Read the Writing on the Great Wall
Commentary: Read the Writing on the Great Wall
Jay Weiner for Business Week
Contributed by Julian Po
The world is watching China, and what it sees isn't pretty. But Beijing still has time to get the messageSeven years ago, when the International Olympic Committee awarded the 2008 Games to China, the Olympics were supposed to bestow on Beijing a sheen of progress.
Operating under the quintet of intertwined circles and the high-minded values that are trademarks of the Olympic Movement, it was thought, would compel Beijing's rulers to be more open, more democratic.
But now the five rings are starting to choke China. Instead of a sporting event that nudges the Chinese regime toward more fairness and transparency, the Games are serving only to highlight events such as the crackdown in Tibet.
Meantime, Human Rights Watch is spotlighting the squalid conditions of the migrant workers building Olympic venues, and on Mar. 31, Dream for Darfur is scheduled to release a "report card" on the response of Olympic corporate sponsors to China's support of "genocide" in Sudan.
To make matters worse, the IOC just announced that Beijing's miserable air quality might mean rescheduling endurance events. But no, there won't be an official boycott. The EU says it won't back one. And President Bush's Treasury owes too much money to China for the U.S. to rain on the most important parade since The Long March. Besides, a series of boycotts from 1976-84 almost destroyed the Olympics and punished no one but hard-working athletes.
"Boycotts don't work," says Jill Savitt, executive director of Dream for Darfur, a group pressuring China over its support of the Sudanese regime. "Boycotts are tired. They're old school. They're kind of fringy and lefty."
The political stage belongs to those who show up, not to those who stay away. Ask the angry Tibetan monks. So with a little more than four months to go until Opening Ceremonies, China's coming-out party has become a steady drip of organized protest. China's leaders can whine that there is no connection between politics and sports, but only the naive take them seriously.
The Olympics are a political event and have been forever thus. The Internet and YouTube—when they're not blocked by censors—will turn the runup to these Games into viral political theater. In the be-careful-what-you-wish-for department, the whole world will be watching China—and not just what Beijing wants it to watch.
ENDURING OPTIMISM
The touching contradiction is that, deep down, the people seem to want the Olympics to serve as a channel for what they call "public diplomacy"—the projection of the values and opinions of China to the rest of us, not the formal, measured diplomacy of dark suits in ornate rooms.
They're hoping for a transfer of good vibes. "Beijing's citizens want to be perfect hosts," says Zhong Xin, an associate professor of journalism and communication at Beijing's Renmin University and a visiting research fellow at the University of Maryland.
One fascinating finding from a survey of Beijing residents revealed that an overwhelming number saw the Olympics as an opportunity for "Chinese officials [to] show their capability in dealing with tough issues," Zhong says. So maybe it's helpful that all this dissent has come now.
China's decision-makers have time to digest the world's reactions and adjust their behavior accordingly. But if the leadership can't—or won't—read the clear signals, if they stonewall, if they censor, if they bludgeon, the Olympic Games will become a mere sideshow. And those five rings, once filled with so much promise, will become rings of fire.
Jay Weiner, based in St. Paul, Minn., has covered every Olympics since 1984 and will be in Beijing.
Julian's comments:Like myself (an OCD sufferer,) China is realising that nothing can be perfect, not even an Olympic games. As China plays host to one of the largest world events, it is bound to be scrutinised by especially the foreign media.
Since it is impossible (and childish) for "a globalised world" to boycott the Olympics, as in the case of the 1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles Games, China-bashers have decided to use the influential and outspoken traits of the media to publicise their atrocities, hoping to make the Beijing 2008 Games unforgettable... for the wrong reasons. Ah, those scheming jerks. *pretends to not look at the holier-than-thou Westerners*
However, considering the improvement in infrastructure and their ability to contain the Tibet unrests (for now,) China should be commended for doing a good job in preparation for their big celebration on 08/08/08.
