China Weekly Wrap-Up
Wow! What a week it's been for China, from terrorist charges to Olympic flames. Here's a small sampling of some of the key China stories for the week. With the Olympics still months away, there will definitely be more to come.
Torch Relays: Beefed-up security, last-minute route changes, and even cancelled closing exercises. The torch received an electric reception in all four cities, (London, Paris, San Francisco, and Buenos Aires) it visited this week, including heated exchanges between activists of every variety. While many pro-China supporters held their Chinese flags high, the Tibetan activists captured the media's attention, and some came very close to capturing the Olympic torch.
Boycotts Beckon: Several world leaders announced they would not attend the Opening Ceremonies, and all three presidential candidates made statements asking Bush not to attend. Even UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon won't be attending the Games opener for reasons due to schedule conflicts, rather than human rights concerns. While the guest list of foreign dignitaries for the Opening Ceremonies won't be definite until closer to August, I have no doubt that billions worldwide would love a spot at the Opening Ceremonies.
Terrorism Charges: Tibet isn't the only province that's been causing concerns for China. Beijing officials have complained of terrorist activities and plots to sabotage the Olympics from Xinjiang Province. This week Beijing officials said they had stopped two terrorism plots originating from this region, and last month, a Uighur Muslim woman was arrested for trying to blow up an airplane. Many outside of China are suspicious of these accusations, and haven't seen evidence of these plots.
Athlete Restrictions: Athletes will have to leave their Tibetan flags and Sudanese tee-shirts at home if they want to compete in the Games. Olympic organizers have told athletes that any "propaganda" like pro-Tibet paraphernalia won't be permitted at the Games, but there's still ambiguity about what articles constitute "propaganda." This threat might discourage some athletes from political activism, but I won't be totally shocked if we see some Tibetan flags and statements this August, regardless of the consequences.
Dollar Dilemma: Get ready for more expensive products from China! The exchange rate between the Chinese RMB and US dollar is now 6.99 to 1, marking the first time it's been below 7 in decades. Just two years ago, it was pegged at 8.2 to 1. This move might satisfy some congressmen who have complained about Chinese deflation, but the weakened dollar could present more problems to come.