Bush defends decision to attend Olympic Games’ opening ceremony
July 6th, 2008 - 5:15 pm ICT by IANSDPA
Toyako (Japan), July 6 (DPA US President George W. Bush defended Sunday his decision to attend the opening ceremony of next month’s Olympic Games in Beijing, saying not to go would mean offending the Chinese people. “It would be an offence against the Chinese people if I didn’t go,” Bush said in Japan after holding a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.
The US president also vowed to reassure critics by saying he would raise the issue of human rights violations during his meetings with Chinese officials while in Beijing.
The White House officially ended months of uncertainty Thursday by confirming that Bush planned to attend the Aug 8 event.
A number of European leaders are refusing to go because of China’s treatment of protesters in Tibet during recent demonstrations in the region.
Bush was in Japan to attend a Group of Eight summit due to open Monday in the northern island of Hokkaido.
DPA
- Japanese PM to attend Beijing Olympics ceremony - Jul 06, 2008
- India, China key to global climate progress, says Bush ahead of G-8 - Jul 07, 2008
- Dalai Lama set to leave for US, to meet Obama (Lead, Superseding earlier story) - Feb 16, 2010
- Nepal's Tibetan refugee resettlement plan still in doldrums - Sep 08, 2011
- Dalai Lama leaves for 10-day US visit - Feb 16, 2010
- G-8 head for Japan to deal with series of crises - Jul 06, 2008
- India reassures China over Tibet issue - Feb 08, 2012
- China raises Tibet issue, wants Indian 'reassurance' - May 28, 2010
- Historic opportunity for Hu Jintao to engage Dalai Lama (Comment) - Mar 27, 2012
- China's top political advisory group vows to promote economy - Mar 03, 2012
- The Dalai Lama: A monk on the move - Aug 23, 2010
- China vows to promote economy, stability (Lead) - Mar 03, 2012
- Obama meets Dalai Lama defying Chinese warnings (Third Lead) - Feb 19, 2010
- Tibetans welcome Obama, Dalai Lama meeting - Jul 16, 2011
- China to fight Dalai Lama's 'separatism' - Jul 19, 2011
Tags: beijing, chinese officials, demonstrations, dpa, european leaders, george w bush, group of eight summit, hokkaido, human rights violations, japanese prime minister, offence, olympic games, olympic games opening ceremony, president george w bush, protesters, tibet, uncertainty, us president george, white house, yasuo fukuda