China's Other Border

With all of the attention that China is getting in light of the torch protest and the riots in Tibet. This time, it is the North Korean border that is drawing attention to Chinese policy. North Koreans who are leaving their country to avoid religious or political persecution are being repatriating the refugees, and returning them to North Korea.

An American Human Rights watch dog ground released a report that included more than 40 interviews that stated that those returned to North Korea face torture and sometimes death. One witness said that they witnessed someone being shot because the person took a Bible from a South Korean priest.

Is this attention that China really needs right now? With the Olympics coming, which should be a moment to highlight China's accomplishments, is being marred by the media attention of Chinese policy. However, any abrupt change in policy will only fuel speculation of China changing policy to save face during the games to only go back to business as usual after the games.