The only certainty at the moment is that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will not attend opening ceremonies of the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho. Statements emanating from the Olympics group and the Dalai Lama's headquarters characterize the decision as (a) his being "disinvited" by the games' sponsors or (b) his choosing to withdraw to avoid controversy or (c) an inability to reschedule a visit that couldn't overcome conflicts in activities.
Unhappily, however, lurking in the background is the distinct possibility that the Special Olympics and the spiritual leader and head of state of Tibet are victims of untoward Mainland Chinese political pressure and pointless meddling.
The Chinese have been relentless in badgering the Dalai Lama and his activities since they seized Tibet by force as part of China and drove the Dalai Lama into exile. How pitiable and cruel if the Chinese government has used the Special Olympics to continue harassing the Tibetan leader, depriving mentally disadvantaged athletes from seeing the world figure.
This is part of the exorbitant price the United States especially pays for relying on tens of billion of dollars in Chinese loans to pay U.S. government bills, for U.S. corporations' groveling at the feet of Beijing's Communist leaders for permission to do business in China and for following Beijing's truculent demand of a one-China U.S. diplomatic policy that excludes equal recognition of Taiwan.
Washington created this diplomatic monster that now is treated as too big and too pushy to be ignored, whatever its petty and insulting demands may be.
