Bush Will Not Boycott Beijing Olympics
There has been much talk about President Bush boycotting the Beijing Summer Olympics in the interest of representing America's distaste in China's horrific human rights record, especially the most recent one regarding Tibet. President Bush can make a big point by staying in the U.S.-- a small gesture as opposed to open negotiations.
Some world leaders are already ready to make a statement and boycott the opening ceremonies-- notable in this number is British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel . Bush's endorsed Republican endorser John McCain mentioned that he would only consider going if China improved its human rights record, while Democratic presidential candidates Obama and Clinton are both of the opinion that Bush should not go to the ceremonies.
Despite all the political pressure thrust upon him, Bush hasn't given an indication of skipping the evident, as there is plenty of things at stake if he does. Bush's absence will severely insult the proud Chinese government who looks at the Olympics as the chance to showcase China as an emerging new world power. His boycotting will also deeply affect the proceedings of several international efforts that the Bush administration requires China's help more. China also holds a veto vote in the UN Security Council. Moreover, the economic implications of alienating China alone are disastrous, with the market share and both human and natural resources having such high statistics in China.
Pressure from the media had Bush admitting that he will be attending the Olympics, though the exact schedule of his visits has yet to be revealed. Note that Bush will be attending the Olympics, which may or may not include the opening ceremonies.
Bush states that the Olympics are for sports, irregardless of the politics surrounding it. He continues to say that his decision is not affected by activists who want world leaders to make a statement with regards to Chinese human rights policies, and that boycotting the games will not lessen America's effort to press the Chinese on their continuing human rights violations. He also continues to say that attending the Olympics will allow him the berth to bring up the human rights problems directly with the Chinese presiden Hu Jintao.
