Will the Chinese government regret having the Olympics in their country?
But will it be good for China?
If a PR agency had been hired to help China promote it’s image ahead of this summer’s Beijing Olympics, it would have had its work cut out over the last few weeks.
With the ongoing anti-Chinese unrest in Tibet, a boycott of the opening ceremony or a journalistic boycott being suggested by some, and intense international scrutiny over its human rights record, China is rallying against a tide of criticism.
And we’re still months away from the start of the games.
As Pete posted earlier, Dominic Lawson (writing in the Independent newspaper) speculates that the media spotlight on the country may bring with it a “tidal wave of embarrassment” for the country.
But despite the protests and the threats of a boycott, could the games actually have the opposite affect on the country itself? Could it give China the opportunity to display what’s great about the country, it’s people and heritage?
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BBC World Have Your Say 
All of the above? Whatever the outcome, China won world recognition and prestige by just landing the games in the first place. China will have the world stage to try to put their best foot forward.
On the flip side China is going to regret a lot of the attention and opportunities dissidents within the country will sieze upon, and world figures using this opportunity to try to put pressure on China.
So a little bit of both.
only if the world community acts in concert and boycotts the games because of the human rights abuses taking place in tibet. if the world community splits and does not act in concert then the chinese communist government (ccg) will act just like the ussr did in 1980. unfortunately, the world is already showing these splits. russia, totalitarian regimes and other authoritarian dictatorships will not back the tibetans demands for human rights, because these regimes repress their own people and understand that western democracy would end their own control. by turning a blind eye to the tibetans condition these regimes will gain favor from the ccg in the form of economic assistance. an example of this is the sudanese dictatorship which is getting huge amounts of money from the ccg for the resources that the ccg takes from sudan. the people of sudan do not benefit from this imput of money. the sudanese dictatorship gains a huge amount of economic support to pay for the weapons it needs to stay in charge, while the people remain in refugee camps. do you think sudan will boycott the olympic games? do you think iran, syria, venezuela, cuba, north korea, myanmar, serbia, russia and other countries which have authoritarian regimes will boycott? i do not think so. unless the world speaks with one voice about the cultural genocide that is taking place in tibet, the ccg will not be sorry it hosted the olympics. it will put on a grand show and act like the world doesn’t even exist.
The only way I can protest against the Olympics in China is by not watching the Games, and not buying the products of Olympic sponsors.
only if the world community acts in concert and pressures the chinese communist government (ccg) to end its cultural genocide in tibet. if the world does not speak with one voice the ccg will carry on exactly like the communist party of russia did in 1980.
“… despite the protests and the threats of a boycott, could the games actually have the opposite affect on the country itself? Could it give China the opportunity to display what’s great about the country, it’s people and heritage?”
Well, I thought the point of the olympics was just that: So it could have the opportunity to display what is so great about their country. But, now that ‘we’ have our foot in the door we might as well stick up our nose at what we don’t like and feel good about our selves.
The Olympic Games were an occasion for political statements. The West boycotted Moscow O.G in protest of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. The communist block boycotted the Los Angeles in retaliation. From 1988 Soul Olympic Games to Athens Olympic Games, things seemed to go smoothly, except for fear of terrorist attacks after 9/11.
But when the boycott of the Moscow O.G was about the USSR foreign policy, now the threat of Beijing O.G is because of China’s internal policy. Maybe the current protests in Tibet were well planned and staged as the Tibetans can’t have a better moment to publicize their cause than the moment when the focus is on China hosting the Olympic Games.
The Chinese government may have little embarrassment as it is used to Western media portraying it negatively because of human right records and the current great divide between the rich and the poor in rural and urban areas. China can avert the influence of foreign media reports by staging a great propaganda at home showing the great progress it has made in the recent years and the outside doesn’t want China to be a unified and strong country.
During the games, China will have the means to make them look a big success. It will use televised transmissions of the games. As a country of bout 1.4 billion people, it won’t lack the huge crowds to attend the games. The fact that US president has confirmed that he will attend the opening ceremony will give a boast to the Chinese.
The Western media can boycott the games. But today there are hundreds of channels in the third world countries that will transmit the games. Many governments in the third world countries use big sporting events to give their people a “good time”. So they went miss on Beijing Olympic Games as they won’t seek to sour their relations with the Chinese government.
Maybe the current events in Tibet are a big worry for the Chinese government. But its control of the media and the streets, plus the glamour of the games and their installations can be a good hypnosis for people at home to look at the good side of things. Tibet then will be a parenthesis in local media as the focus will be on the game results.
Marrakesh, Morocco
I hope so…
China has a lot of talking to do.
If China thinks it is a global player, it is a bad bad example for the kids.
Malc
Berlin
The Beijing Govt has been preparing for the Games for years. The Chinese people have heard broadcasts daily saying how great the party is and how great the Olympics will be for the country. Over and over and over again. There is no such thing as public debate on the effects of the Olympics. China doesn’t do public debate. The party give an opinion and everyone publicly agrees.
If the Chinese govt has done anything successfully over the last few years it is to convince the Chinese people that Western people do not, and will never, understand China. Anything that happens will be blamed on the west as trying to make the govt lose face in its most important time of coming out.
