Securing the Olympics: China is mobilizing 100,000 officers in an unprecedented level of security for the Beijing Games. Here, police march to the National Stadium. (Oded Balilty/AP)
Why security is tighter in Beijing
Measures include checkpoints around the city and missiles by the Olympic stadium.
Peter Ford | Staff writer / July 31, 2008 edition
Beijing
From missile batteries around the stadium to neighborhood watches, from SWAT teams to bar closures, from random ID checks to a visa clampdown, Beijing’s panoply of security measures outstrips anything ever mounted for the Olympics.
China’s efforts reflect more than the government’s desire to protect athletes and spectators from terrorists or unruly protesters. The unprecedented drive for control also illustrates how much more broadly China views security than most other countries.
Beijing views “anything that might ‘harm China’s reputation’ as a security threat” says Drew Thompson, a China analyst at the Nixon Center in Washington. “That extends to any group seeking to push an agenda that is not aligned with the government’s propaganda.”
This means the authorities are determined to block unauthorized demonstrations and public criticism of official policy, which in their view might undermine security, as well as terrorist attacks during the Games.
In an editorial last week, the People’s Armed Police News, the official organ of one of the key forces responsible for Olympic security, placed the threats side by side.
“Western anti-China forces are striving for opportunities to disrupt the games,” it said. “International terrorist forces are itching to strike … and hostile domestic forces’s disruption and sabotage activities against the Games are steadily unfolding.”
The effects of this approach are myriad: A visa clampdown has weeded out foreign visitors and residents who might join in demonstrations. New regulations have closed dozens of Beijing bars and clubs where large numbers of young people might gather. The city’s university campuses are off-limits to all non-residents. University students without Beijing residence permits have been sent home. Dissidents have been detained or put under house arrest. Foreign journalists’ Internet access is being censored.
In a similar vein, policemen who were embarrassed last Friday by an unruly crowd waiting to buy Olympic tickets assaulted TV crews filming the scuffles and broke their equipment.
“There will definitely be an expectations gap between what the Chinese government is planning and what international participants expect,” says Mr. Thompson. “There are very different norms in terms of personal freedoms.”
Dealing with terrorist threats
The Chinese authorities are also worried about more standard security threats to the Olympics. Officials say police have foiled several terrorist plots in recent months by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), a group demanding independence for Xinjiang, a region in China’s far west populated mainly by the Muslim Uighur minority.
Fears heightened last week with the appearance of a video issued by a group widely thought to be linked to ETIM threatening to “target the most critical points related to the Olympics … using tactics that have never been employed.”
In the video, featuring two masked gunmen, a spokesman claimed responsibility for two bus bombings that struck the southwestern city of Kunming ten days ago, killing two people, and for two other bus bombs in Shanghai last May. Chinese police, however, said none of the explosions were linked to terrorism.
ETIM “is the preeminent threat to the Olympics, but because of the security measures it would be very difficult for them to attack Olympic venues,” says Rohan Guneratna, head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research in Singapore.
Some critics of the Chinese government say Beijing has exaggerated the threat of Uighur terrorism. “They have inflated and distorted terrorist claims in order to justify a broader repressive campaign in Xinjiang,” argues Nicolas Bequelin, a researcher with Human Rights Watch.
The US State Department, however, in a confidential report by its Overseas Security Advisory Council, warned recently that “it is possible that Xinjiang-based ETIM extremists may contemplate conducting attacks to disrupt the Games,” pointing to “a now growing concern over possible threats.”
Hundreds of thousands mobilized
The Chinese government certainly appears to be taking security threats seriously. Nearly 100,000 policemen and soldiers have been mobilized for the Games, along with at least as many “neighborhood watch” volunteers, now kitted out in tennis shirts emblazoned with the Beijing Olympics logo.
They have been instructed to report any unusual visitors or activity in their districts, according to Liu Shaowu, director of security for the Games’ organizing committee (BOCOG).
“We have engaged the general public,” Mr. Liu told reporters recently. “For those who intend to sabotage the Games, the most important way to control them lies in our people.”
In the northeastern city of Shenyang, for example, where some preliminary soccer matches will be held, cab drivers have been given security training and asked to act as “intelligence agents,” according to the official Xinhua news agency.
