Olympic security
Just been to have a look at an Olympic security checkpoint set up on the outskirts of Beijing.
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Interesting point - people by the side of the road told us that the police suddenly began to search a lot more thoroughly when we came along and started filming.
Security's a massive issue in this Olympics. China's Vice President, Xi Jinping, told a mobilisation rally held last week: "A safe Olympics is the most significant symbol of a successful Olympics in Beijing and also the most important symbol to display the national image of China."
China's deployed 100,000 police officers to make sure the state keeps full control over the next few weeks. It's even offered a reward of up to 500,000 yuan ($73,000; £37,000) to anyone who tips off the police about any attempts to disrupt during the Games. The Xinhua news agency says that this is to "fully encourage people to protect the social stability, control and remove the big threats to the Olympic security, and ensure the goal of peaceful Olympics".
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Security will be massive tasks.
I think the organisers can lower the bars if non-violent "incidents" are not counted towards failure. This will allow them more likely to claim that the game is successful when it finally finishes.
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No doubt, Beijing will be successful in maintening its "security". It will pull out its army, spy aparatus and informers to secure Beijing as if China is at war. The question is who would want to a visit during such a repressive time. Will China allow the parents who lost their children to the earthquake in Sichuan have their day in Beijing. Or, will the Chinese police begin to riot (a term used by a judge who ruled that the Chicago police used unnecessary force on passer-bys and protesters during an anti-war protest in the '70).
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Isn't searching for bombs evidence of China's extreme paranoia and yes, perhaps even xenophobia? I struggle to think which 'terrorist' group might seek to bomb Beijing, and none come to mind.
Tibetans, perhaps, but as followers of a peaceful religion, I severely doubt bombs would be used.
Muslim fanatics? Doubtful.
Perhaps then, China fears terrorist attacks on athletes of other nations, which is, I suppose, a possibility.
Traditionally, the olympic committee has sought to keep political issues separate from the international celebration and unity that is the Olympics Games. Yet I'd hate to think these excessive security measures, namely the imposing masses of policemen, are present as a means of intimidation so as to scare away peaceful protest.
After all, civil (and indeed, human) rights are as important as fun and games.
I can't help but think that this 'goal', to:
"fully encourage people to protect the social stability, control and remove the big threats to the Olympic security, and ensure the goal of peaceful Olympics".
Refers to such protest, i.e. to the prevent the utterance of Tibetan independence or the whiff, however faint, of Tibetan Nationalism.
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hope these security guys do their jobs! safety is no joke during big events. Not to mention that this Olympics is over-politicalized by many people (which I think is ridiculous for whatever reasons).
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It's tough to make sure no security breach occurs during a big event.
Things are different when the camera is on and not on. Most people tend to do some ?Biao Mian Gong Zuo? while someone is watching over their shoulders.
I wonder if those cars and trucks waiting to be checked have their engines turned off or not. Vehicles tend to produce more pollutions during idle, which is not good for Beijing?s already troublesome air quality.
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James, please read "Beijing unveils new traffic curbs". It uses your non-scientific test results to describe how bad Beijing's air quality is. But it does not mention anywhere that your test was carried out at a particular point of time.
I am not saying Beijing does not have a air quality problem. But using a comparison between figures at a particular point and the average over 24 hours, how can you convince us that BBC and you are professional? are unbiased?
I am sick.
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I am very nervous about these Olympics.
Potentially these could be "the best Olympics ever", but I am worried that even the slightest incident will be massively clamped down by over-anxious police and other security staff. I am worried that everybody and everything will be tight, forced, nervous and tense.
The expectations in China are so sky high that everybody is a bit too much hyped about the whole thing. Relax! China does not fail if the Olympics fail, although millions of Chinese seem to think otherwise. They are so much afraid to lose face in the international arena. They so much want to show the world that they can do things right (better?).
The Olympic Games should be accessible, fun and relaxed. And I will be glad when they are over.
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James,
Thanks for the blog about China's security for the upcoming olympics!
They want the games to go off perfectly....
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The Chinese see the olympic games as a celebrative party and look forward to welcome as many gusts as possible to come and enjoy themselves. it's traditional Chinese culture and typical Chinese hospitality, just as the Confucian saying "it'd be so nice to see friends coming from faraway places." Therefore, China has been preparing for the Olympic games enthusiastically with the resources of the whole nation. The majority of the Chinese people have been supportive to the government's efforts of "hosting the best olympic games in history".
