On December 10, the day the Nobel Peace Prize was presented to an empty chair in Oslo, a bearded, extravagantly friendly human rights spokesman, followed by a cameraman, managed to enter the Chinese embassy in The Hague. In the name of the Dutch people he presented a bouquet of flowers to the ambassador, who accepted it, evidently not knowing what the flowers were for.
The spokesman then explained what a great day this was for the Chinese people – they deserved the warmest congratulations for winning the Nobel peace prize. Would the ambassador please say a few words? The ambassador’s expression did not change. He said in an even voice that his government respected human rights under the law. Mr. Liu Xiaobo was a criminal. The human rights spokesman’s friendly expression did not change either. He repeated several times what a great day this was for the Chinese people and that he hoped China would win many more peace prizes. Then he was politely ushered out.
The scene was carried on YouTube.
Question: With whom did the average viewer sympathize – the ambushed Chinese ambassador, who took the provocation with admirable equanimity, or the friendly gate crasher? The answer is self-evident.
What are the most effective ways to put pressure on the Chinese authorities to observe human rights as they are defined in the West? Is it possible that there are none? Shouldn’t the West just relax and assume that in time the Chinese will become less afraid of social unrest and will find their own solution?
Eric Koch’s book, The Weimar Triangle, is available at Indigo-Chapters and in your local bookstore. 
While I agree that “in time the Chinese will become less afraid of social unrest and will find their own solution,” the kicker is that for the Chinese, time moves on a vast scale. Recall that when China’s first Premier, Zhou Enlai, was asked in the mid-20th century for his opinion on the historical significance of the 1789 French Revolution, he is said to have replied: “It’s too soon to tell.”