No one will be able to say there's a shortage of 'security' at the

2008 Olympic Games … WATCH

 

 

Hindustan Times, India

China in 'No Mood for Criticism'

 

"A week before U.S. President George Bush arrives in Beijing to attend the Olympics, an angry China has demanded that the United States stop "rudely interfering" in its internal affairs."

 

By Reshma Patil

 

July 31, 2008

 

India - The Hindustan Times - Original Article (English)

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao: Yesterday he criticized a 'small number' of anti-China U.S. lawmakers for passing a resolution criticizing his government, without addressing how such a resolution could be apprioved by a margin of 419-1. .

 

BBC NEWS VIDEO:  Amnesty International reports that China's human rights record has significantly worsened since it was awarded the Olympic Games and is using the Games as a pretext to crack doen on opponents, July 30, 00:01:50. RealVideo

A week before U.S. President George Bush arrives in Beijing to attend the Olympics, an angry China has demanded that the United States stop "rudely interfering" in its internal affairs .

 

On Tuesday at the White House residence, Bush met five exiled Chinese dissidents, assuring them that he would carry the "message of freedom" to Beijing. And on Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution calling on China to end its human rights abuses and stop supporting the regime in Sudan.

 

[Editor's Note: House Resolution 1370 calls on the Government of the People's Republic of China to "immediately end abuses of the human rights of its citizens, to cease repression of Tibetan and Uighur people, and to end its support for the Governments of Sudan and Burma to ensure that the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games take place in an atmosphere that honors the Olympic traditions of freedom and openness "].

 

In a scathing reaction, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao called the resolution "reveals their malicious intention to politicize, interrupt and sabotage the Olympic Games," and a "blasphemy to the Olympic spirit." Bush’s meeting with dissidents, Liu said, sent a "seriously wrong" message to anti-China forces.

 

"By arranging such a meeting between these people and its leader - and by making irresponsible remarks on China's human rights record and its religious situation, the United States side has rudely interfered in China's internal affairs and sent a seriously wrong message to these hostile anti-China forces," Liu said, warning that such actions would damage bilateral relations.

 

[Courrier International, France]

 

Despite pressure from U.S. lawmakers and rights groups to boycott the Games over China’s record of curbing dissent and religious freedom, Bush has said that in the spirit of sports and to avoid an "affront" to the Chinese, he will attend the opening ceremony.

 

As China counts down to the August 8 opening of the Games to showcase its transformation into a global power, it's in no mood for criticism. This week, Amnesty International released a report claiming that the Chinese government has broken promises to improve its human rights record ahead of the Games. Beijing, which is currently battling criticism over its crackdown on activists, Internet censorship and allegations that city hotels will spy on Internet usage of guests, rejected the report as unfair.