Ling Jun Wang

Local members of the Chinese community see the Olympics as an exciting time for China and disagree with criticisms aimed at the Chinese government prior to the games.

“We have obligations to promote human rights in China, but not in the way that they should be dictated by the outside force,” said Ling Jun Wang, president of the Chattanooga Chinese Association.

“The American system is one of the best systems in the world, but how to implement that in the outside world is actually international politics and should not be placed as a burden on the Olympic games, which mean peace and shouldn’t be politicized,” he added.

The Olympics, which had its opening ceremony Friday in Beijing, run through Aug. 24.

In the months before the Olympics, human rights groups have used the games to highlight accusations that China’s close ties to the Khartoum government in Sudan are helping fuel the bloodshed in Darfur, The Associated Press reported.

More than 40 athletes also have signed a letter addressed to China's government, urging it to respect human rights and freedom of religion, particularly in Tibet, according to the AP.

The Olympic torch relay, started in Greece on March 24, was dogged by protests over these and other matters, including street protests in Paris, London and San Francisco.

“The protests that have accompanied the Olympics are all premised on the belief in the superiority of Western culture, including concepts like constitutional democratic practices, which are quite remote from the Chinese experience,” said Dr. Richard Wilson, a political science professor at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, who has published articles and book chapters on Asian politics, history and culture.

Dr. Wang and other Chinese members of the community agree that China might not be where the Western world would like it to be, but they emphasize the importance of recognizing how much the country has changed in the last 30 years.

“Thirty years ago, China was in much worst shape than what it is today,” said Michael Zhou, who left China for the United States in 1986. “People are allowed to have more freedom than what they used to have. They are not doing things as fast as we would want to, they might not be doing the things we want to, but that doesn’t mean we can’t work with them.”

For Chinese living in Chattanooga or in the United States, the Olympics symbolize pride in a country they once left.

“This is an exciting time for China, most of the Chinese have been waiting so long for this,” said Qian Fang, who has been in the United States for 17 years. “I think after the Olympic Games, people will change their views of China.”

Dr. Wilson said the Chinese see the Olympics as international recognition of their status as a leading nation in the world.

“Chinese culture has always placed a high premium on international recognition,” he said. “So the prestige of the government is highly desired by the vast majority of the Chinese.”

Mr. Zhou sees the Olympics as “a coming-of-age party for China.”

“You have been trying to establish yourself in the global community and trying to be a responsible citizen, so this is a way to show, ‘I reached that level, I’m ready to work with you,’” said Mr. Zhou, who will cheer both for the United States and China during Sunday’s opening basketball game between both countries.

“I can’t lose. I’m a citizen of the United States and I love this country and I’m from China. I’m a winner,” he said, laughing.