The Council on Foreign Relations has prepared a backgrounder on various challenges facing the Chinese government as it prepares to host the 2008 Summer Olympics:
As the countdown to the 2008 Summer Olympics continues, an ascendant China views the Games as a platform for an international coming-out party under the slogan, “One World, One Dream.” Since Beijing won the bid to host the games in 2001, however, critics have raised concerns over China’s poor record on issues ranging from human rights to the environment. Some activists call for boycotts, while others have gone so far as to dub the 2008 Games the “Genocide Olympics” because of China’s controversial economic investment in Sudan despite the Sudanese government’s role in the Darfur crisis. Meanwhile, the route of the Olympic torch relay has raised hackles in Taiwan and Tibet. Beijing also made pledges to relax press restrictions for foreign journalists through the Games, but whether it keeps its promises or makes these changes permanent remains to be seen. [Full text]
