Is China blowing a great opportunity?

I have voiced my opinion before on the difficulty of referring to China as an homogenous whole. Still, there is a ruling authority, drawn from the Han community, which has been largely responsible for that country’s development who represent the country’s decision making.

There is little reason to believe these people are any less sophisticated in governing than other national authorities, they are just bigger than mos. That can be a problem in itself, size imposes its own threats, not helped by a culture of secrecy.

The Olympic Games offered China a bridge to a world it is seeking to play a larger role in. China has enormous assets, people and money, well placed in many countries around the world. They now have one of the great PR opportunities to capitalize on their growing influence.

Instead they are simply wasting it by being unable to let go of the heavy handed tactics used so long to rule their own country. They are parading a brutality of thinking, if not action, which will reinforce current stereotyping. What a waste of an opportunity.

Olympic torch runs have always been problematic, but rather than China navigating through major concerns, showing some concern for the concerns of the world, they have simply become more defensive.

In Australia that means reports of the Chinese embassy bussing their own protesters in to Canberra to counter balance, or even swamp opposing protests. This is after inflaming the Tibet situation themselves. It means secreting their secret service agents in the crowd, according to reports, not a good PR move in this sovereign nation. Great wall for China torch relay

THERE were conflicting reports last night about the destination of a Chinese ship carrying weapons for Zimbabwe after it left South African waters. Mystery of ship bearing arms for Mugabe regime

Just the suggestion of China engaging in arming troubled African nations just now clearly squanders the value the Olympics offer. The west, well most of the west, has tired of constant conflict, is looking for other means to strive for stability in troubled areas. Just the suggestion of China fueling those problems is a major negative.

China is emerging as an important world player; there was even a growing level of credibility. These latest manifestation show little more than a great, lumbering thug state.