Imagine the terror of the Chinese officials

19 July 2008

David Tang reflects on his visits to Beijing in the run-up to the Games, where Western expertise has been harnessed to the ruthless efficiency of China’s government machine

In other words, the best in the Western world have been engaged by the Chinese government to present an impressive backdrop to the Olympic bonanza.

A giant luminous digital clock counting down to the opening ceremony at 8.08 p.m. on 08.08.08 (the number ‘8’ auguring fortune in Chinese feng shui) has become the focus at Tiananmen Square. Nothing seems to matter more. Missiles, not only anti-aircraft ones to protect against terrorist attacks, but also ones loaded with climate seeds to disperse and condense dark clouds and accelerate untimely rainfalls, will be on hand to ensure a beautifully clear day for the opening of the Olympics 2008.

There has been a constellation of other measures. From 20 July, 1.2 million cars will effectively be taken off the roads through a daily rota alternating between number plates ending with odd and even numbers — a system that Lagos first used. Vehicles coming from outside of the capital will be banned — except those delivering essential poultry and fresh vegetables for all the VIPs. Any Chinese without a valid permit to stay in the capital will be instantly deported. On television last week, an octogenarian was revealed to have been recruited by the Public Security Bureau to sneak on anyone in her neighbourhood who did not seem familiar. Although 20,000 journalists have been accredited by the Olympic Committee, the authorities are ready to override specific cases. A Hong Kong-based journalist was refused entry last week. Plain-clothed and uniformed police are pouring into the capital to quash the slightest signs of trouble, especially from Tibet and the Islamic Xinjiang region. For each of the 91,000 spectators for the opening ceremony, individ-ual photograph identity has been required. Theoretically, everyone going through the turnstile will have a picture shown of the holder as the ticket is scanned through a detector.

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Shim Jae Hoon

July 30th, 2008 12:36am Report this comment

To Mr Tang,

It's a good article, though a bit too heavy on the side of cynicism and criticisms, but as a Korean who experienced a similar national upheaval (how else can I describe the huge, protracted national exertions in money and attention for the Games?) in 1988, I can fairly sympathise with Chinese leaders' anxiety to present the best possible face. For all that, I think Beijing can make use of this occasion to highlight a number of issues that afflict its gigantic economic development efforts -- such as environment protection, improved sanitary concerns, a more equitable distribution of concern to "softer" side of development -- the importance of developing high culture, a more acute feeling for building up the social, economic and political institutions, not necessarily to the level of Europe and the US, but at least to match the level of its neighbours. One may dismiss this as trivial, but Japan and South Korea managed to do away with their traditional toilet system after their Olympics. China can at least do the same. As for the political challenge, well, Korea's military leaders never quite recovered from its impact. They ardently sought the Olympic games to enhance their prestige, but to their astonishment found it shaking their foundation. China will not be an exception to this rule. - Shim Jae Hoon.

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