heard Jedward were from Ireland he cancelled all export deals citing human rights issues.

Though I somewhere agree, I’ve got to say that everyone was very silent during Olympics in Beijing, which was essentially international symbol of support, or at least tolerance for Chinese regime…

Now suddenly it’s a problem?

Any other day you bunch of hypocrites would be calling Joe a communist.

“What about the USA Joe?”. Higgins and other socialist TDs have a consistent record of speaking out on human rights abuses in the US too, look back to last years visit of Obama and you’ll find criticisms relating to Shannon, Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay. But don’t let that get in the way of a good rant.

Yeah it’s about jobs but sure America is as bad in its privatized prison system which has over 6 million people in its detention system. China and the us may have different means of keeping its population uneducated. This naturally leads to crime particularly in US which has crime rates that make the country look like a war zone. Anyway china bringing jobs in the short term is unlikely. If anything they may do what they do best copy and excel. Although farming may benefit from exports it just means farming in Ireland will become more industrialized than it already is to meet demand and thus prices will go higher and quality will suffer. The human rights issue is something that should have been addressed and Gilmore or Kenny will after xi’s gone I sure say they have discussed it at length with the vice president. At the end of the day corruption is happening all around us and governments usually do what they like. If china was truly communist another leader from the masses would be chosen by the council not a son of a leading member. But sure nepotism is great better the devil you know than the devil you don’t isn’t that the way to run things. At least we don’t run our country like that do we?

Isn’t it about time we stopped planting a Guinness into the hand of every visitor? Do you really think playing the “we drink and have great craic” card is appropriate anymore? Especially on a trade visit

Might as well say what I feel… Getting a bit sick of Joe and the left alliance as well , there are human rights violations on this island as well, in all shapes and guises, you don’t have to be sent to a labour camp or interned indefinitely to be abused. This was a unique visit by a future superpower that might just the ability to help our sinking country, as I said on many previous threads regarding Gilmore and his condemning of other countries , look at your own house first….. If we get the tiniest percent of food production exported to china signed and delivered, it just might kick start the country again, don’t forget they have bigger villages than the size of Ireland( slight exaggeration) would be ironic to see ” made in Ireland” embossed on products in Chinese shops and I for one embrace it.

We trade plenty with the US who have extraordinary rendition and torture by proxy. Does Joe think we should stop trading with them?

I think Mr Higgins and friends are missing the point really. This is primarily a trade mission and as such the red carpet should be rolled out for this man. The only human rights I’m currently concerned about to be honest at this moment in time is my families and friends and their ability to have a chance at a reasonable future without emigrating to work, access descent education or health service. If this mans countries money can help get us all back on the road to recovery then bring it on. I do agree that china is not perfect by a long mark in terms of human rights but from our governments view id imagine if they did want to help improve that record in china, the Chinese would listen alot quicker if they saw us as a friendly nation rather than a pain in the ass! How to win friends and influence people 101. All I’m saying is, this state visit in our currently fiscal climate isn’t the time or the place to be making political points. That’s my two cents worth.

Typical Higgins – nothing but negativity, rather than welcoming an important visit that has the potential to massively increase Irish exports to China.

Higgins moans about no jobs, then moans about events that have job creation potential!

Its about jobs Joe.

Fair play to joe, he wouldn’t let it lie .As rabble rousers go he’s second to none , impressive for a man with a personality deficit as big as his still shooting fish in a barrel Is a great way of upping your profile .
Is this just a token bark from the left or is there Any chance joe would ask his flock throw away their iPads & boycott Chinese goods ?

I take it the Higgins mentioned at the start of the third paragraph is Joe Higgins and not Michael D Higgins from the previous line? The exact Mr Higgins making the remarks of the third paragraph somewhat changes the message.

Better the devil you know eh?

So we support sanctions against Iran,and then welcome a man from a country with a terrible human rights record ?Sure its great to have a trade agreement but at what cost ? Once again Ireland is the whore of Europe!

Typical Higgins. Standing up for exploited workers and highlighting corrupt fawning sycophantic traitors who would sell their mother to the troika. Fine Gael, Fianna Fail – same treachery Mr. Kearon.

We had Obama twice, and the Queen….. What’s the problem?

I’m sick and tired of the human rights brigade.

I respect Joe more than any other politician but if you read his statements they’re not far off the mark in respect to Ireland whatever about the Chinese. We just haven’t quite reached the point of overt violence but we’re getting there.

Joe’s always angry. What about the USA, Joe? Extraordinary rendition, torture. Last year, George W Bush bragged on TV that he authorized the waterboarding a.k.a torture of terror suspects on two occasions in order to extract “intelligence”. George W Bush has all the logic of a judge of the Spanish Inquisition and he carried through on it too. In some respects, Barack Obama is even worse. He has stepped up the drone bombing campaign. Hundreds of people, including innocent men, women and children, have been killed as a result of drone attacks inside Pakistan’s borders. This directly undermines the democratically elected Pakistani government which naturally doesn’t approve of this infringement of its sovereignty. And it’s a nuclear weapons state. Barack Obama, in his capacity of commander-in-chief of his armed forces, is bombing 6 countries without UN authorization. According to Joe’s logic then, we shouldn’t be talking to and trading with the USA either.

Irish folks has done a whole lot better job than simply confront Chinese leader for human rights issues. Your folks basically tried to identify Chinese leader as non-human. Please refer your own local news in http://www.independent.ie/national-news/newborn-is-named-after-vip-as-family-mark-visit-3024599.html. Let’s carefully exam this news, it’s said “By God, he was very much taken by the calf. “, and your local Irish folks named a cow after a person. God is my witness, I firmly believe this is a sneaky plot to demonize Chinese people. The easiest way to demonize people of any country is to demonize their leaders. Yes, your local Irish folks can fool someone who has a good intention to be your guest, but in the end your folks will definitely put a stop to a good business future. Nice play, your bunch of fools. I’m curious who’s really been played this time?