Boycotting Beijing Olympics: Will Pressurising China Over Burma Help?

No, no, you'll only offend W.Bengal by boycotting the Beijing Games. Desicritics will have you banned for that.

We Indians boycotting the Olympics? What difference is that going to make to the outcomes?

I do not know if you have noticed, but China really doesn't give a big flying shit about what the rest of the world thinks of them. They proved that a while back with Taiwan, and they prove it every day with Tibet. They simply do not bow to peer pressure because they do not see anyone else as "peers." Why not? because they can pave any of us in an instant if it came to battle. they have millions of people they consider completely disposable and they will use them to do their bidding. also, the chinese have an amazing ability to engage in delusions of... well, anything. one visit there and you will understand.

you cannot pressure china to do a damned thing. not now, not ever.

The only pressure China will respond to is internal pressure from the populace at large. China is on the move - the urban centers are seeing rising affluence and in that sense they mimic any big city of the West. Many of these people have all the 'best' clothes (it is all made in China anyway), commodities, and live some semblance of a normal life. However education is not free and it is quite expensive. The one child policy has made parents desire the best for their only child, so they spend a lot on education. BUT there are no well paid jobs for these educated masses. The fast food chains employ college kids, the hotel receptionists now have business degrees and the system is backed up. Above all, as people get educated they realize that all is not as it should be. Now that the belly is full the mind is seeking more. And the country side is in dire straits as those residents have been completely left out of this "market" revolution. I predict another generation before the populace will ask en masse for more freedoms. That is the only time that will be critical for China - will they be crushed or will they triumph?

Will any other kind of pressure make the regime blink? I do not think so - it is all about face.

I'm probably just a dumb American here, but what influence does Red China have over Burma? I mean, there's a shared border, sure, but India shares a border with Burma as well.

And anyway, what incentive does Red China have to oppose the ruling regime in Burma? Maybe it's "the right thing to do," but since when has that ever mattered to the ruling Communist Party in Beijing?

Boycotting the Olympics probably won't work, just as it didn't work for Jimmy Carter to boycott the Moscow Olympics in 1980 over opposition to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. The Soviets stayed in Afghanistan until they were driven out under fire, not because of diplomatic pressure from Carter, or anyone else. The only thing that came of Carter's boycotting of the Olympics was to punish American athletes who had trained for four years to be given the opportunity to showcase their talents on the international stage.

Anyway, just my two cents...

Influence? Communism. Indian shares a border but no other influence exists. Why would Chine use its influence? It did not do it when N. Korea was developing nukes and one cannot expect China to do it now.

Instead of Olympics, you can try boycotting the Chinese toys.

Hehe, Gud one, Sanjay, but dont think the Indian govt would even come close to boycotting the games - or evn if it does - wouldn't matter.

Ledzius,

hehe, no ways. As I said, only if the USA talks of a boycott will it make any impact - if at all.

SmallSquirrel,

I think China does give a shit about how well its Olympics goes - and what "image" is borne out from it.
What they have proven with Taiwan and Tibet is that they'll try their best to have their way - whoever blinks first loses!

The point is of course, if its biggest trading partners - US, Japan et al, have the gumption to squeeze it.

Neela,

I agree, but trade always cuts two ways. Which's is why its as good a weapon as any! :)

RJ,
Yup agree - it may not do much, but it would signal intent. And big disapproval.
It was only cos there were Stingers later on that the Soviets went out of Afghanistan, but the Moscow boycott did signal intent didn't it?

Sirius,
Yep, Trade - the best weapon right now! :)