TIBET, CHINA, and the OLYMPICS Introduction

TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICS Introduction China has controlled Tibet since 1959. In end to Chinese rule. They also called on Focus This News in March 2008, a wave of violent protests the international community to use its Review story erupted in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital, and in influence to pressure China to change focuses on the other parts of the country. Ethnic Tibetans its policies toward Tibet. Some went so ongoing conflict took to the streets to vent their long- far as to urge an international boycott of between Tibet and pent-up fury over China’s heavy-handed the Games as a means of indicating the China. Tibetan occupation and their lack of freedom. world’s displeasure with China’s actions. activists who want Chinese settlers in the region were As the torch relay made its way to independence from China have targeted for especially harsh treatment. other world cities, the protesters grew targeted China’s Many of the protesters were Buddhist in numbers and determination. Tibetan preparations for monks, followers of the Dalai Lama, the exiles were joined by others in Australia, the 2008 Summer religious leader of the Tibetan people and India, Europe, and North and South Olympics. These a Nobel Peace Prize winner. He has lived America who sympathized with their protests have in exile in India ever since Chinese leader cause and criticized China’s poor human placed concerns about repression Mao Zedong ordered his troops into Tibet rights record in Tibet and elsewhere. in Tibet and other to consolidate China’s control over the In San Francisco, the demonstrations Chinese human long-rebellious territory. The Dalai Lama were so large that the torch relay had to rights abuses in has always maintained a policy of non- be rerouted through another part of the the international violent resistance to Chinese rule and city, where crowds were thinner. Paris, spotlight. But has not demanded total independence for London, and New Delhi were also scenes many Western Tibet. However, many younger Tibetans, of serious protests in the streets. nations, including Canada, are both inside and outside the region, have But along with the Tibetans and their reluctant to grown tired of waiting and have seized on supporters, the relay also attracted a boycott the Games the occasion of the 2008 Beijing Summer number of people of Chinese descent who and risk damaging Olympics, scheduled to open in August were there to show their support for the trade relations 2008, to draw the attention of the world Games. To them, the demonstrations were with China, an to their cause. a mark of disrespect for their country’s increasingly One of the most important preliminary plans to host the world’s athletes in important trading partner. Olympic activities is the torch relay. The Beijing in the summer of 2008. Winning torch is lit in Olympia, Greece, the home the right to hold the Summer Games of the original Olympic Games, and is was a tremendous boost to China in its then relayed around the world, making a efforts to establish itself as a major world ceremonial appearance in selected cities power. Its leaders wanted to use the before completing its long journey at the occasion to showcase their country as a host country’s Olympic stadium at the modern industrialized nation reaching official opening of the Games. The torch out to the world for increased cultural is then used to light the Olympic flame and commercial ties. Canada, along with that burns continuously in the stadium many Western nations, regards China as a for the duration of the contest. On March significant market for its goods. 30, as Chinese Olympic officials proudly While China’s rulers are opening up watched their country’s athletes light their country to international commerce the torch in Olympia, a group of Tibetan and radically reforming its state- exiles and their supporters disrupted controlled economy along capitalist lines, the proceedings, loudly condemning they are reluctant to extend significant China’s repression and demanding an political freedoms to their people. China CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 29 remains a single-party communist regime, China. At the same time, however, Further Research where opposition to the government is not violations of human rights, both against Learn more about Falun Gong and permitted, and strict limits continue to be groups like the Tibetans and the Chinese the reasons why imposed on the media. Religious groups people themselves, have been difficult to the Chinese that have incurred the disfavour of the ignore. government communist rulers, such as the Falun Gong Many important political figures, such outlawed this sect, have been severely persecuted. Most as U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, religious group. of the international criticism of China’s have publicly endorsed the Dalai Lama’s The Web site of the organization poor human rights record is directed at its call for complete religious and cultural Religious ongoing repression in Tibet, which has autonomy for Tibet and have harshly Tolerance at www. become a popular international human condemned China’s policies there. religioustolerance. rights cause embraced by a number For its part, the Canadian government org/falungong. of prominent celebrities in the United expressed concern about the suppression htm is one place to States and elsewhere. But other non- of demonstrations in Tibet, but the Prime start. Chinese national minorities, such as the Minister was also publicly skeptical about Uighurs, an Islamic people who live in the possibility that this country would Quote the western province of Xinjiang, also support a boycott of the Olympics. With “I don’t anticipate live under harsh occupation and long the Summer Games only a few months any kind of a for greater autonomy, largely ignored by away, it appeared highly unlikely that boycott of the international public opinion. many countries would keep their athletes Games themselves. China’s enormous potential as a home as a gesture of solidarity with the . Experience global economic, political, and military Tibetan protesters. But with the torch would suggest superpower in the 21st century is one of relay about to enter neighbouring Nepal, that such boycotts are generally the most important factors in international where a large Tibetan exile community not effective and relations today. Many countries are lives, the potential for mores serious really, in the end, anxious to increase their commercial protests remained great. It was quite only harm the ties to this emerging giant that contains likely that Tibetans, and others opposed athletes involved the world’s largest market for consumer to China’s policies, would continue to who have trained goods and is also becoming a major use the pre-Olympic activities as a venue for so many years exporter of manufactured products. to vent their anger and frustration. And to compete in these events.” For this reason, they are extremely how all this would affect China’s hopes — Prime Minister reluctant to place their lucrative business to stage one of the best Summer Games Stephen Harper connections with the country in jeopardy in the history of the modern Olympics (Canadian Press, by orchestrating an Olympic boycott remained to be seen. April 8, 2008) that would surely prompt reprisals from To Consider 1. Why are many people around the world angry with China over its policies toward Tibet? 2. How have they used the Olympic torch relay as a means of indicating their displeasure? 3. Why is China such an important player in the international community today? 4. Why are some Tibetans and others calling on the world to boycott the Beijing Olympics in August 2008? How likely is this to happen? 5. Why are the Olympics such an important event for China and its rulers? 6. What are your personal views on the Olympics and the China-Tibet issue? CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 30 TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICS Video Review Respond to the following questions as you watch the video. 1. Record the reasons why China is pleased to be hosting the Olympics. 2. Record some of the reasons why protestors tried to disrupt the Olympic torch relay. 3. How did Tibet come to be controlled by China? 4. How has Chinese control hurt Tibet and Tibetans? 5. In what ways has China helped Tibet? 6. How are Olympic athletes affected by the protests and calls for a boycott? CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 31 7. Summarize the Dalai Lama’s position on China hosting the 2008 Olympic Games. 8. Briefly outline your personal views on an Olympic boycott of China. Follow-up In a small group, list the arguments for and against a boycott of the Olympics. Consider some of the following questions: 1. Who would a boycott hurt? 2. What would be the short- and long-term impact of a boycott on China? 3. What other options could be used to encourage China to reform its human rights record? CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 32 TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICS Tibet: A Profile Tibet is a mountainous country that Today, Tibet is officially known as occupies one of the world’s most the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) forbidding terrains, the rugged and is a province of China. But many Himalayan Mountain range. Mount Tibetans, including the large exile Everest, the highest mountain in the community opposed to Chinese rule, world, is located on the border of Tibet consider that their traditional homeland and Nepal. It has long been regarded as includes significant territories that once a mystical, mysterious place, home to a formed part of Tibet but have since been distinctive form of the Buddhist religion incorporated into China proper.

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