It would take a full blown Tienanmen style revolt for the people to stop and take notice. Most Chinese are so steeped in Party doctrine that they feel anyone or any country that gets in their way are anti-Chinese. Most people on the street will tell you that the west has been trying to bring them down for years. Many believe the world looks down on them and wants to make everything they have achieved turn to rubbish
The Olympic Games pose an opportunity for China to show its best side to the world and to promote cultural interchange.
It’s an opportunity for the Tibetans to call attention to their legitimate woes.
It’s an opportunity to underline to China the world’s discontent with their human rights record.
It’s an opportunity for people from all over the world to get together and influence each other on a personal level.
It’s an opportunity for individuals or organisations who feel strongly enough to boycott the games, to protest peacefully.
All this is besides the celebration of world games.
“It’s better to jaw jaw, than to war, war,” as Winston Churchill expressed it.
If everybody seizes these opportunities the likely outcome will be broadly beneficial.
punishing china for the same offense twice is not at all fair .already china has been punished for their poor human rights record in tianmen square and tibetan issue which the reason they didnt get 2000 olympic games .after passing every criteria set by the IOC and getting the olympics in 2008 yet again embroiled in tibetan issue in the olympic year is not at all fair whomsoever instigated this trouble citing tibet .in any law no person or state can be punished twice for the same offense .in these aspect china being grilled on human rights violation yet again citing the same tibetan issue for which they have been punished by denying 2000 olympics is not at all fair on those who instigated this to tarnish the chinese image worldwide and the balckmailing of withdrawing from opening ceremony doesnt augur well for whomsoever giving the boycott call.
all china can do now is to ask international organizations like unitednations to investigate who has done this instigation of raising the tibetan issue during this olympic year and bring out the facts and hidden agenda behind this instigation .
devadas.v
jyothinivas
talap
kannur
kerala
india
I certainly don’t think China is going to regret anything. They’ll put the best face on it they can; 3\4 of the world will scream about “Politicizing the Olympics,” and 20 minutes after they are over, the planet will forget ALL about all of it.
Boycotting the Olympics will do nothing at all; we’ve already seen, and proven, that.
But I don’t think they, the Olympics, should be held there. But, the Olympic Committee got paid for having them there, regardless of human rights violations and economic stategem that gains them most of our money.
Things go on as normal.
Hello All,
The Chinese do not make rash decisions. They wanted the Olympic Games to see and to be seen. The possibility of embarrassment by one or more of China’s unhappy minorites was no doubt part of the governmental, Olympic Game discussions. If the world-wide media response to Tibet was predictable even by this dull-witted mid-westerner, do you not think it would have been predicted by the Chinese government? China’s society is large and relatively homogeneous. Does anyone believe that if China is embarrassed, the Han Chinese will not bare this shame as a united people? Carefully handled (and it will be), foreign criticism could be most beneficial to the government. Think from inside “China” looking toward the barbarians outside the wall for a moment. This is what the Chinese have done for thousands of years. Why else would the fifth principle point be the Center? If you cannot place yourself in the Chinese people’s shoes, try remembering the words of Confucius and of Lao Tzu. Cell phones not withstanding, their thoughts still guide this culture.
The far better approach, that which will aid the Tibetans, Mongols, Zhuang, and all the minorities far the most, is perfect etiquette and calm regard for the host. The Center must hold.
China knows its troubles. By being the perfect guest, even when China may not be able to be the perfect host, the Barbarians (us) may do a far greater good for everyone involved than any whiny protest ever could do.
Later,
g
It will be regrettable and would make a small change to some extend, but not all the way, China has a way of getting back, China doesn’t case. But the world is also watching even the US and UK if they don’t do anything about the Iraq issue, the same might happen to them in the nearby future if they are to host same games.
Oh yeah they will regret it. China wanted to show how great their country is, and how much they have changed. They got the opposite, plus now everyone is recognizing how horrible they are treating Tibet again. I really think that something crazy will end up happening over there, and then they will really regret it!
-Anthony, LA, CA
Regardless of the events in Tibet of recent times the Olympics will take place in China for better or worse. In my oppinion there will be no boycot of journalists simply because they are paid to report the news on major events.
Whilst China is a powerful power both militarily and economically in the region we know that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely as we can see from recent events. There is no doubt that China has subjugated and occupied Tibet by much superior military means and flooded Tibet with her over populated Chinese people. As we have seen in the past she will ruthlessly put down any demonstration by her own people so why should China be lenient with Tibetans.
We know that China is great and powerful but no matter what image she projects of herself during the Olympics the fact remains China has taken Tibet by force on the basis of the lame and unworthy excuse of a marriage between a noble Chinese and a noble Tibetan many hundred years ago. The question must be asked in retrospect, why did she not appoint the Dali Lamma and the Tibetans with the same rights to govern China?.
Hi Rabiya,
First of all, good luck with the “new” job.
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Let me start by saying: Bad publicity is publicity as well.
Pointing out that China is in the news. It looks bad publicity for now, but I am sure China will attracted a lot of new tourists in the coming months and even after the Olympics China has set its footprint on the map.
And luckily there is more to it then only the Olympics, bad human rights, social-communism and the Tibet issues. There actually living very nice people and nature is beautiful. You only know what China is really if you have been there. And that goes for all countries.
