The Chinese government’s campaign of terror and intimidation toward any country that sympathizes with Tibet seems to be working well. Many voices were raised against Madam Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, when she visited China, because she did not denounce the human rights abuses by the government in Beijing.

China is certainly a big player in the world economy, but using that status to ignore basic human rights is not only shameful but also irresponsible. I learned this morning that the organizers of a South African conference aimed at promoting soccer as a tool for peace in the face of racism and xenophobia have postponed their gathering after South African officials refused to grant the Dalai Lama a visa to attend the event. Clearly, the South African government decision is more economic because South Africa accounts for twenty percent of China’s trade in Africa. It is shameful.

The South African government should know, as the Yoruba of Nigeria say, “The lion’s power lies in our fear of him.”