Unfortunately, many people in the western see the games as an event for China to do propaganda or they hate China to host the games due to anti-china sentimental. We have seen that China has been mocked by the western world using the olympic games as a tool since 3.14 Tibetan riots and the torch relay.
That's why the Chinese have changed their mind of "hosting the best games" into "hosting a safe games".
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Every country do the same when there is a big event. I doubt there is any country will not have a security check.
it is right for government to take necessary measures to protect people who are going to china for the game.
If there is a sigle bomb explode in beijing, then there will be another round of anti-beijing criticism.
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I just worry that excessive security measures will diminish the passion of Chinese people to invovle in Olympics, so that the Olympics will get dreary. It should be a festival of people around the world instead of just an important diplomatic occasion.
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Thank you to whoever posted post no.1. Yes, generalising the entire chinese population is just superb. I love how much prejudice and ignorance people like you contribute to these discussions.
And post no.5, since when is searching for bombs xenophobic? following that philosophy international airports must be the most xenophobic place on earth.
Also i really adore how people loves to generalise that all practioners of budhism must be peaceful, this is certainly not the case. Budhism like all other religions have very violent pasts and presents. Well i guess this is just western holywood stereotypes.
Also when you hear of terrorism, why is it that 'muslim fanatics' comes to mind first, maybe its the prejudice flaring up again. Yes, china does have some problems with islamic extremists but not to the extente of Al-Queda.
Have you ever thought about any other possible threats? like maybe a couple of disgruntle farmers wants to make their voices heard by going out with a bang? or maybe ultranationalists attacking foreign visitors (although i really don't see this happening)?
to post no.6, wow, thank you for generalising the entire chinese nation and population as barbarians (ironic considering china has the oldest continuel culture and language). Brutally supressing the practice of culture? yes, its the culture they are supressing not the rioting. All this time i ve been brain washed by the evil red commies into thinking there was race riot a couple of month ago.
Thank you for opening my eyes.
Also since when does checking for bombs or pollution counts as acts of barbarity? by your accounts the US of A must be really barbaric. Your arguement doesn't even make sense. You are just writing propaganda phrase to rally support for your cause.
Now back to the article. I don't think its completely unreasonable to check for bombs or terrorist activites. With the modern age, asymetric warfare is a big problem, if i remember rightly didn't athens deploy patriot missils for its olympics? The terrorist threat may not even be towards china, it could be towards foreign visitors or atheletes by desperate groups, no one wants a repeat of munich. Yes it is an inconvinence, but this is to be expected at large international events like the olympics.
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davidwhite44 - Absolutely spot on!
Thank you for making me laugh so much...
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China traditionally is a very peaceful country, never heard terrorism within China before. However, with so many western people in China and some western leaders attending the games, the country is becoming targeted by terrorists.
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davidwhite44:
Your, I assume, purposeful misuse of grammar, capitalization, and punctuation to immitate the "Chinese Brigade" serves only to reveal your inherent bias and, at worse, racism with regard to the China issue.
Grow up. This is a blog. When James has something to say about China, are the Chinese not well-suited to response as to their own impressions of their country? Now you're saying that they can't even do that anymore ... on a blog. It's such attitudes that mandates the Chinese people to be ever-more vocal. Congratulations.
a_Briton:
You don think there's real terrorism isses in ANY major event nowadays? Let's see how "peaceful" these supposed Tibetans truly are (from the BBC):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7329040.stm
Were these 3 simply playing with fertilizer in a basement because the Chinese are Xenophobic?
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damn!!!
dear almighty moderator.... you've deleted my post again........
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There is the potential also for desperate citizens with grievences that no-one has bothered to listen to trying something during the games, I wonder how much this has been considered in amongst all the "terrorist" talk.
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LOL - thanks to davidwhite44
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The Chinese government is so edgy during the Games that all peoples would be treated as potential terrorists. Try laying a wreath at Tianmen Sq. or the Olympic Stadium for all those lost children in the Sichuan earthquake, the cause of which is the consequence of corruption; and I bet you will get arrested and jailed immediately. So, we are really considering if China will over react to the degree of threat that terrorist might pose to China. Terrorists suceed easily only in open societies and China is not one. In China during the Games the jails would be filled with beggars, victims of the earthquake trying to address their grievances, dissidents and human rights activists. That is what China is preparing for in terms of terrorists.