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Would a PR-agency help? Not at this point, to many negative news for the moment. And all this fuss will be forgotten in a few months, thats the way of the world and the human mind.
regards,
Rob
The world community has a very short memory. It will talk about how bad the human rights situation is now and will forget it within a few months. Then it will be talking about how great the Chinese olympics were for another couple of months and forget that too very soon.
I doubt it.
I think though that once a level of dissent and protest builds to higher levels in the coming months then the Chinese will take it personally. That is their way, that is how they handle adverse opinion – as if in a childlike perception of the world. We are good, look what we do… but you criticise us for other things like repression and oppression, but we have Olympics in shiny new buildings and make taxi drivers learn English words for you! Quite pathetic, but that is the old style communist mentality.
As they do in the past they will retaliate as they resent others daring to criticise them. After all they are presenting a nice venue and allowing us all to come and partake of their generous hospitality – so how dare anyone criticise about things such as freedom and human rights. There is almost a naive expectation on their part that visitors and the world will stare open mouthed saying, “Wow”! Look at what those incredibly clever Chinese have done! Not likely though is it in this day and age and with the present situation in China. I don’t think they will regret it as it boosts their own status in their own minds at least that they have done this with socialist precision but the negative comments will wound them and the Chinese have long memories – and let’s not forget, this will make them lose face, the ultimate sin and the ultimate unforgivable act against them. They will not forget it and they will one way or another, get their own back to those who dared question them.
the regret of this year summer olympics will not be to the chinese govrenment per say, but to the entire human race, the I.O.C, and the west,who ignore the cries of those powerless tibetans and other tianamese square victims and awarded such a high profile sporting events to those ruthlesss oppressors,let me say this to you, that by giving the chines government the right to host the Olympic, is an endorsement of their acts and deeds that they’ve done nothing wrong, i’m not gonna comment on this much, i reserve my oppinion for some other topic to be disscussed. thanks
Royston,
Freetown,Sierra Leone
Look – the Olympic games are going to go on – no one is going to boycott the games, no one at all.
The only way you are going to make the Chinese government take notice is if you put a missile up her nose and threaten to use it if China doesn’t change. And that isn’t going to happen either.
All the people who read this – do me a favour – go to your local store, any store that you choose, pick up 100 items and see where they have been made. List each one and then, if it says, made in China, put it back on the shelf and purposely state on that list you will never buy another thing made in China. Then go and buy the more expensive item elsewhere, made elsewhere. Now go to, say Toys’R’Us and see what is made in China – and don’t buy another thing from them. That you can do for any number of Branded stores.
Come back in a month and say how long it lasted and how many items you now have in your home that says ‘Made in [Not China]’.
This is the reason China can continue on her economic quest and ignoring what people have to say – because YOU all buy Chinese products that keeps her afloat.
They (China) may be the barbarians – but it is YOU who keep the barbarians in office, time to stop being hypocrites because a Chinese products is dollars cheaper than home-made products!
I’ve always thought of the Olympics as a way towards bringing people together in sport and celebration rather than an opportunity to make a political statement about the host country. All countries have problems, and enviromental concerns and moral issues on the world stage. Let the country without any sins throw the first stone…..The US isn’t exactly in a position to point fingers- we’ve suspended habeus corpus when suspension suits our needs- and our press barely blinked! I think China has the opportuntiy to show what is great about their country and their history- and hopefully the world spotlight will begin some changes in policy.
I learned from a Chinese scholar that the government language in 1000 bc was the same as the government language in 1950. It staggers the imagination that this huge country with its so very large population could maintain stability for such a long time. In this century enormous change has begun. Has anyone seen the poverty statistics for China – the increase in capita per year? Amazing. “It don’t come easy.” Consider the so-called “Industrial Revolution” particularly in England. The end of the post above by g is worth considering.
I deplore China’s relationship of conquest with Tibet. And those who struggle for Tibet have seized the Olympics as a means and time of protest.
In China “it is the best of times, it is the worst of times.” The displacement of its citizens to make way for improvements/structures is sad; however, the same goes on all around the world.
I find it lovely that “the games begin” at the eighth hour of the eighth day of the eighth month of the eighth year of this century.
My two story house built in 1900 has a name: in Chinese characters: The House of Good Fortune. Virginia in Portland, OR (aka: Eldest Niece)
The China vs Tibet issue and the Olympics are seperate. You boycott the Olympics – you boycott the world. We as a world community need to keep to the issues and let the games begin.
The Chinese won’t regret anything. Every word we say about the Chinese simply points out our own inadequacies. Believe me, none of this is lost on the Chinese people. The government will use the controversy over the Olympics to its advantage, as governments do.
Would that we had a leg to stand on when it comes to human rights!
No. They will only regret it if the air quality in Beijing isn’t good enough for the athletes. Foreign criticism rolls off them like water on a duck’s back and the average person on the street will only hear of the pride and glory of the People’s Republic in it’s finest hour.
These are the people who weren’t embarrased by Tianemen Square – they sure aren’t going to be intimidated by policy questions at the games.
China lobbied hard to get the Olympics but I think it will backfire on them, because they have not been able to deal with their many problems in time for the games, and they seem not to have realized the HUGE spotlight it will put on their country, showing off every flaw as well as the “good things” they hoped to showcase. Obviously they did not realize that being in the spotlight puts you out for criticism and analysis, and often, that’s not desirable. Too late now.
