It seems both British and Western media has been constantly bashing China regarding the Olympic games. Complete media coverage of the games has been granted by the Chinese government (something unheard of in the past) but now they're all complaining about blocked Chinese government websites. The Chinese have a very proud culture and nowhere did the agreement say they would give up information to government affairs. It's only right that the country with the largest population of people hold an Olympic games. It seems the media is nitpicking China about something new every few days.

Why's everyone complaining?

Blocking sites such as the BBC news homepage in order to deny Chinese citizens access to foreign media outlets does not equate to "giving up information to government affairs".

The point is that awarding the hosting of the Olympic Games is a massive political gesture, and shows that the actions of the Government of the country are generally condoned by the international community. People complain because they don't feel comfortable in being coerced into condoning state censorship and human rights abuses.

Right, but blocking foreign news sites is their government's business and does not violate any agreements made to host the games. Just because their government may censor foreign affairs and has policies that differ from the ways other countries are used to doesn't make them evil and unable to host the games. It's an entirely different sort of political system and people have to be open minded and respect their own status quo. They are completely competent to host the games provided they grant foreign media unprecedented access to Olympic game coverage, which they have.

The only problem I can see is the pollution. They could have hosted the games in a less-polluted city.

Chinese are your overlords. All peoples who feel oppressed will defame their oppressor at every chance given to them.

Red's be under mah bed

I think just the kick off of the 2nd cold war

- ♫.i.b.y.v.n.t.h.♫

People have to be open minded and respect a government that oppresses and censors its people? Says who? Call me closed minded, but I have very little respect for the Chinese bureaucracy.

Because they believe that "freedom of information" is some kind of universal concept. Many westerners don't understand how the Chinese principles of government can be viable when it's so different from their own. If the olympics were held in Saudi Arabia people would complain because it's not a secular state.

You're a victim of how you've been brought up. Learn some cultural and political diversity. They're obviously doing something right to be overtaking the USA as the world's largest superpower. I think Western society is just scared.

Zip said it best.

Sounds like a case of cultural relativism by the op. "Oh, it is part of their society, so it is okay for them and we can't criticize." Like if some country had institutional slavery, it would okay, since it is "part of their culture." I say bullshit. Human rights abuses on such a magnitude I just can't condone. Nor the widespread suppression of information, lack of a free press, or right to choose those that determine policies.


I don't know how this really has to do with the olympics, besides the fact that the world is now focused on them, and so naturally the media will start shedding more light on what is going on in China.

Maybe we should spare convicted paedophiles from jail because that's their sexual preference, and afterall who are we to judge their sexuality?