The recent international protests of the Olympic torch relay as it winds its way through 20 countries on the way to Beijing, China, to kick off the 2008 Summer Games in August highlight not only the global outrage at Tibetan human-rights abuses and environmental concerns but also a grey area in American foreign policy.
For seven years, much, if not all, public and media attention regarding our country’s efforts on the international stage has been largely centered on the Middle East. With a tragic and bloody war still raging, the price of crude oil soaring to crippling highs all over the country and the constant threat of terrorist activity, be it real or perceived, it’s no wonder our news agencies and presidential hopefuls focus on the explosive region known as the Fertile Crescent.
This upsurge of anti-Chinese sentiment should serve to remind Americans and other citizens of the global community that the rise of China-politically, economically and culturally-is not something to be relegated to bullet-points at the end of a news broadcast. Although ample airtime is due to Iraq and its geographical brethren, the remainder of the planet does not remain static in its relationship to America.
As evidenced by the massive Olympic protests of late, China’s position on Tibetan independence affects even people outside of the college-student and bumper sticker-consumer demographic. It’s nice to know. To be fair, the media is not without its interest in a growing Chinese influence. The New York Times has been releasing in-depth pieces outlining China’s environmental failures for months. But the fact remains that as China rises steadily in the international market, making both cultural and political gains, more attention must be devoted to the one country that could be legitimately poised to usurp the United States’ global position at some point.
Harvard University professor Joseph Nye famously coined the term “soft power” in his book, Bound to Lead: The Changing Nature of American Power, and has since often associated the word with China’s progression.
Soft power represents the power of one political body to exert effective influence over another through cultural, economic or even ideological means, and America is a born leader in this regard. Although still far behind the long arm of the U.S., China’s claim to soft power has been climbing steadily for years.
As our government undoubtedly concerns itself with a strengthening Chinese military force or a presence in multilateral governing bodies, it has easily overlooked the growing popularity of Chinese culture-Chinese Nobel Prize winning authors, record-breaking grosses for Chinese films and, of course, a winning bid for the Olympic Games.
As the upcoming host of a cavalcade of international athletes, attitudes and controversies, China will be more ever-present, and we will have no choice but to acknowledge the growing Chinese authority.
So here’s hoping the Tibetan flags waving as centerpieces in recent protests are not adorned with a “Made in You-Know-Where” sticker.