Submitted By:  D.J. Parsons

I found this CNN article and thought it fit in nicely with the topic of human rights in China. As we all know, China will be hosting the 2008 Olympics, but as we may not have know people have high expectations in the outcome of letting the Chinese government host these games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated that they felt the games would lead to positive change in China, but many activist groups are saying no change has occurred.

Some say that the police and secret police will be guarding known dissidents to make sure that they do not converse with any western reporters. In addition, some say that labor rights have worsened over the last few years.

Han Dongfang, a Hong Kong –based labor rights activists says that change will need to come from within the country and that international pressure will not create change. He stated, “The Chinese leadership does not care about international pressure. It is not China who is knocking at the door of the international community looking for favors — it is the other way around.”

Although many may see the Olympics as a possible changing point for China some believe that China sees it as an opportunity to gain prestige and a stronger grip on its citizens.

China scholar Willy Wo Lap Lam said, “The Chinese Communist Party sees the Games as an opportunity to show the world China’s great achievements in the economy and infrastructure and to demonstrate their diplomatic clout. Internally, the Games will help the Party foster ‘internal cohesiveness’ using national pride to justify the Party’s ruling status. No Chinese Communist Party leader wants to use the Games as a juncture to push forward reforms.”

I found this article very interesting and loved the quote made by Han Dongfang, because he is right — why would the Chinese government care about international pressure when most other countries are going to them asking for favors? China probably feels that they are on their way to the top and once there, they will not need the help of outsiders. I also found the differing interests of the Chinese government and outsiders in the Olympics captivating. I would imagine that the main goal of China is to showcase their achievements to the world and to use it as a symbol to show they have made it onto the world radar as a power.

Should China only desire to be seen as a country with a flourishing economy and infrastructure? Do they purposely not make changes in human rights to maintain power and control and to boast an economy dependent on cheap labor and cheap manufacturing? If China improved labor rights the cost of labor would increase and their products would be more expensive, this could cost them business. They also may feel that if they gave more freedoms to the people they may desire a different form of government and thus launch them into another rebellion. Right now China has no desire to change things that could potentially hinder their rise to power.

The article states that China is clamping down on people they do not want to talk to make China look better. It makes me wonder what these people could possibly say to make China look worse than they do by shutting them up.

Should the Olympics hold a political and social agenda? The IOC says no, but then continues to say that the Olympics are expected to create lasting and positive change in China. That seems like an agenda to me. I feel the Olympics do hold political and social agendas. They represent the gathering of the world at one event and show us parts of the world most of us will never see. Through these interactions people learn of other cultures, other struggles, and other problems. In turn, they learn of changes that are needed or wanted in other parts of the world and gain support for causes.