Calls for Olympic Boycott Grow Louder

After the Tibetan uprising last March, Chinese officials hoped the worst was behind them.  The incident wasn't exactly the most optimal public relations when planning a major sporting event, but at the same time, the situation had calmed down within the week, and domestically, at least, it was back to business as usual.

Unfortunately, the rest of the world didn't see things in those terms, and protesters representing every human rights cause from Tibet to Sudan have not greeted the Olympic torch relay with the cheers and fanfare that thousands of China supporters have offered. 

In contrast, they've done everything from trying to steal or extinguish the flame to flooding the streets with pro-Tibet banners.  San Francisco even had a naked torch relay for human rights.

The loud shouts of protesters are becoming increasingly difficult for world leaders to ignore.  British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have already announced they would not attend the Opening Ceremonies.  

Presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have urged Preisdent Bush to boycott the Opening Ceremonies as well, though Obama has qualified his call for a boycott.  If the situation in China improves, then he wouldn't have problems with the president not attending. 

Even President Bush hasn't committed to attend the Opening Ceremonies.  Yesterday White House spokesperson Dana Perino said that while the president has reaffirmed his commitment to support U.S. athletes at the Olympics, the exact dates of his China trip haven't been determined. 

This action could be a wise move, since at this point Bush isn't offending the Chinese government prematurely, but he's also not condoning the Chinese government's policies.

Many human rights groups, including the U.S. Commission on International Human Rights, have urged the president not to attend the Olympics without also visiting groups that have not been able to practice their religion freely in China.

Earlier today I spoke with John Tkacik, a Chinese expert at the Heritage Foundation.  According to Tkacik, "you can't just have a flash in the pan.  If you are serious about human rights in China, certainly making a major symbolic move like avoiding or boycotting the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics is going to have an effect.  But that effect is diminished if it's not followed up with other symbolic moves. 

I think that in the end, a collection of symbolic actions that tend to undermine the legitimacy of a one-party authoritarian state mercantilist government in the eyes of its own people, a government that doesn't have the consent of the governed, I think will eventually force the regime to turn around and reassess its future."

The torch relay tensions are a strong reminder that China has not met the global expectation to raise human rights standards.  I don't expect to see anything dramatic before the Olympics, and the China criticisms haven't yet reached a crescendo. 

While the Chinese government has been extremely critical of the voices opposing Beijing, the international outcry could be the catalyst towards major changes within China.