Its unfortunate and funny that the Chinese will complain of the western media being bias when they have refused them access to the area.How do they then expect the true pictures getting to the outside world so that what they are crying about can be judged true or false.
Why cant they grant to the Tibetians what they are requesting?But they cant seeing the manner in which they support dictatorial monarchs in Africa, just because they want the mineral wealth and the market provided by those “kingdoms”.
China is a disgrace in the fight against human right abuses.
Gilles
I doubt it.
I think though that once a level of dissent and protest builds to higher levels in the coming months then the Chinese will take it personally. That is their way, that is how they handle adverse opinion – as if in a childlike perception of the world. We are good, look what we do… but you criticise us for other things like repression and oppression, but we have Olympics in shiny new buildings and make taxi drivers learn English words for you! Quite pathetic, but that is the old style communist mentality.
As they do in the past they will retaliate as they resent others daring to criticise them. After all they are presenting a nice venue and allowing us all to come and partake of their generous hospitality – so how dare anyone criticise about things such as freedom and human rights. There is almost a naive expectation on their part that visitors and the world will stare open mouthed saying, “Wow”! Look at what those incredibly clever Chinese have done! Not likely though is it in this day and age and with the present situation in China. I don’t think they will regret it as it boosts their own status in their own minds at least that they have done this with socialist precision but the negative comments will wound them and the Chinese have long memories – and let’s not forget, this will make them lose face, the ultimate sin and the ultimate unforgivable act against them. They will not forget it and they will one way or another, get their own back to those who dared question them.
Andrew
Australia
China has no problem making money from exports. If they wish to play globally, and they already are, then they also have to deal with the scrutiny, its par for the course.
Lets not tell fortunes and wait and see whether China has regrets.
-Portland, Oregon
The BBC seems determined and desperate to bring the government of China down, using the Olympics.
Certainly you have flogged the internal affairs of China in public excessively and unreasonably enough, and should flog, instead, the brutish and godless actions of the government of the USA in Iraq aided, dog-like, by the government of Britain. But I have not heard you associate the government of Britain with these brutish and godless actions in your news and reports. Why not?
Pieray
Lagos, Nigeria
No, the Red Chinese government will not regret hosting the Olympics because it will bring in a lot of revenue and the world has a short memory. They will regret not having been more diligent in keeping their dirty little secret crackdown not more obscured from the world.
The big regret will, or should, come from the IOC who gave the Olympics to the Chinese because they promised to be nicer to their own people and weren’t.
Rob
The Olympics is a golden opportunity for China to salvage its fast eroding image. Journalists should use the games to focus on critical issues like human rights and press freedom. Boycotting the event will not be a prudent move. John, Nairobi.
hello Rabiya,
As usual my name is jesse from nigeria,i don’t think the chinese have anything to loose or be embarrased,they can only feel the pains if the olympic games are boycot completely by all nations that are suppose to participate,then they would be embarrased and disapointed.
I’m a sport lover,a chelsea fan,i like playing basket ball as a hobby and to keep fit hope to hear from you on 5live,chloe!you’re welcome!
Jesse
Only if the world community acts in concert and boycotts the games because of the human rights abuses taking place in tibet. if the world community splits and does not act in concert then the chinese communist government (ccg) will act just like the ussr did in 1980. unfortunately, the world is already showing these splits. russia, totalitarian regimes and other authoritarian dictatorships will not back the tibetans demands for human rights, because these regimes repress their own people and understand that western democracy would end their own control. by turning a blind eye to the tibetans condition these regimes will gain favor from the ccg in the form of economic assistance. an example of this is the sudanese dictatorship which is getting huge amounts of money from the ccg for the resources that the ccg takes from sudan. the people of sudan do not benefit from this input of money. the sudanese dictatorship gains a huge amount of economic support to pay for the weapons it needs to stay in charge, while the people remain in refugee camps. do you think sudan will boycott the olympic games? do you think iran, syria, venezuela, cuba, north korea, myanmar, serbia, russia and other countries which have authoritarian regimes will boycott? i do not think so. unless the world speaks with one voice about the cultural genocide that is taking place in tibet, the ccg will not be sorry it hosted the olympics. it will put on a grand show and act like the world doesn’t even exist.
Eric, Florida
I think there is no regret for china in hosting olympic game 2008. becouse the conflict between china and tibet region is internal conflict it can be resolve without international barkig.
Musa, Kano, Nigeria
China’s regrets. Olympics. Is a disaster.
A Billion shame. Congrats Tibetans.
Peter
I visited China shortly before the re-absorption of Hong Kong… One of your guests speaking in defense of China continually asked one of your call in guests if he has actually visited China. I did and personally observed what could only be called censorship, religious suppression and police brutality even after I believe the Chinese state worked so hard to ensure I was only going to go and see what they wanted me to see. Your guest defending China, I wonder if she has taken an objective, un biased look at china. However, I must say the people of china I fell in love with. Over all, I found the country to be a great place to visit despite its problems.
Davey
Oregon, listening on OPB
Could it give China the opportunity to display what’s great about the country, it’s people and heritage?
