Beijing 2008

The Dalai Lama will end his five day visit to Seattle tomorrow. His visit is attracting more attention than normal due to the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing, China this August. In part, this is because Tibet understands that China is in the spotlight as it hosts its first-ever Olympic Games. Recent protests are no coincidence. If there is a time to receive global attention, it is now. The same is true with Taiwan, which receives less attention than Tibet, as it continues to prove to the world that it is an independent nation and not a territory of China.

As a western country used to free speech laws, we understand when Chinese individuals use the time leading up to the Beijing 2008 Olympics to educate the world about their issues. But the recent violence in Tibet goes well beyond a free speech issue. With a reported 20 deaths in Lhasa by Chinese authorities it is no longer a peaceful protest. In fact, that number may be larger according to Tibet's government in exile. Who is reporting the correct numbers, and who is initiating the violence in what should be a time of celebration for this country?

Western media typically favors Tibet in its coverage.
Why? We root for the underdog and pictures of a large army controlling peaceful monks look like a no-brainer when we choose sides. Western politicians call for boycotts of Olympics ceremonies or games that impact athletes more than they affect global politics. Why? They see the same media coverage that we do.

As you might expect, Chinese coverage of the unrest in Tibet is very different. State-owned CCTV highlights more of the actions of the protestors in Tibet. In these broadcasts, it is clear that the protestors are involved in the violence. Government control over CCTV also means that this view leans toward the local police as the victims during these protests.

So which view is the right one? Journalism should be fair and without bias. While it is hard to depend on Chinese media to be fair in this case because of its ties to the government, Western media should not have an immediate bias towards Tibet. It is affecting not only Tibet, but also the upcoming Olympics and all participating athletes. There should be no boycotts. Let the athletes be athletes and let the games begin.

And when the Olympic Games begin, let's hope that the media spotlight turns its coverage to the amazing transformation these past 30 years within China, and not just the internal political struggles within Tibet or Taiwan. There are so many stories of success and triumph that can be told about this proud country that is changing from a planned economy to a market-driven economy. This should be the story of Beijing 2008.