Press Bringing Attention To Controversial Torch Route
Charles Whelan, writing for the AFP, has an informative article about the International Olympic Committee’s deliberations on the proposed Beijing Olympic torch route through Tibet and Taiwan. Whelan reveals that while China is strongly pressing for the torch to be carried over Mount Everest, through Tibet, and at some point through Taiwan, the IOC has yet to agree to China’s plans. There’s definitely a sense of urgency on the part of Chinese officials interviewed in Whelan’s piece — they repeatedly claim that Taiwan wants to have the torch go through their country, even though no compromise has yet to be announced. Earlier today a Taiwanese official denied that any agreement had been made, directly contradicting China’s assertions that one was in place.
“This is not true. Discussions are still going on,” Liu Teh-hsun, the deputy chairman of Taiwan’s policy making body on Chinese matters, the Mainland Affairs Council, told AFP.
Additionally, Whelan highlights that even official Chinese press outlets are coming out against taking the torch up Mount Everest.
A recent commentary in China’s official Youth Daily said the Everest plan should be revised, suggesting instead that China’s Great Wall, a symbol of the nation’s history and civilisation, be used.
Taiwan is resisting China’s plan to proposed route and even the Chinese press thinks bringing the torch over Everest is a bad idea. Whelan’s AFP article also highlighted the Tibetan opposition to the proposed torch route, specifically SFT’s call for the IOC to reject Beijing’s route through Tibet.
“Allowing China to run the Olympic torch through Tibet would mean the IOC’s mark of approval for China’s military occupation of our nation,� said a statement last week by New York-based Students for a Free Tibet.
Tibetan exiles, led by the Dalai Lama, claim that political oppression by Beijing and an influx of ethnic Chinese settlers is extinguishing the mountainous region’s traditional Buddhist culture.
Things don’t look good for China right now. The PRC clearly envisions the Olympic torch run as a means to legitimize its occupation of Tibet and amplify claims to Taiwan. Neither Tibetans nor Taiwanese want that and it will be up to the IOC to hear the opposition to China’s torch route.
Technorati Tags: Beijing Olympics, Olympics, International Olympic Committee
No Responsesto “Press Bringing Attention To Controversial Torch Route”
Leave a Reply
on 
on 
on 
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
[...] The protest was held on the eve of the International Olympic Committee’s announcement of the final Beijing 2008 Olympic torch relay route and as a Chinese team of climbers prepared a trial ascent of the mountain with the Olympic torch. The last reports were that the activists were in detention but had sent a text by phone to say they were safe. Dramatic video of the action will be available here soon. [...]
[...] The protest was held on the eve of the International Olympic Committee’s announcement of the final Beijing 2008 Olympic torch relay route and as a Chinese team of climbers prepared a trial ascent of the mountain with the Olympic torch. The last reports were that the activists were in detention but had sent a text by phone to say they were safe. Dramatic video of the action will be available here soon. [...]