Yep, it could. But the more this drags on, the more people will think China = Bad. This narrowminded way of thinking will limit the public’s ability and even their want to learn about Chinese people and their heritage. Consider that the vast majority of the world is not well versed in current events or foreign affairs. Most think that their hour a week or so of Faux News is enough. Thus furthering their inability to understand and appreciate Chinese people and their culture (not their politics, their culture).
Regards,
Brett ~ Richmond, Va.
In response to the comment from India, about punishing China twice for the same offense.
It isn’t the same offense, the offenses are of the same type. Would you not punish an individual for drink driving because they have already been found guilty of a prior incident? There should not be leniency for ongoing offenses.
Alex
Portland, OR
How does a country that sponsors sabotaging any ideas that go against the nation not regret everyday; it’s actions such as sending email viruses to supporters of Tibet and who else would be motivated to do such acts of regret?
Zak
Maybe we need to discuss Chinese culture. I feel like we are discussing religion! Are the Chinese completely subjective or is everyone else just wrong? Some cultural issue must be at play. Is it pride, egoism, ignorance, manners? Is it impolite to criticize in Chinese culture? I know little about Chinese culture, but I keep hearing the term “embarrassment” thrown around by the Chinese. Until we know what cultural factors may be at play it seems like it will be hard to assess validity in any of this.
Scott, Portland, Oregon
There is an easy way for everyone to boycott the Olympics, just don’t watch.
Tim
Portland, OR
The Chinese woman, you have on your show, as you know, is doing exactly what china does best, lying. Why do you not confront her untruths, economics, access? what
She said “There is only a small number of protesters.” Well, in a country with over a billion people (many afraid or in prison), a hundred million, could be considered a small number. China should be ignored, completely. Boycott everything Chinese! Including that propagandistic and stupid woman. The rest of the world can not see what is going on, why? China won’t let media do it’s job. The media is biased against China, it is a totalitarian regime and thinking people don’t like that.
Leopards can’t change their spots, and this cat bites.
If Tommie Smith & John Carlos can be (rightly) lauded for thier civil rights statement at the 1968 games, than the Olympics is more than a sporting event, it is a platform. Therefore, even though I feel for the athletes that woulld be affected, I find it a rediculous agrument that a boycott is unfair to the competitors. They are participating in a wold event that is subject to the same politial tormoil as any world event- such as the WTO and American presidential visits.
Jake
Portland, OR.
Just an observation about the cropped picture that the editor used as example of media bias – I once was an editor myself, and getting pictures to match a story is often a problem, and it is common to crop a picture to highlight the things which refer to the story if a full frame picture is not available, and this is especially likely in the case of pictures of the situation in Tibet, given the fact that photo-journalists are banned from the area – in other words the example she gave is basically ridiculous,
best,
Donald
Dear WHYS,
I believe that one thing the West should make clear to the Chinese government is that we do already know the Dalai Lama here. So when the Chinese government tells lies about who he is, it only reflects on them, not on him. Because he is so very open and has over the years been so ready to personally meet with many, many people, he is known well by countless friends. Thousands of people have read his books on compassion and non-violence, and they have seen him speak, shook his hand and received his kindness and wisdom as well as his scholarly knowledge concerning ways of practicing compassion. We know that this is who he is, and this must be told to the Chinese Government. Their negative statements fly in the face of what the West already knows, the truth about this Noble-prize winning humanitarian.
Ann
China’s primary concern is always the stability of internal China and the effect of its actions on its own people. And from their view the recent progress of China is something of which they are very proud , irrespective of any human rights issues. Your student guest shows very clearly how carefully China has managed the thoughts of it’s own people. And to be sure the ordinary Chinese citizen is used to hearing the ‘truth’ from its own propaganda machine day after day ad week after week. And that ‘truth’ is simple and coherent, unlike the real truth which only emerges after a lot of debate, criticism and the expression of many points of view. In other words, after a lot of chaos. Think of all the self criticism of the West in the media. This is itself alien to, and I am sure very confusing, to a typical citizen of China who is used to one point of view. In the West we are used to distorted reporting, errors in reporting, and completely different accounts of the same event. And we argue over the ‘truth’ all the time. The example of Chinese who are obsessed with the fact that CNN cropped a picture taken in Tibet shows the naivete of a people who do not have a well developed free press. or open debate about much of anything. From the view of China and its people the apparent chaos of the Western media itself must seem confusing and threatening if one remembers that in a country the size of China, instability is something they wish to avoid at all costs. The lesson of Tienanmen comes to mind.
World governments and global corporations will do as they wish in supporting China’s hosting of the Olympics. We the common people of the world do not have to tolerate it, however: we can boycott the corporate sponsors of the Olympics as a way of showing our disgust with China’s tyrannical imperialism in Tibet and its exchange of blood for oil in Sudan.
Shirley, Chicago
Our best hopes go with the Chinese into the Olympics. China may bear some regret for hosting the games in the short term. As has been suggested, all countries try to save face and will put the best possible spin on negative publicity. However, as the Dr. Martin Luther King brought the cameras and media to Alabama to expose human rights abuse in the American South, so the Tibetans are now generating an opportunity for China to make changes based on their public image. If we truly respect China as a growing economic and technological entity, we must not insult the Country by expecting any less of it in the human rights arena. Now, at great cost, the world is finally talking about Tibet and about whether it is worth being economically and technologically formidable if you cannot also have meaningful, honest dialog about how you treat your citizens. China has an opportunity in these Olympics, by addressing these human rights issues, to be the great beacon of hope, the very pinnacle of human effort, that the world, that the Dalai Lama, that each person who has never known freedom in Tibet, wishes it to be.