What's more, if you were to look at the controversies of other Olympic hosts -- Salt Lake City's bribes on IOC members, Athens eleventh hour completion of olympic venues and London's "Har?! A hideous looking stadium for 470 million pounds!" -- all I could say is, thank goodness for bad air quality in Beijing. *smirks*
Labels: articles, Beijing Olympics, Darfur conflict, Posts by Julian the great, Too bad but I just mentioned Tibet in this article :P
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Sudan's FM lauds China's role in solving Darfur issue
February 25, 2008
Xinhua News
Taken from: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/25/content_7662170.htm
Liu Guijin (L), the Chinese government's special representative for Darfur, shakes hands with Sudanese Foreign Minister Deng Alor in Khartoum, capital of Sudan, on Feb. 24, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> KHARTOUM, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese Foreign Minister Deng Alor Sunday said China is very much welcome in helping the country find a solution to the Darfur issue.
China is not directly involved in the Darfur conflict, but as a partner, "China is using its good relations with Sudan to help it solve the Darfur issue," Alor told reporters after a 40-minute meeting with Liu Guijin, the Chinese government's special representative for Darfur.
"There is a perception in the West that China is helping Sudan, whether directly or indirectly, (do something) against the Darfur region. And I think it is the responsibility of our government and China to change that perception," said the top Sudanese diplomat.
"China is not here to help Sudan in a way that will prompt the Darfur conflict to continue. China is here to help Sudan in issues regarding economic developments. China is here to help build Sudan, and China is engaged in business not only in the oil sector, but also other sectors," Alor said.
Commenting on some Western organizations' threat to boycott the Beijing Olympic Games, Alor said, "What they should do is to solve the Darfur issue in a right direction, instead of putting more pressure on China."
Alor expected the Beijing Olympic Games to be a success despite the pressure on China over Darfur.
Liu Guijin(C), the Chinese government's special representative for Darfur, talks with Rodolphe Adada(L), Joint Special Representative of the United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) for Darfur, in Khartoum, capital of Sudan on Feb. 24, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> The minister also reiterated that Sudan is willing to improve relations with Western countries and work with the international community to find a quick solution to the Darfur conflict.
After talks, Liu told reporters that they had had a good discussion on the Darfur issue and its settlement.
China is ready to further cooperation with Sudan, the United Nations, the African Union, regional countries and all parties concerned to find a long-term and proper solution to the Darfur issue, said the Chinese envoy.
Liu said the peacekeeping task conducted by the hybrid U.N. and African Union (AU) force in Darfur has already achieved some progress, which is largely neglected by the Western media.
The envoy said people in Darfur have suffered too long, urging all parties involved in the conflict to find a quick solution.
Liu Guijin (L), the Chinese government's special representative for Darfur, and Sudanese Foreign Minister Deng Alor attend a press conference in Khartoum, capital of Sudan on Feb. 24, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> "We need a quick solution. We need the conflict in Darfur to end sooner," he said.
Liu also held consultations with Foreign Ministry Under-Secretary Mutrif Siddig.
After a trip to Britain, Liu arrived here Sunday for a four-day visit, the fourth since his appointment on May 10, 2007.
The former Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe and South Africa has been engaged in African affairs for more than 25 years. During his previous missions, Liu shuttled between the United States, Britain, Egypt and other countries concerned to seek support for a solution to the Darfur issue.
Comments by Elaine: After reading this article, I find that is a biased view that favours China. As the report is made by the local Xinhua news agency, it is understandable that they publish such pro-China articles. The article states that China is helping Sudan economically and not prompting the Darfur conflict. While, foreign sources have stated that China has supplied Sudan with weapons and aircraft in a bid to obtain natural resources, namely oil. However, some may also say that reports by the foreign media are similarly biased against China and may be classified as “China-bashing”. Therefore, it is important to question both sides of the story on the Darfur Conflict and their respective motives.Labels: articles, Darfur conflict, posted by elaine
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