More on China

Foreign Policy Magazine has a web exclusive article about China and the 2008 Olympic games that's worth reading.

A couple of days ago, I opined that the Olympics might bring a few reforms to China. I don't think I'm entirely wrong on that account, but I'm willing to acknowledge that the issue is so gray that there are a lot of negative things to say about the International Olympic Committee picking Beijing as a host. For instance, repressive governments like China and Russia use the games as a way to gain undeserved legitimacy. And that's only part of the problem--read the article, mang, I'm not an expert, or a Marshall Scholar for that matter.

China and the 2008 Olympic Games

While I sympathize with people who argue that China should have never been allowed to host the Olympic games in 2008, I think this position is a little short-sighted because it fails to consider all the attention that will be focused on China in the coming year.

Don't get me wrong, it's reprehensible that the Chinese government is kicking poor people out of their homes to build stadiums, and there is no denying that China has a terrible record on human rights and freedom of the press. However, the Olympic games are putting a spotlight on all of these issues. For the next year, groups like Reporters Without Borders will have plenty of opportunities to raise a fuss on the world stage as every other country watches.

Hopefully, the Olympics will bear the fruit of democratic reform in China.