I think the world should listen to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people. It is the best way for the international community to use this as an opportunity to pressure Beijing. The continuing human rights violation by the Chinese authorities in Tibet reflect the excessive use of force.
This reflects another excessive use of Chinese position internally just as it had always done in the past – even in decision making at the world stage.
If the world fail to act now, it may extremely difficult to ever get China to succumb to pressure as far as this issue is concerned.
Nathaniel
Capetown
“Whys: Would China Regret Hosting the Olympic?
Would the British and USA governments tolerate Africans if they demanded their own state in any way or manner? Certainly you have flogged the internal affairs of China excessively, biased against the government of China and unreasonably enough. You should flog, instead, the brutish and godless actions of the government of the USA in Iraq, aided by the government of Britain. But I have not heard you associate the government of Britain with these brutish and godless actions in your news and reports. Why not?
Pieray, Lagos, Nigeria
What has Africans demanding a state of their own to do with Tibetans and china?? Why continue to oversimplify the situation that has lead these tibetans to revolt of their own just cause of bias you have against the west? These people have obviously been pushed to a point that they felt it was time for them to revolt and demand change. The west is not the problem here. The problem is there obviously exists a rift between the chinese government and the tibetans that the tibetans want dealt with. The media has has right to broadcast what they see, it is up to the government of china to deal with the situation the best way they can and face the consequence of whatever action they take. Enough of this ” WEST IS TO BLAME” propaganda by people who do not obviously understand that the tibetans, just like the burmese are obviously trying to get attention of the world in their situation.
hello,
as we might remember the boycot of the Games in Moscow in 1980 didn’t solve any problem, nor did it intimidate the Kreml.
We should use the Games to show the Chinese how unthreatening and friendly the West can be towards them.
Dear BBC,
I think the world should listen to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people. It is the best for the international community to use this as an opportunity to pressure Beijing. The continuing human rights violation by the Chinese authorities in Tibet should be condemned.
This excessive use of force by the Chinese authorities internally just as it had always done in the past – even in decision making at the world stage.
If the world fail to act now, it may extremely difficult to ever get China to succumb to pressure as far as this issue is concerned.
Nathaniel
Capetown
The best path to stability and development for China lies through dialogue and respect, not repression.
Chinese President Hu Jintao values his country’s international reputation and the ‘Made in China’ brand.
But the upcoming Olympics in Beijing will succeed only if he chooses dialogue over the hardliners’ repression.
China’s leaders need to decide whether to respond to Tibetan outcry with increased repression or dialogue with the Dalai Lama – it is their choice.
The Chinese Media show Tibetan violence against Han Chinese, but not the opposite. The propaganda is so pervasive that it has set off an ethnic-hate campaign against Tibetans in China’s blogosphere. But fortunately not everyone is buying the Communist Party line.
I understand the concerns of Chinese leaders that riots and separatism could lead to dangerous instability.
But the one-sided propaganda of the official Chinese media only aggravates an already tense situation.
Governments around the world have begun calling for dialogue.
In just 7 days over 1 million have signed a petition supporting human rights and dialogue in Tibet – it’s the fastest growing internet petition in history!
International Day of Action has been declared for Monday, March 31st. Thousands of people in cities across the world will march to Chinese embassies and consulates, and stack hundreds of boxes containing a petition outside them.
Pieray, Lagos, Nigeria
trust me I heared enough about the different wars. quite frankly i do not care who demands for whatever reason their own state. just look at kosovo, they have their own state and 50% unemployment. demanding a state and being capable of sustaining a state are two different things. if you want your own state make sure it sustainable and do not expect the world to help you out. plus make sure that it is something the vast majority wants, otherwise you only creat another spot of hatred and trouble.
Maybe the International Olympic Committee is the one regreting the fact that the Olympics will be held in a disturbed political environment in the host country. Now, countries as France are showing their concern and are thinking to be absent of the opening cermony of the olympics, fact that makes us remember the times of the olympics in Moscow and Los Angeles in which the assistance to the games was determined by the political affiliation of the coutries. The positive thing of this situation is that the eyes of the world are looking carefully what is happening in China and hopefully that will help change-or at least lighten- the Chinese government’s policy towards Tibet.
How can these chinese propaganda speaker always talk of a “western media”, don’t they know we have more
than 1 (O – N – E) media around here. Oh, i forgot that all western people dislike chinese people and that
we watch our own big brother brainwashed journalists TV all day.
It’s like the GDR called the berlin wall “the anti-fascism defense wall”. How can the government they not
sense become a total joke, repeating their simple minded accusations.
(Remember not to say “western media” more than 4 time in a sentence)
i dont know why the chinease can’t enforce the law without hitting and killing
Religion should NOT be mixed with Politics. Islam is mixed with Politics. Buddhism should NOT follow Islam.
