China's petty policies

ARCHBISHOP Desmond Tutu of South Africa celebrates his 80th birthday tomorrow and has invited some of his many friends from around the world to join him -- people like former US President Jimmy Carter and former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Unfortunately, what should have been a happy occasion has deteriorated into a confrontation between the Archbishop and the South African government over the latter's failure to issue a visa for another invited guest, the Dalai Lama. Desmond Tutu has always spoken his mind and in the last few days he has told the government that its behaviour is worse than the country's apartheid regimes of the past and that he is inclined to pray for its downfall.

This is not the first time that South Africa has denied the Dalai Lama entry; the excuse last time was that his presence would divert attention from the World Cup.

The real reason, of course, is that China is now one of the biggest foreign investors in South Africa and uses its financial influence to make clear that allowing the Tibetan leader-in-exile to visit South Africa would not find favour in Beijing.

The Tibetan issue is not an easy one for China, especially with the question of the Dalai Lama's successor in the air, but it does not help itself with the petty policies it is imposing on South Africa.