2008 Olympics: Beijing's Hopes and Hurdles

China wants the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing to highlight the country’s economic and political development and global significance, but the games have become a focus for a wide variety of activists. Beijing’s attempts to balance openness and control are exacerbating political and security issues at home and abroad.

Key Analysis
Chinese Carrefour employees wearing red to show support for China
TEH ENG KOON/AFP/Getty Images
China: The Pro-Olympic Backlash Passes Its Peak
May 1, 2008 1707 GMT
Although Chinese Internet activists had called for a nationwide boycott of all Carrefour stores on May 1, protesters made a relatively meager showing, rallying at only a few stores. The domestic pro-China groundswell appears to have hit its peak. [more]
Activists protesting Chinese arms shipment to Zimbabwe
China, Zimbabwe: Cutting Losses on an Arms Shipment
April 22, 2008 1638 GMT
Zimbabwe's neighbors are blocking a Chinese arms shipment from reaching Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's regime. But China is willing to recall the shipment rather than add another public relations challenge to its plate. [more]
Sign at French retailer Carrefour in China
France: Sarkozy Gives China a 'Show of Face'
April 21, 2008 1518 GMT
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is sending representatives to China not as a sign of a change of heart toward Beijing, but as a move in the diplomatic game. (With Stratfor map) [more]
Terrorism Weekly
Graphic for Terrorism Intelligence Report
Beijing’s Obvious Hand at the U.S. Olympic Torch Run
April 16, 2008 1434 GMT
The San Francisco Olympic torch relay April 9 revealed the organizational capabilities of the Chinese government and its intelligence collection apparatus inside the United States. [more]
China -- Carrefour store
China's Risky Support of Internet Activism
April 15, 2008 1704 GMT
China's government is quietly encouraging the debate on Chinese Internet discussion boards over calls for a May 1 boycott of French retailer Carrefour. Bejing could be playing with fire. [more]
Olympic torch in Paris
China: A Symbolic Boycott of French Goods
April 11, 2008 1716 GMT
An appeal has circulated for three days through China's Internet chat rooms and bulletin boards appealing for Chinese consumers to boycott French goods over the treatment of the Olympic torch in Paris, the Financial Times reported April 10. [more]
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