Tibetan culture must be respected. So too must the rule of law. When riots broke out in the UK, France, the Netherlands, the Scandanavian countries, Australia, USA – didn’t the police use force? Weren’t there loss of life, injuries, damage to property?
For all the peace-loving image projected by the Dalai Lama, shouldn’t BBC screen their documentary archives to show the serfdom imposed on Tibetans during the Dalai Lama’s rule and those of his predecessors? There are two sides to every coin!
i dont know either
Hi! 🙂
Many people take these issues too serious. They forget that Olympics is just a chance to get together as brothers and sisters from different nations.
China’s got many positive things to display: a rich culture, brilliant people, great sportspeople…
It would be great if Chinese people as well as the International community focused on these aspects instead of bringing up polemic arguments, boycotts and painful reminders of history. There are other spaces for these. And boycotts solve nothing, they can just be added to the list of shameful acts by human beings… 😐
As far as I know, none of the previous hosts had been as highly criticised as China has throughout the last 20 years. The fact is, don’t mix sports and culture with social issues that deserve a more serious, reliable and effective solution.
😉 Good-bye!
Probably not, Pieray, since africans aren’t an indigenous people that the US invaded in America… and the British have assisted to nationhood many of their former colonies.
Now if you’d mentioned the native american people’s in the US, you might have a leg to stand on…
Irregardless, you can’t use an injustice by another people to justify your own wrongdoings. Is a murderer justified in his killing because one of his neighbors got away with murder? No.
Pointing fingers at the US won’t solve the world’s problems. Its this sort of thinking that makes me want to tell the world to deal with its own problems, because as much as the world enjoys pointing its fingers at the US, who is the first to be called whenever there is a world problem? Maybe if the other middle eastern nations had grown a pair and dealt with Saddam themselves we wouldn’t be in this situation.
“Whys: Would China Regret Hosting the Olympic?
Would the British and USA governments tolerate Africans if they demanded their own freedom and own state in any way or manner? Certainly you have flogged the internal affairs of China in public excessively and unreasonably enough, and should flog, instead, the brutish and godless actions of the government of the USA in Iraq, aided by the government of Britain. But I have not heard you mention the government of Britain in the brutish and godless actions in your news and reports. Why not? To demand “open up” of the government of China is absolutely fascist and globalist politics, because it is intended for imposing the profligacy, dissoluteness, godlessness, and nihilism of the USA and Britain on sovereign independent and free government of China. It is fascist and globalist because you cannot defend where you got the authority and right to impose “open up” on China from” without exposing your fascism and globalism? Are the governments of Britain and USA opening up to the criminality that they are committing in Iraq? You are promoting fascism and godlessness of the unprecedented kind!
Prince Pieray Odor
Lagos, Nigeria
Such unusual events like in Burma and China are always happening because we don’t have United Nation.
Present UN is just voicing for Democracy and human right, but their is no right constitution for that.
Necessary to be reformed UN’s constitution in time. Also every UN special convey
has no enough knowledge and qualification to handle the junta or dictators.
As a Chinese myself, I’m sure the Chinese government will never regret having the Olympics hosted in the country. Most countries have their own civil conflicts; apart from Han, there are 55 minorities in China, the Central has been working really hard to hold all its people together. Yes, when the Chinese government makes a decision, the people all tend to agree with it; however, the decision is not just made by one person, please remember, it is decided through debating within the government.Public debating is not our way, we are not a western country. The Chinese people are very united, and we would like to remain united. If China has won to host the 2008 Olympics, then neither Chinese government nor Chinese people will regret it.
(located in New Zealand)
I dont think China regret on olympic , infact this will help out world & China to open up the largest society of the world. More then Tibat’s sufferings are the Phalistine, Kashmir, Irish republic, Indian Human sesaster & life of African Americans in USA, I hope we will be positive in all human problems & will not use Olympic as political tool. Please leave Olymoic alone.
China will regret!
What a rubbish. What country does not have human rights problem? Can some one name at least one country for me. I hear people talking about China in a most negative way, some going a mile to imply that China is a communist country. What is the wrong with that? Think deeply of what capitalist is and you may be in a shock.
I spent some time in China quite recently. Half the time in Beijing and half the time travelling in the provinces and meeting peasants and others. What I observed really impressed me. Very polite, respectful people who are ready to help you at any time. I have university colleagues in China, and they do not go with their noses up like buuls on heat..
Those lucky people who will attend the Olympics will have some thing to tell their friends and families.
I think China has nothing to regret. The world has never been able to come to a unanimous consensus on any issue related to the major super powers and now will not be the time. People will always have dissenting views as well as views of affirmation. Fortunately, the world and its media live are a nine day wonder and very soon another issue will arise and move China’s problems to the back burner. “Do I smell Zimbabwe back on the horizon.”
I think China has nothing to regret. The world has never been able to come to a unanimous consensus on any issue related to the major super powers and now will not be the time. People will always have dissenting views as well as views of affirmation. Fortunately, the world and its media are a nine day wonder and very soon another issue will arise and move China’s problems to the back burner. “Do I smell Zimbabwe back on the horizon.”
Absolutely not. More so, because they do not think that they are in the wrong. To a certain degree, I agreed with them.
