Tibetan Challenge to China

--The Tibetian uprising marked the challenge to Beijing and could have repercussions for the Olympics. --This level of global publicity and scrutiny could heighten the fallout for China if it acts too forcefully in Lhasa. Beijing has been under fire for human rights, treatment of Northe Korean refugees... --Beijing also essentially withdrew from negotiations aimed at political rapprochement with the Dalai Lama, a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, and restarted a campaign of public attacks on him. --The government also has stepped up efforts to punish expressions of dissent and curtail religious freedoms. --While trying to stifle dissent, Beijing also has been trying to cast itself in the role of economic savior for Tibet. Communist officials describe "pre-liberation" Tibet as a feudal state governed by powerful monks and one of the most backward places in the world. Beijing has spent heavily in Tibet, especially to develop the tourism, meatpacking, dairy and mining industries.