The China Teaching Web

Many have wondered why it took so long for presidential hopeful Barak Obama to join his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in urging President Bush to skip the opening ceremonies.  Just a few days earlier, Obama was very hesistant on the issue of ’boycotting’ the Opening Ceremonies stating that he was torn over the possibility of making the Olympics the site of a political protest. The Tibet issue has taken on a political life of its own in the United States as a chorus of Democrats led by Nancy Pelosi and Mrs. Clinton have urged Bush to follow in the footsteps of France Chancellor Andrea Merkel and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. 

Mr. Obama’s delay in joining his colleagues call for a presidential ’boycott’ of the Olympic Ceremonies  reflects the realization that foreign policy towards China will be a major issue during the next presidency. As the clear favorite to win the Democrat nomination, Mr. Obama must know that in less than 9 months, he very well could be dealing with China as President of the United States. While the American people may have short memories about what the presidential candidates say or do during the primaries, the Chinese government is more likely to hold a grudge.  No matter what President Bush decides to do in August, he has little to lose since this is last year in the White House. Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton, however, must weigh their options heavily and remember that the Chinese government is watching their reactions and statements closely.

Maybe the intensity of the protests in San Francisco was a factor in Mr. Obama’s decision to take a definitive stance on Tibet. Or maybe the recent reports that hundreds of Tibetans have been jailed forced him to  be ‘more clear minded’ about the issue. Whatever the reasons, Mr. Obama, as well as Mrs. Clinton, will be viewed differently in China than before as a result of their stances. In the past, my students and friends have referred admiringly to Mr. Obama as ‘that handsome black guy’ and to Mrs. Clinton as ‘that handsome President’s wife.’ Now there is a feeling that the two candidates are trying to cause problems  for China. The Chinese people, like the Chinese government, will not easily forget the recent statements by these two candidates.

The Olympics will come and go; and so will the elections. But the Tibet problem along with the issues of human rights in the world’s largest country will remain. The next President is going to have to decide whether or not the United States should continue to ignore the human right’s issues in China for the sake of economic relations between the two countries. Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton have made strong statements regarding the Tibet situation in the last few weeks. It will be interesting to see if their ‘tough talk’ is backed up with actions should one of them be fortunate enough to be elected President of the United States.