As a test of his presidential legacy, President Bush needs to address the human rights violation in China on his visit to the Beijing Olympic Games, said T. Kumar, Advocacy Director for Asia and Pacific for Amnesty International of the United States, especially because, on its own accord, the Chinese government promised to improve its human rights treatment. (more…)
Elizabeth Economy, who recently co-wrote an article on the 2008 Beijing Olympics for the Foreign Affairs Journal, says that the Games were meant to be China’s chance to come out to the world, but has now been transformed due to its serious shortfalls that have drawn criticism from around the world. These shortcomings include environmental concerns, internet access and broadening of human rights (1:06).
“My hope is for some enlightened leader at the top within China to bring reform about,” said Elizabeth Economy, a writer for Foreign Affairs. She and Adam Segal spoke with Gideon Rose, the managing editor of Foreign Affairs Journal, about an article they co-wrote which argues that the Olympics have become a staging ground for domestic and international protests against China’s record on human rights, the environment, and even food safety. They also discussed the likelihood that the Olympic games will bring about change within China.
Economy said that the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games were supposed to be a coming out party for China, allowing it to open its doors to the world. However, she said, the Games have not been the transformative event the nation had hoped for, with rising criticism of its smoggy cities, restrictions on internet use, and infrastructure requirements.
Segal gave the example of Chinese taxis that have been equipped with microphones. He said that while some believe the instruments were installed to spy on people and repress them, he agreed with the government’s statement that the microphones were put in place to control dangerous protests. Events like these have drawn immense global criticism, according to Segal.
Both Segal and Economy stated expectations of reform within the nation as a result of the games, and hope that the change would come from within the government itself.
President George Bush toasts the Olympians at a dinner hosted in the East Room of the White House. Bush says thank you to Chairman of the Olympic Committee Peter Ueberroth, the 2008 Olympic Team and Paralympic Team, and joked that the Mayor of Chicago would host the 2016 Olympics. He said that he and Laura would be watching in Beijing and “could not wait to cheer you on.” He proposed a toast “to the Olympic athletes past and present, and to the United States of America.” [entire speech] (3:47)