The government has also thrown a security cordon around the capital, requiring everyone coming into the city to show identity papers – a move that is causing hours-long lines at the checkpoints. On Beijing’s subways, police have imposed airport-style security measures, banning liquids and X-raying luggage, and on the streets Chinese and foreign residents are subject to snap ID checks.
When the Games begin next Friday, predicts the OSAC report, “the police will be very proactive in stopping any protests before they gain momentum. Though Western activist groups will likely try to stage small demonstrations, these will most likely be put down as quickly and peacefully as possible.”
Protest areas in three Beijing parks have been set aside for demonstrators, BOCOG security chief Liu said last week, but activists must seek police permission for such protests.
Normally, such permission is not granted, human rights groups have pointed out.
As for the likelihood of a terrorist attack, the government’s own estimate of the current threat level is “moderate.”
“Beijing is one of the safest cities in the world and China is one of the safest countries in the world,” Liu reassured journalists. “The general situation faced by Beijing is stable.”
Comments
2. Greed | 07.31.08
GREED. Many are ready and willing to give up decency, freedoms and rights to line up at the trough of cheap goods.
3. Sam Thornton | 07.31.08
Wish I had a piece of the gas mask concession in Beijing. Air quality is going to turn out to be the big story of this year’s Olympics. Pity those who the CCP ordered to eliminate the air pollution; might as well have ordered them to sweep back the tide.
4. Marci Davis | 07.31.08
China’s “security actions” have so far (and continue to) speak much louder than any “terrorist actions” to date as to how bad conditions of human rights are in their country. The fact Bush supports both the measures and security plans is all Americans need to know of how bad the Chinese track record is on human rights, freedom and environmental issues.
5. alex | 07.31.08
Security is tight because the trouble the world has been in since the 9/11 attack on US, and the subsequent “Global War on Terror”. To tell you the truth, if America isn’t in the Olympics, Beijing probably will have much less terror threats. They are doing this to protect all the foreigners more than anything else. China is not a police state. It’s a place that realizes that freedom comes with responsibility, and that absolute freedom is as good as no freedom at all. Only when we all act responsibly ourselves, react respectfully towards each other, can we then all enjoy the freedom of a great world sporting event. Those in the west ought to put down their prejudices, and realize that freedom, the “calling card” of the west, is not free, that it is only possible when people respect the laws and their civic responsibilities. So called “democracy” and “freedom” makes people in the West so self-righteous that even when they know their countries are going in the wrong direction compared to China, they still feel arrogant and superior towards countries like China, where the system is certainly different, and evolving, but majority of the citizens feel that the country is going in the right direction. Well, suit yourself.
6. ros | 07.31.08
Ah a modern, free and democratic country like the US, where money rules the democratic process, the government has garnered all your civil liberties if they need to and the modern lifestyle is being bankrolled by the Chinese and Japanese.I can think of one country more undeserving….
7. Sam | 07.31.08
Lets not hide the truth with dramatizations. China’s police state actions are not a result of impending Islamic-Jihad Terror due to US presence in the Olympic games. These terrorist attacks occur in Russia, Israel, The Phillipines, Sudan, China’s Muslim Uighur, India, etc. all have which have nothing to do with the US.
Its pretty clear cut that intolerance is the norm for these people. China is just using it as a scapecoat to continue its human rights abuse.
8. richard | 07.31.08
To bad this Olympics is not hosted in the United States. If it is, we could ask few things:
- stop occupying the Iraq,
- return this land to native Indians and Mexico
- close Guantanamo camp,
- stop product destructive weapons, about 48% of world weapon is produced by US
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures
- stop wiretap her own citizen and other countries,
…
I know UK will host the game at London very soon, we should prepare a list for them too.
This world will be fixed thru Olympics very soon.