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Re: post 21 by KrSund70 - davidwhite44 wasn't saying that the people he was parodying COULDN'T post on here, he was merely satirising them. And by your rationale, he's entitled to do that, because this is a comments board to a blog, where he can express his opinion. So just as what he describes as the "Chinese Brigade" are entitled to post their views, he's entitled to express the fact that he disagrees with their views. So your argument is hypocritical.
And as for mocking the poor English, perhaps that's justified in the light of your use of the phrase: "are the Chinese not well-suited to response as to their own impressions of their country?"
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Only a week or so ago BBC was making an "apocalpytic" statement about the algae invasion of the Olympic sailing venue casting doubt it would be cleared by the time of the Olympics. Guess what it is all gone precisely as the Chinese government say it would, made the BBC look like an idiot (though auntie never admit her mistakes do they?).
Now with tails caught between her legs auntie Beep is still grasping on the pollution issue and she will be prove wrong again.
Since China with Russia vetoed a UK motion on sanction against Zimbabwe at the UN the BBC has stepped up its anti China rhetoric accusing China of supplying arms and fuelling war in Darfur in its "Panorama" propaganda program. Rather than behaving like a child throwing his/her toys out of the pram the BBC and the UK government need to grow up and realise what they say does not matter anymore.
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Unbelievable. Some people think China is immued to terrorism. China is a country of 1.3 billion people, multiple ethnics, many many different interest groups. No one in this country holds hatred toward a certain group or ethnic? Wow, the government or the education system must be the best in the world. Howcome Han people and Muslim people were bashed, stabbed, stoned, hit on Lasah street? That was not hatred? Was it peaceful by some people's standard?
Peaceful religion, howcome monks were caught on tape to initiate and be part of the riot during the Lasah riot recently?
If China is indeed immued to terrorism why should not your government pay a fee to learn something from the Chinese government? George Bush said he would move mountains to prevent 9.11 should he know it was to happen. Few checkpoints annoy you. Right? So the Chinese government should sit on their hands and do nothing? Should they provide tighter security for multinational teams? Should they provide tighter security for George Bush and other polititians' arrival?
Oh, I must have been silly. What you really want to see is, protests. So your media can use their "A big slap on China's face." to entertain you again. That is what you want to see. People's safety is nothing.
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This is written in response to # 4
I wonder if any other country that hosts such international event as the Olympic Games where 80 or so state leaders will be present will not use its "army, spy apparatus, and informers" to ensure security and success. It is interesting yet not surprising at all to see that whenever China mobolizes its state apparatus the rest of the world inevitably gets nevous and suspicious. This ill-founded nevousness and suspicion might stem from a deeply-embedded hostility to communist regimes, despite the fact that the one in China differs radically from those in the former USSR and East Europe. Those who follow China's use of force will come to the conclusion that the regime only resort to violent measures when China's peripherial areas are about to fall under hostile parties (the Korean War, China-Vietnam War, China-India War, Taiwan Strait Crisises...) and when China's national unity is in jeopardy (Tibet, XinJiang...). China has not, as far as I remember, taken provocative actions in the international arena"pre-emptively".
The Chinese people's desire to express their national pride and ambition to the world by hosting a suscessful Olympic Games must not be underestimated, and it is insidiously dangerous to ignore such genuine desire or to mess it up with the Chinese government efforts to capitalize on the event to boost its popularity and legitimacy. The West should have by now learned the lesson from those so-called human rights dialogues with China that the harder it pushes the more resilient the Beijing regime will be as those "concerns" and criticisms from the West can be easily used to attack the west itself: Why are you concerned with China's human rights records when the Chinese are experiencing unprecedented affluence and when millions are dying from largely colonization-induced civil wars and AIDS in other parts of the world. Who are you, after all, to lecture on me when the best of my national treasuries still sit in your museums?
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elduderino:
Your ability to latch on to a typo is amazing! I never stated that he was unable to speak his views -- I merely stated that it is attitude such as his which "mandates the Chinese people to be ever-more vocal."
Further lucid response from you is encouraged, if possible, now that I've proof-read this recent post.
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