Here's another of those articles which, opposing a boycott of the Beijing Olympics, are dismissive even of a 'semi-boycott': that is, of a stay-away from the opening ceremony. The nub of the argument is that China isn't bothered by international criticism. For...
China's standing in the world... does not rest on anyone's approval but on military and (especially) economic power.It's hard to avoid the counter-thought that if open disapproval of its human rights record can't hurt the Chinese government, then approval of or indifference towards it also can't, and more certainly can't. And disapproval does have the advantage that it might be welcome to Chinese critics of the Beijing regime - human rights activists, democrats, those kinds of people. (Via Clive - who also has this link to the 'freedom' badge.)