10. Jimba | 08.01.08
@ Alex, the CCP is a repressive government. Not until you are on the sharp end of their more draconian actions will you understand why the world is disappointed with China. Unfortunately, mate, there’s more to it than just waving the red and gold. No one person or state has the right to deny someone else their freedom. This is a basic right China promised to adhere too in 1948 when they signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Laws are intended to curtail disrespect for other people’s rights, and this is done through an effective police force, legal system, including the judiciary. I find it funny you should mention the correlation between respect and freedoms, because from what I understand it is the very Chinese leaders who spout such sophistry, who are the worst freedom-offenders. Freedoms should entail not having your house demolished by greedy Chinese politicians, with their hand in the back pockets of greedier developers; civil rights lawyers should also not have their licenses revoked in the first, and/or jailed in the second, for simply defending people who have been ripped off by the government (think Sichuan Earthquake mothers)…the list goes on. But until you’re actually on the sharp end of these injustices, then I guess your point of view is rather narrow and seen through rose-colored glasses. Thank God that I live in a country, no, not America, where If I am unhappy about something, I can take proactive steps to initiate change.
11. wade | 08.01.08
hey,guys, calm down, wat i wanna say is simply easy, stop using the western ways to judge eastern countries, they are different,just like alex said above, they all felt happy living in their own country, why dont u guys just leave them alone? every country have their own way to gover themselves, and none of them is perfect! stop making commons on each other and lets see wat would happen during the time!
12. chines | 08.01.08
hey,guys, calm down, wat i wanna say is simply easy, stop using the western ways to judge eastern countries, they are different,just like alex said above, they all felt happy living in their own country, why dont u guys just leave them alone? every country have their own way to gover themselves, and none of them is perfect! stop making commons on each other and lets see wat would happen during the time!
Support you, all the Chinese people support you, all the foreign friends to support you.
13. chines | 08.01.08
Chinese people are Chinese people’s way of life, foreigners have no right to interfere in China’s internal affairs
14. chin | 08.01.08
Chinese people are Chinese people’s way of life, foreigners have no right to interfere in China’s internal affairs
15. jojo | 08.01.08
A USA 911/Atlanta or London or Spain attack would never happen in China. All done by government. It won’t happen in China,cause the chinese are not stupid.
Americans are dumber than beasts–Sept. 11 2001 WTC towers 1 & 2 miniture nukes were used.Now go back and look at the photos of WTC crumblings to dust.China feeds and clothes you stupid Americans. Let’s hope CIA/ MOSSAD are not up to their tricks-again.
16. Michael | 08.04.08
Jimba,
There’s no doubt China is an autocatic country and respect basic human rights, but do you know of any country on this planet that has the moral high ground to condemn others for their shortcomings? What about the U.S. occupation of Iraq or the treatment of blacks and Indians during the last two centuries? You talk about democracy and freedom. What good are these ideas if you don’t have food on the table or your land is being violated by foreign troops? You say you can initiate change if you are unhappy with the status quo. Do you really believe you have such a power? The U.S. is run by two parties. If you’re unhappy with one party, you can vote the other into power. You call living under a two party system a choice? It’s like having a pop machine that offers two soft drinks: one regular Coke and other diet. In the end, it’s still the same old same old and nothing really has changed except in your mind. Tell me. What country do you live in that actually allows its citizens to affect meaningful changes in the body politic? Unless you are a citizen of such a country, please spare us the sermon.
17. Karl K. | 08.04.08
I don’t know why some people are so obssessed with human rights abuses in other countries when we have the same problems here in our own backyard. True, we are a democracy but that doesn’t stop our founding fathers from owning slaves or forcing native Americans into reservations. Recently we have invaded and occupied another country and operated secret detention camps. I bet we’re setting good example for the Chinese and the rest of the world. We’ve met the evil empire and it’s us.
18. Jack P. | 08.06.08
What a ruse… China pretends to be this great nation, yet it treats it’s citizens like prisoners. Anyone disagreeing with it’s government is jailed or executed.
19. Dr SN Pandey | 10.09.08
China played safe psychological game with a political objective to insulate its operations in Xinjiang against forein support. It had little specific intelligence support at hands. It banked on the claims of detractors, who did not have capabilities.
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1. Sam | 07.31.08
I cannot think of a country more undeserving of being honored to host the Olympic games. A police state where even the cabbies are intelligence agents is extreme and draconian Stalinism. The games, athletes and spectators would’ve been better served in a modern, free and democratic nation where the spirit of the games are upheld and liberty is espoused.