I have been thinking on this, and I can't see how the world can hold the Olympics in a country that is doing this.
If the US boycotts alone it will be taken merely as a swipe from a rival. What it needs to do is organize a much broader boycott to put pressure on China.
If the US boycotts alone it will be taken merely as a swipe from a rival. What it needs to do is organize a much broader boycott to put pressure on China.
China is very sensitive about its prestige, and the risk of a broad coalition of nations embarrassing it in this way could make a difference.
By the way, the attitude of reluctance in my initial tweet is not only genuine, it's very important. China will want to say its critics are merely seeking a pretext to embarrass it. No. To the contrary, they must be seeking a reason NOT to embarrass it - but not finding one.
The problem, even for those who wish China well, is whether to turn a blind or not. And at some point, that becomes untenable, however much we may regret it.
That is how the issue must be framed, for it to gather support and have the intended impact.
There will be A LOT of pushback on this, from China, as the US seeks partners in this. A lot of threats, much of it aimed at countries who see themselves as vulnerable to such threats. So the US needs a strategy, if it goes down this path, not just an attitude.
If we approach a multi-nation boycott with the attitude that OF COURSE everyone will see the imperative in this, we will find ourselves outmaneuvered and rudely surprised.
