The Chinese government, trying to convince the world of its openness has unblocked the BBC's webpage. Which means I can share with you a good Q&A they've posted about the situation in the "West".

(Yes, I am completely consumed by the situation. No, it's probably not healthy.)

Many Tibetans disagree, pointing out that the Himalayan region was an independent kingdom for many centuries, and that Chinese rule over Tibet has not been constant.

For example, after a brief military conflict between China and Tibet in the early part of the 20th Century, Tibet declared itself an independent republic in 1912.

Although its status did not receive widespread recognition, Tibet functioned as an independent government until 1951.

China sent troops to Tibet in 1950 and summoned a Tibetan delegation the following year to sign a treaty ceding sovereignty to China.

Since then there have been periods of unrest and sporadic uprisings as resentment to Beijing's rule has persisted.

Although China has invested in the economy, rights groups point to widespread mistreatment of the Tibetan population and a denial of religious and political freedom.

Will the two sides be able to resolve their differences?

The Chinese government has been engaged in low-level talks with Tibet's government-in-exile, based in India, over recent years.

But the BBC's Michael Bristow, in Beijing, says the talks have not got very far, and do not show much hope for the future either.

The gulf between the two sides is too great, our correspondent says.

China insists that the Tibetans in exile, led by the Dalai Lama, want nothing less than to separate Tibet from the motherland.

The Dalai Lama - Tibet's spiritual leader and head of the government-in-exile - says he wants nothing more than genuine autonomy for the region.

Why is the Tibet issue so well-known?

Perhaps one of the reasons Westerners know so much about Tibet is because of the Dalai Lama.

Since fleeing Tibet following a failed uprising in 1959, he has travelled the world advocating more autonomy for his homeland, yet stressing non-violence.

He won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in 1989.

But Beijing faces disputes from other quarters, as well as Tibet.

The island of Taiwan has essentially been self-governing for half a century, but China regards it as part of its territory - and has said it is willing to use force if necessary to make sure this remains the case.

Uighur separatists in Muslim-majority Xinjiang province have waged a low-level insurgency against the Beijing government for many years.

The Beijing government frequently claims it faces "international terrorism" in Xinjiang, and that the Taleban is active there, but human rights groups say these claims are exaggerated.

Will there be further protests?

China has responded to these protests with a show of force. There is now a heavy military presence in Lhasa and in other areas where unrest was reported. Officials and state media have vowed to "resolutely crush" pro-independence sentiment.

But the fundamental cause of the demonstrations has not been resolved and so tension is likely to persist, correspondents say.

Also, the Olympics will be held in Beijing this summer and campaigners both inside and outside China have already started using the publicity surrounding the event to highlight their particular concerns.

It is highly likely that those who want greater autonomy for Tibet will continue their campaign.

One potential flashpoint could come when the Olympic torch arrives in Tibet in a few months' time.

Found this via China Law Blog

"Gulf Between Foreign and Chinese Expectations of the Olympics"

In the past couple days, ok since the protests in Tibet started making news, I've become obsessed in Chinese politics not seen since I did my Participation in Government presentation on human rights abuses in China when I was a senior in high school.

I can't stop reading about what's going on. And obviously I can't stop linking to what I'm reading.

I've never been a big fan of China getting the Olympics, I always thought it was a bad idea, not just from the human rights standpoint but also from the environmental standpoint.

Should countries start boycotting? I'm completely torn. The radical in me, would love for it to happen, but the realist wonders if anything would come from it. On one hand I think boycotting would send a strong message to China. But on the other the government will become more steadfast in it's belief that the West is trying to bully them. 

No matter what happens, I don't think the next few months are going to be pretty.

This semester's gotten busy already. My evenings and free time have been sucked up by correcting papers and reading journals. I love teaching, I just hate grading!! Poor Niels, we share this desk and with all the work I've been bringing home he doesn't have a place to work!!

Dear Mother Nature,

I know you've been having a rough go the past few years decades with all the crap we're polluting you with and that I've no right to ask for any favors... But can I have Spring back? This winter was rough, cold, snowy, and then very dry and I should be grateful for the warmer weather. But it's too warm too soon. It went from Winter to Summer practically overnight. It shouldn't be so warm so early in the year, it doesn't feel right

So, pretty please, can you give us a proper Spring?

Saturday night, Niels, B (one of the other foreign teachers) and I had dinner with one of our best Chinese friend’s Mom, Ling, a friend of hers and her daughter, Evania. Normally when we’ve had dinner with Ling in the past it’s always been a really nice time. When we got back from Guangxi we had dinner with her and Evania and it was quite lovely.

Last night was the total opposite. It started out well enough, but as the meal progressed it became very apparent that a conversation about us, that wasn’t too nice, was going on between Ling and her friend. At one point while the younger people we were talking B suddenly said that the topic of conversation needed to be changed and she’d tell us why later. On the cab ride home she told us that derogatory things were being said about us, all foreigners are fat and they don’t take the time out to learn the language. B is highly conversational in Chinese and she was able to steer the conversation to make sure it was more inclusive of the parents, translation duties were traded back and forth between her and Evania.

Towards the end of dinner Ling told me that I needed to eat more, when I told her I was full she kept pushing the issue, but I held firm and told her that the food was fantastic and that I had enough, and once again she said I needed to eat more. I left it alone and conversation carried on. But not less than 5 minutes later she told me I was fat. Not in so many words, but in the way it’s been said to me before, “Are all women in America fat?” I was a bit shocked because this was the first time that she had something insulting to me. I’m not sure if it’s because she had a friend over or what. But it was upsetting.

No matter how we tried to engage them in discourse (“Caren eats much less than I do, she just has a different body type.” “Most women in America are average weight, but the media, fashion and entertainment have done things that make them hate their bodies.”), it was like we weren’t talking. Ling told us that she only eats breakfast and lunch and was really excited that we were coming to dinner so she could eat dinner. She said that when she saw herself lose weight from doing this, she became very happy. It was another way for her to insinuate that if I were thin I’d be happy.

I wanted to ask her if she thought it healthy that she starves herself but I didn’t. I really wanted to say to her, I’m sorry you hate your self image so much but don’t try to push it on me, but I didn’t. Even if I did I don’t think she would have understood what I was trying to say.

There is a double standard in China, all the things that you wouldn’t say or do to a fellow Chinese are ok to do to foreigners because we’re not really people. The biggest reason I was so upset by all of this is because it was said by our friends, not people we’ve just met. (When I first met the president of the university he said to me “Tell me about all the delicious foods you eat.” You have to give him credit for being creative in how he insulted me.) Where I come from you don’t invite a friend to your home only to insult them. I get insulted enough by complete strangers when I walk down the street I don’t need it from people who say they are my friends.

It is situations like this that make living in China difficult and is my number one dislike of living here.