Recently, the Olympics torch relay has been continuously disrupted in London, Paris, and San Francisco by demonstrations with various political objectives.

Some western politicians too have taken the stand to abstain from the Beijing Olympics' opening ceremony. The series of unfolding incidents show that a politicized Olympics is inevitable.

In fact, politicizing the Olympics is nothing new. In 1980, the Moscow Olympics was boycotted by countries opposing the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan; in turn the following Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 was boycotted by countries like the Soviet Union and Cuba.

However, the previously politicized Olympic games ocurred in the shadow of the Cold War, while this year's Olympics are taking place as China has become a participant in the era of globalization.

As China is increasingly integrated into the global arena and being viewed as a new power there, the implications from the current challenges become all the more weighty, and must be faced calmly and rationally.

In recent years, a rapidly developing China has invoked suspicion and guardedness among some western politicians and media, largely fueled by China's differing political system and developmental model. People from the world over affected by the globalization process are transferring their anger to China; while international human rights and environmental organizations are placing more scrutiny on the country. All these concerns have in one way or other exuded through the drama surrounding the Olympic torch relay.

Those holding the assumption that "China is under siege" should step back and realize that the agitations and debates were not started by the Olympics, nor will they end with the Game. The fray will continue to court China as it rises and develops. If we over-react and simply define the current outcry as pro or against the Olympics, we are indeed further politicizing the Games, and playing into a passive and reactive role.

The obstacles during the torch relay indicated that China's peaceful rise wouldn't be a smooth journey. As the country gradually blends into the international community, clashes between different ideologies and interest groups will be inevitable, it will become the norm and endure. Only by persistently opening ourselves to communication can we see and hear the truth, tell right from wrong, clear up misunderstanding, and reduce conflicts.

Some of the western media do have biased reports on China, and these reports ought to be exposed and refuted. But it's hard for us to believe the western mainstream media are founded on continual lies and that western societies are always willing to be fooled. The State Council Information Office deputy director Wang Pijun said recently that the Chinese government wouldn't change its opening-up policy towards the media because of some untrue reports about Lhasa. As a nation that is gradually building its bases and maturing in mentality, it should have the generosity and tolerance in allowing others to ridicule, picking on us, and even distorting, or criticize us out of thin air. 

During their own rises in the last century, Germany and Japan had resorted to populist politics and ultra-nationalism to strengthen national unity and consciousness. Their governments magnified a sense that the nations were under siege and being hurt; and the ballooning of these sentiments finally led to catastrophe. Their experiences should be taken as a serious lesson.

Therefore, the Chinese public should stay alert to any exaggeration on "the enemy" or concept of "battling". Moreover, we should be wary of any expressions akin to those of the cultural revolution, such as "we support anything the enemies are against, and oppose anything they are for".

A successful Beijing Olympic Games will enhance our esteem and confidence. In the process, the Chinese government and the public should all the more exercise objectivity, open-mindedness and tolerance. We should examine our own defects and problems as we develop; we should face the challenges head on for the peaceful rise of China, and enhance modernization to pave the way for a smooth admittance into the mainstream international circle.

Ultimately, the best way to counter international ridicule is by creating a country that has a clean and democratic government; a peaceful country following a healthy development path and where multi-ethnic communities live harmoniously and share prosperity.