Here is why. 1) Does the Dalai Lama know what is karma and reincarnation? Why oh why did he not stand up to condemn the destructive and violent acts of his people? This report of systemic, racist arsons and destroy of properties was written in the recent issue of the ECONOMIST. 2) CNN had the audacity to publish the manipulated photo and put on distorted caption. 3) The German newspaper was so quick to report an incidence that it put up the picture of soldiers being violent to the demostrator, except that it was taken in the neighbouring country.
China is no angel nor is she a villain. The changes that are taking place in the country got to be seen to believe. Mostly, it is beneficial to her people. I only wish that they are given time to transform the country and her mindset.
China will use the Olympics to declare the coming of age, to awaken the potentials that are hidden in her people atter a century of humiliation from the western powers, Japan and Soviet Union.
Hello All
The chinese government under the leadership of Hu Jintao has shown insincereity to the people of tibet.The dalai Lama is innocent of any accusations whic sparked the protest.But anyway,it is good this is happening because china has presented false documents regarding human rights,democracy,the issue of darfur where they arm the militia and their unending thrist for sudanese oil.The only thing which coulds the immaginations of the world is the emergence of the new “SUPER POWER” and their inferior goods which they dump in africa.This,the world has to stand up and salvage the situation,tibet granted autonomy,and the world would be better.The current crisis which is happening 4 months to the olympics is certainly not healthy for her.
Victor Ebiye
Nigeria
I vacationed in China 10 years ago and it was a beautiful yet disturbing experience. It is of course an ancient culture with a lot to offer a traveller, and I might look forward to some of the cultural coverage we enjoyed when the Olympics were in Japan. But China also doesn’t quite know how to deal with outsiders, as it hasn’t been all that long that outsiders were allowed in the country.
That said, maybe the Olympics will pry the heart of the country open. I do feel scared for the protesters and other groups who are using the cover of the media presence to act up, because the moment the camera crews pack up and fly home, they are all going to prison.
hmm!!just playing ourselves,the Chinese government wont even interfere with the groans we are making.they have already set their eyes on other things which we cant read from their looks.
but i think there will be change in china after the olympics,they will have got the money to buy and make more military gear.
although Chinese government is a weird type of government,i think Sarkozy is doing another good for nothing type of responsibility which will continue rating him low according to we,French athletes should join the rest of the world in china.
Tambua,Vihiga/Uthiru,Kenya.
If China acts correctly in Tibet, if Chinese leaders agree to negotiate with the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Govt in Exile, if they allow international access to Tibet and give the Tibetans the freedom to speak out in their own country, then China will have nothing to regret by hosting the olympics.
But, in my experience of China’s dealings with the Tibetan people, the above will not happen. In that case, China will still have nothing to regret because the world will continue to feed at the Chinese economic trough.
What one can realistically hope for here, is that the IOC and corporate sponsors of the Beijing games will have something to regret; that the Pope will have something to regret for snubbing the Dalai Lama during his recent visit to Rome, and so forth.
I was in China around June 4th, 1989. These events in Tibet are almost a replay of those sad days, killing, followed by media manipulation.
The Chinese government will do anything to silence the protests in Tibet. The upcoming Olympic Games makes them even more determined to do so. Having learned from 1989, they know that the western attention will fade.
I don’t think “regret” is a word in the Chinese government’s vocabulary.
I was surprised and disappointed that this program had two guests who were both obviously operatives of Chinese government. For one hour, this program became a propaganda outlet for the Chinese government.
I think we will find what nations/ goverments/ countries that are on China’s ‘payroll’ i.e. rely totally on China’s lending, will be quiet and probably praise them for the Olympic Games. The other’s will raise the questions, protest or not attend the games. You will see that the USA and most African countries will not say a word against Chinas human rights etc. the others will. We saw how the USSR and other communist countries like Ygoslavia broke up into their ‘organic’ form and so will China one day. What you can do as an individual is not buy anthing made in China. I’ve started myself and so can you.
China could use the Frank Sinatra song “I did it my way” as a theme song for the Olympics.
As felt by many,Chinese are not going to regret their step of hoisting Olympics.Things are determined by the top echelons in an autocracy and then foisted on others.Even History is written to suit their policies.They do not mind calling relationships with Tibet 1000 year old knowing full well that Buddhism originally traveled from India to other countries including China itself.Their claim on territories like Sikkim & Arunachal Pardesh rest on similar tenuous arguments.In fact these are made to make India toe their line in many situations and ultimately grab the land desired by them.Unfortunately Indians are sufficiently divided among themselves so as not to have clearcut foreign policy objectives.This state of being rudderless suits China like anything.If India had been strong or at least joined cause with other powerful nations on the world’s arena many things would have not come to such a sad end including the Tibet problem and the territorial conflict with the states in the eastern border.When confronted the leaders say they are following the stand taken by Jwahar Lal Nehru forgetting that it was due to his policies that India suffered a grave loss in the 1962 war with China and that his policies were the root cause of the existing Kashmir problem.Leaving the past behind,if only India had taken a pragmatic stance it might not have been without good friends.It is only such a situation that would have created heat for the Chinese rulers.The above exposition is not meant to absolve the Western powers who were quick to recognize Tibet as part of China when it suited there interests. Unless there is a change in policy by all concerned countries it is useless to expect China to lose sleep over Olympics.The analysis will be incomplete if economic factors are not considered.