A virulent epidemic of Sinophobia (hatred of China) has struck the Western world. The efforts of the Chinese government to crack down on Tibetan demonstrators living in Tibet and outside resulted in hysterical outbursts against China as the Olympic Torch passed through Western capitals: London, Paris, Los Angeles and even some South American cities.

And this is likely to continue when the torch passes through other Western capitals and the former European colonies such as Australia. The massive demonstrations in New Delhi with India hosting the largest number of Tibetan expatriates could have been expected.

What is even more regrettable is the way in which Western leaders and Western media are reacting to the crackdown in Tibet and the protests staged as the Olympic Torch passes through. They are overtly and covertly encouraging demonstrations and attempting to hold China to ridicule.

Only host country?

There are many questions which arise on these sudden emotional outbursts in defence of the Olympic spirit and traditions, and alleged human rights violations by China.

Firstly, in most countries spreading from the South Pacific Islands such as Fiji to Asian, African, European and American continents (both North and South) there are allegations against governments in power of violation of human rights both of individuals and communities. Should not these countries whose athletes are participating in the Beijing Olympics be subject to the same standards applied to China?

True, China is the host country but does the violation of human rights by governments of participating athletes make them any less culpable than the Beijing government?

We do agree that issues of violation of human rights should be raised at appropriate forums but should attempts be made to sabotage the efforts made by a nation which for years has taken great pains to make the Olympic games a success - apparently for xenophobic and political reasons?

China has been accused of violating human rights of Tibetans for decades which Beijing has constantly denied. But this attempt was re-launched just three months before the commencement of the games. It was a positive demonstration of the use of human rights as tool against those nations that do not play ball with the West.

Human rights in Iraq

Much is made of the death of about 100 Tibetan activists who came out against the Chinese authorities. Indeed, loss of life is regrettable even if it be one human being. But what of the one million dead and four million displaced Iraqis - 20 per cent of the Iraqi population - in a war which was not sanctioned by the United Nations and now admitted to have been made on the colossal blunder of presuming that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction?

The United States and Britain are the aggressors who are strongly backed by many countries now looking down their noses at the Chinese. All this makes nonsense of this supposed piety in the protection of human rights.

Should London games be held?

This notion of the applicability of violation of human rights to staging the Olympics should be extended to the 2012 Olympic Games to be held in London. Britain is as guilty as the United States for the five year old carnage that has gone on in Iraq.

We are not suggesting that there should be a worldwide movement against holding the London Olympics but those bashing China now should realise that what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander as well.

Some Western leaders are already proclaiming that they would not be present at the opening ceremony of the games hoping for a domino effect.

France's President Nicholas Sarkozy who has replaced Britain's Tony Blair as President George Bush's poodle is one. The newly elected Sarkozy who is keeping the world entertained with his matrimonial antics cuts a pathetic figure when compared with his predecessor, Jacques Chirac and others like Charles De Gaulle who gave the French nation a stamp of dignity and Gallic independence.

Too important

Britain's Gordon Brown though he is sending out anti China signals on this issue has not committed himself and President Bush is scheduled to be present.

China is too important a country in terms of the global economy and geopolitically to be slighted. Third World nations who absent themselves will only be revealing themselves as neo-colonialists hiding under the garb of human rights.   

Historical reasons

The Sinophobia that has had an upsurge on the eve of the Olympic Games has historic origins. Historians point out that China is the only civilisation in the world which has a continuous history of over 3000 years commencing about 1000 BC.

Chinese considered their country to be the Celestial Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom in contact with the heavens and those outside China were treated as barbarians. Invasions did not deter China's territorial expansion and all invaders were successfully assimilated into the population except Tibetans - Tibet having been annexed only about 250 years ago.

Westerners approaching Chinese emperors for trade were rejected outright and treated as 'barbarians.'

We quote a communication of the Chinese Emperor Chien Lung to King George III refusing accreditation to a British ambassador to his court.

Utter disdain

It indicates the utter disdain with which the Chinese held foreigners: "As to your entreaty to send one of your nationals to be accredited to my Celestial Court and to be in control of your country's trade with China, this request is contrary to all usage of my dynasty and cannot possibly be entertained. If you assert that your reverence for our Celestial dynasty fills you with a desire to acquire our civilisation, our ceremonies and code of law differ completely from your own that, even if your envoy were able to acquire the rudiments of our civilisation, you could not possibly transplant our manners and customs  to your alien soil..'

Downfall

However by the 19th Century the Westerners along with Russia and Japan were successful in carving up China into their spheres of influence and even invading China.

The humiliating opium wars resulted in the once proud Celestial Empire hitting its lowest depths but with the Communist revolution of Mao Tse Tung China once again became a powerful nation - today a world power.

It is now one of the most powerful economies but still a Communist nation. Chinese leaders are dedicated Communists and refuse to cow-tow to the demands made by Western nations.

The Beijing Olympics is their 'coming out party' announcing to the world that it is once again a great nation and a world power. Many in the West obviously do not like that. The Celestial Empire is being attempted to be mired with human rights violations.

The Olympic Games have been used to bash China so much in recent times that they might as well make 'China Bashing' an Olympic sport.