In the run up to the olympics Chinese immigration officials have tightened restrictions on entry/exit requirements for foreigners. After coming across a recent Washington Post article, I was disgruntled to learn that heightened security measures in preparation for the Beijing games may not be the only reason for these actions: a rising tide of nationalism by both state and citizenry can prove troublesome for the traveller. The question of whether this will become a permanent fixture in Chinese tourism and expatriate relations is still shrouded in vagaries.It's clear to all that the nation's human-rights record is gradually diminishing as its economic and political might monopolize the global landscape. International scrutiny, principally from the west, has infuriated Chinese society as the state attempts to revamp its image - both ostensive and internal - prior to the summer games. Questionable practices regarding Chinese-Sudanese relations and the escalation of the Darfur conflict coupled with increasing instability in Tibet may play key roles in rekindling nationalist sentiment and xenophobic tendencies.
For the traveller, student, tourist, and expatriate, increased visa scrutiny poses massive barriers to visiting, living, and becoming immersed in monolithic China. With limited multi-entry visas being issued and a thirty-day cap on the free movement of tourists, revealing this majestic region to newly introduced people will continue to be difficult. For many, this mysterious, often misunderstood nation may continue to be just that - a mystery.
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