This Week in China

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Remember how China promised to play nice and at least let protestors demonstrate in three specially approved parks? Authorities revealed that 149 people had submitted 77 applications to demonstrate during the Olympics. None were approved.

Chinese officials blamed the matter on technicalities (“The applicants have been told to apply again according to the proper procedures set down,” a spokesperson said. “It does not mean their applications have been rejected.”) Yet two elderly women who applied to protest were ordered to a year of reeducation through labor. One Hong Kong resident received word that he could protest once the Olympics were over.

Five Americans were arrested Tuesday after spelling out “Free Tibet” with LED lights in Olympic Park. Three others were detained in a seperate incident. On Friday, five Americans were detained then deported after hanging a 375-foot “Free Tibet” sign on the side of the state-run television headquarters.

More Olympics

As of Wednesday afternoon, China led the gold medal count with 45, but trailed the United States overall, 79 to 82. Chinese women have been key to their country’s Olympic success.

Officials confirmed what FP readers already knew: the Beijing games are the most-viewed in Olympic history.

State media scrambled to massage the surprising withdrawal of superstar hurdler Liu Xiang. Liu, perhaps the most popular athlete in China, pulled out of the 100-meter hurdles after he said his foot “didn’t feel right.”

Environment

Environmental officials say pollution levels have met expected standards during the Olympics. Independent observers agreeed, but said the success was largely due to favorable weather.

U.S. consumers may feel the fallout of Beijing’s efforts to curb smog, which made manufacturing more expensive.

Economy

The Olympics haven’t been a boon for China’s stock market, which has tumbled 15 percent since Aug. 8.

Business is good, however, for Tsingtao beer.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said China is moving in the “right direction” on currency reform.

Rebuilding costs from May’s Sichuan earthquake may total $147 billion.

Politics

Hua Gofing, who briefly ruled as Mao’s successor, is dead at 87.

Things aren’t looking good for ethnic unity.

Taiwan

Former president Chen Shui-bian, under investigation for money-laundering allegations, has been barred from leaving the island.

The Taipei zoo will receive two pandas as a gift from the mainland. The names of the two pandas, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, mean “unity” when put together.

China Moment

Chinese media speculate that Michael Phelps is actually Korean.