The High Price of Olympic Security

v :formulas>v :f eqn="sum @0 1 0">v :f eqn="sum 0 0 @1">v :f eqn="prod @2 1 2">v :f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth">v :f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight">v :f eqn="sum @0 0 1">v :f eqn="prod @6 1 2">v :f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth">v :f eqn="sum @8 21600 0">v :f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight">v :f eqn="sum @10 21600 0">/v :formulas>o :lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">/v :shapetype>With less than a month before the Olympic ceremonies, authorities are leaving nothing to chance.  They've tightened visa restrictions and routine passport checks, and detained many of the usual suspects, involved in the so-called "three evil forces" by Chinese police: terrorism, separatism, and extremism./span>

China has been training 100,000 anti-terrorism troops in preparation for the Games with another 444,000 for security back-up.  Hundreds have already been apprehended.

The most recently detained 82 suspected terrorists in XinjiangProvince who were allegedly "plotted sabotage against the Beijing Olympics," join at least 217 Beijing/st1 :city> gang members, 25 Falun Gong members, and countless others who could threaten the upcoming Games.

It's not just Chinese citizens who are under tight surveillance.  New visa regulations have caused many foreigners, some of whom have lived in China/st1 :country-region> for years, to move, since they haven't been able to obtain the necessary visa paperwork. /span>/span>

While the Chinese government hopes these measures should thwart a potential terrorist attack, are they worth it?/span>

From a commercial standpoint, many businesses have taken a hit.  Many in the tourism industry were expecting a huge influx of international tourists and invested accordingly.  Instead, stricter visa regulations have produced the opposite income.  In May, the number of foreign tourists in Beijing/st1 :city> dropped 14%, and hotels have sharply dropped their unusually high room rates in order to fill rooms. Standpoint, many businesses have taken a hit.  Hotel occupancy in Beijing/st1 :city> has decreased substantially, causing many to question the value of recent renovations./span>

Moreover, many in the Western media question the legitimacy of these "terrorist threats."  Just a quick sampling of headlines from the Western media ( China says 82 people detained in Olympic plots, China says foils "terrorists" targeting Olympics, China arrests 'Olympic plotters') indicates some skepticism that these "terrorists" or "plotters" are actually legitimate terrorists.    /span>

While those with connections to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a recognized terrorist group could legitimately pose an Olympic threat, those who practice Falun Gong, which is more of a spiritual practice than an organized religion or group, don't seem to have the same types of objectives.  They might organize an embarrassing demonstration near the Beijing/st1 :city> government, but a terrorist plot seems unlikely.   /span>

At the same time, from the perspective of those attending the Olympics (provided they can get into the country) top-of-the-line security measures aren't necessarily a bad thing.  I would much rather have to wait in a long line to get into the venue than to be blown up while attending a sporting event.  /span>

I suppose we'll know within a month if the security measures will pay off for China but it's understandable that China/st1 :country-region> wants to ensure its $40 billion Olympic investment isn't overshadowed by terrorists.  The lingering question, however, is whether the ends justify the means./span>