I believe you guys are seeing this way out of context. Let me ask one question: (well, it might be two) 1. If Alaska and Hawaii decided to declare their own independence, would USA allowed it? 2. If Tasmania decided that they shouldn't be part of Australian government, would Aussies allowed it? it is not easy for any government to let go of countries that are under their rules. THe British Empire has to let go of their colonised countries because they were bankrupt after the 2nd World War. If that is not the case, do you think the British would not love to have all those natural resources under them? Same arguments applied to China. Tibet has been under China since the Qing Dynasty. The fact that they declared their own independence DOESN'T mean that the new China government that take over from Qing will let the matter simply rest and see some of the lands they thought as their sovereign disappear just like that. Territories and sovereignity of a country is serious issue and I would say this is NOT up to us to critisize without proper checking on the background and history of the countries involved. And yes, it seems like the West like to bash China in whatever they do yet turn a blind eye on what they do themselves. If you want to say China is conducting a genocide on Tibetans, so what do you say about the USA who INVADES Iraq, carpet bombing the whole country and also drove Afghanistan to an era of almost Ice age again? Is there proof that Afghanistan and Iraq are the countries responsible for the 911? When the GUlf War happens, I would say "Iraq deserves the war since they are the one invading Kuwait first!". But what justification can you say about the Iraq war where the people is already at the edge of poverty and there is no proof of WOMD found in Iraq as claimed by the USA? I will add more when i found time. I found the responses here are truly lacking and one-sided at best with no proper justification to why they support those anti-China cause. I take the stand of not supporting the genocide in Tibet, in Iraq or inany parts of the world at all, including palestine, israel etc. And I agree with Wizard. This is a sporting event that has been politicised too much since it involves CHina and everyone is trying to put China in a negative light. Have you all ever deal with China in business or anything? Do you enough of their culture to speak illy of them?