Concerns over China’s rampant human rights violations have spurred massive protests worldwide over its qualifications to host the summer Olympics. Chief among these concerns is China’s continued occupation of Tibet, which it annexed more than 40 years ago.
After Chinese soldiers swooped down on the independent Central Asian state in 1950, Tibet was never the same again. The Dalai Lama, revered as the highest religious figure among the Tibetans, went into exile following his failed resistance against Chinese dominance.
Until now, Chinese atrocities against Tibet continue. The Dalai Lama has continued to lead the struggle against the Chinese occupation, hopping from one country to another hoping to gain support for Tibet’s freedom.
But the world seems to have turned a blind eye on China’s blatant suppression of the Tibetan freedom. Many countries, especially the western world, have instead chosen to keep mum on what’s happening in Tibet nowadays.
Since these countries did not raise an ounce of opposition to the Chinese’s brutal reign over Tibet, it has become apparent that their silence has something to with economic considerations.
China has taken a giant leap from being a sleeping giant to the world’s largest economy behind only the United States and Japan. Its rapid development has been unprecedented that the world relied upon it for everything that is cheap.
With China’s growing strength comes its blatant disregard for human rights. Reports of human rights violations committed by its communist leadership have become a daily occurrence. China, which once prided itself in being the source of a harmonious and peaceful living for thousands of years, has become the world’s modern bully.
Come August, all eyes would be upon China as it will play host to the grandest sports spectacle in the world. However, some cried foul as to its capability to host the Olympic Games given the fact that it fell short of improving its human rights records and the environment.
China may hold the Olympic Games successfully. But in the eyes of the world, the spirit of friendship and camaraderie brought about by the Games has been tainted.