LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Although China's Deputy Environment Minister, Wu Xiaoqing did not name the United States directly, his comments were just for American ears. The United States has been monitoring Beijing's air pollution since 2009 when a monitoring station was set up on the roof of the US embassy there. 

The station was set up on after embassy staff took exception to the official reports that Beijing sometimes had air pollution that was classified as "slight." In reality, Beijing is often covered with a thick layer of brown soot and smoke from industrial and agricultural emissions and the exhaust of hundreds of thousands of vehicles. 

China's environment is literally besieged by pollution with at least 10 percent of the country's monitored rivers rated as "severely polluted." 

Despite this reality, the Chinese government does not want it broadcast to the world. Presently, the US embassy in Beijing posts regular air quality data on Twitter. 

However, minister Wu insists the reporting is illegal and must stop. Wu said, "According to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. foreign diplomats are required to respect and follow local laws and cannot interfere in internal affairs." 

The statement continued, "China's air quality monitoring and information release involve the public interest and are up to the government. Foreign consulates in China taking it on themselves to monitor air quality and release the information online not only goes against the spirit of the Vienna Convention... it also contravenes relevant environmental protection rules."

Still, the readings only state the obvious, that Beijing is frequently blanketed in a coat of smog. When combined with news of other environmental damage done by factories and the government, and reports from watchdogs groups on working conditions in China, one thing becomes clear. The Chinese government is more in love with its money and reputation than its environment or people, which prompts the question, just who are the greedy capitalists? 

© 2012, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.