Welcome to Beijing, ya'll

In recent weeks, China has been taking it on the chin. With the Olympics only months away, troubles brew in Tibet and Taiwan. This past week has seen Chinese troops clamp down on Tibetan rebels and the resurgence of Taiwan’s talk of independence on the eve of elections. It seems Party officials are putting out wildfires-they no sooner get one extinguished and another flares up. Pressures to meet Olympic deadlines amid international concerns regarding air and food quality must have Party officials popping tranquilizers daily- with good reason. There’s a lot riding on the Olympics for the Chinese. This is their golden opportunity to convince the world they are worthy of their ascendancy as a global leader. The Olympics will showcase China’s rapid economic turnaround from an isolated, poor country to an economic powerhouse in a relatively short time. Sensing that the Western world is uncomfortable and somewhat suspicious of the newest member to the club, they are eager to roll out the welcome mat and prove there is no cause for distrust. To be sure, the Olympics will be a wondrous spectacle, but it will be China’s handling of its internal problems that the international community will be scrutinizing. Can China convincingly demonstrate that it is not just an economic contender but a world power as well? That will depend on how it addresses the ongoing poverty of its peasants, the social ills of the urban areas, and the containment of Tibet and Taiwan. If China doesn’t get heavy handed against its citizens and gradually loosens the reins of control to allow greater civic participation, then it will be taking a step forward in the right direction. However, the Party generally operates on the basis of self preservation, despite its seeming road to obsolescence as the Old Guard dies out and the younger generation grabs for the golden ring of consumerism. China has worked hard to forge international relationships that show it is a responsible neighbor, but it will risk undermining those relationships if it oppresses its own citizens. China has transformed itself by sheer determination and can maintain a world power status if it doesn’t become shortsighted and focus on economic reforms at the expense of its people. The national pride that comes as a byproduct of China’s history and economic growth cannot be underestimated in pushing it front and center in the global arena. Now that the doors have been flung open, the Chinese are ready with “Glad ya’ll could make it, come right on in.” and it wouldn’t be neighborly of us to do otherwise. Like it or not, China is here to stay.