With the Olympics coming to Beijing, the current unrest and demonstrations in Tibet are overshadowing China's PR for the Games.
A report in The Independentstates, "The uprising, the fiercest against Chinese rule in the region in almost two decades, has embarrassed China's communist government and undermined its efforts for a smooth run-up to the Beijing Olympics.
"Champa Phuntsok [Tibet's governor] said last week's violent demonstrations in the regional capital of Lhasa left 16 dead and dozens injured. Unconfirmed reports from Tibetan exile groups put the death toll at 80.
"The unrest in Tibet began on 10 March, the anniversary of a 1959 uprising against Chinese rule of the region. Tibet was effectively independent for decades before communist troops entered in 1950.
"The Dalai Lama called for his followers to protest peacefully but said he would not order them to end the demonstrations.
" 'Whether intentionally or unintentionally, some kind of cultural genocide is taking place,'he said, referring to an influx of Chinese migration into Tibetan areas and restrictions on Buddhist practices."
The US issued a statement that China should "respect" Tibetan culture and "regrets" the tensions between Chinese and Tibetans.
Since the US is in debt to Chinato the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars (in addition to being in debt to other foreign governments), and US companies have offshored millions of American jobs to China (Made in China is the ubiquitous label on many products), the Bush administration will keep any criticism of China's crackdown in Tibet very low key.
Comments