World Holds Its Breath As China Takes The Stage
The Sunday Age
Sunday August 3, 2008
China's censoring of websites was a disaster narrowly avoided.
THE Olympic Games are just five days away and even before the first sporting event, it is a fascinating contest. China was not entirely serious when it committed to allowing free reporting during the event. China has not appeared to improve its human rights record before the Games, as it said it would, and does not want the foreign reporters arriving in the Chinese capital to be sidetracked by politics.Last week, international journalists in Beijing were unable to access Amnesty International's latest report on human rights in China, along with a range of other politically sensitive websites and seemingly innocuous ones, such as BBC China. Amnesty documented the ways in which China has continued to persecute and punish those who speak out on human rights, despite the promises they made when they were granted the Games seven years ago. The foreign media outrage over the limits placed on the internet - a bit self-righteous, but fair enough over all - and the suggestions that some in the International Olympic Committee had cut a deal to renege on the agreement to allow free reporting, seemed to set up a culture clash between a China paranoid about dissent and a West that values free speech, even when it's uncomfortable. There was a whiff that the IOC was complicit in a farce - that its soothing words about the Olympic Games being a force for openness and democracy were hollow.This was a potential disaster that would have provided ammunition to those who argue that China should never have been awarded the privilege of hosting the Games. The disaster appears to have been avoided, for now. After an extraordinary meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and foreign journalists, Chinese authorities re-opened websites, including BBC China, Reporters Without Borders and Amnesty International. Only those considered pornographic or subversive to the Chinese national interest would be blocked.It was a good result, and indicated how these Games might progress. Traditionally, the Olympics places the host nation's heritage and achievements on the world stage. Culturally and historically, China has much to be proud of and its preparations for the Games have been impressive. China's emergence as an economic giant, its struggle to lift its people from poverty and its growing nationalism are some of the most interesting and important forces shaping the new century. Its challenges are huge, and its progress will not be smooth. A year ago, The Sunday Age said the world "has a right to be disappointed, if not outraged" at the manner in which China was repressing civil rights, domestic protest and freedom of speech. We expressed concern at human rights abuses in Tibet and China's complicity in the Darfur crisis. By refusing to bend to international concern about these issues, China perpetuates the suffering of dissenters but also does itself a disservice. The Games' showpieces will no doubt be remarkable, but fireworks, spectacular venues and an outpouring of nationalism will not paper over the fact that this remains a repressive authoritarian regime. Despite that, we remain hopeful the Games will be not only about athletic prowess, but also be a step in the evolution of a remarkable country.
© 2008 The Sunday Age