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This is not an award given by the Norwegian government. It is given by the independent Norwegian Nobel Committee. If the means anything for the chinese I don't know, but it is a huge difference with regard to the two countries political relations.

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Yes, an independent committee whose "five members are appointed by the Norwegian Parliament and roughly represent the political makeup of that body”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Nobel_Committee

That may be true, but they aren't speaking with the authority of the state. There is a difference.

Sure, I don’t disagree, I just wanted to provide some nuance to the word ”independent”.

Chinese foreign policy is not always following rational paths in regard to Western standards. And this constellation is exactly why I wonder if they make their threat true or not.

As a Westerner intimately familiar with China (live and work here, Master's in Chinese), I find Chinese foreign policy exceptionally rational, if Machiavellian (for examples, I would point to their behavior towards North Korea and their currency policy).

What do you find irrational about Chinese foreign policy?

Ah, we're working on two different levels of rationality. Irrational threats ("If you walk on my lawn I will rape your dog") are nonetheless a rational policy (your lawn won't get walked upon).

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