The Beijing Games

THE Beijing Winter Olympics which is under way in the Chinese capital has seen plenty of sporting action. But it has also seen the birth of a new world order with two distinct camps emerging.

Despite the freezing weather, relations between China and Russia have warmed considerably.

Russia has Chinese backing over Ukraine while China has Russian support over Taiwan. This puts both countries in a camp against America.

American diplomats boycotted the winter Games as did her allies like the UK, Australia and Canada on the basis that China has a poor human rights record.

Hours before the opening ceremony, India also imposed a diplomatic boycott of the Games. This came after a Chinese commander who was involved in a border fight with Indian troops in 2020 was given the honour of being an Olympic torchbearer.

India felt slighted and a high-ranking diplomat said it was regrettable that the Chinese had chosen to politicise the Olympics.

In recent years India has been inching closer to the West and the events at the Beijing Olympics seem to have sealed the deal.