tibet.jpgThis morning a friend pointed out, over coffee, that I failed to write anything about what’s going on in Tibet. Point taken. So here it goes.

Over the last few days, there have been anti-Chinese demonstrations in Lhasa. The response of the authorities ranged from firing tear gas to live rounds. In a recent statement, the Dalai Lama claimed the Chinese military have killed as many as 80 protesters, whereas the Tibetan governor placed the count at 16.

It is not okay for China to fire upon Tibetan protesters. It is not okay to release propaganda and mystification regarding alleged violent behavior by the Lhasa protesters. And it is not okay for the international community to sit around and do nothing about this.

China is on the rise, and many admire Beijing for its economic prowess. Yet, if China is to become the next superpower, its undemocratic tendencies should be checked. But then again, the US has a highly ambiguous relationship with China – it runs a huge trade deficit with Beijing, and its economy is highly dependent on the Yuan.

For an article discussing the impact of Tibet troubles on the 2008 olympics, click here. For a on the ground report by the Economist (who claims to be the only officially accredited news source in Lhasa), click here.