By Ravi S. Narasimhan (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-03-05 07:32

It is generally acknowledged that China is well on its way to becoming a superpower.

But some have bestowed upon the country supernatural powers - it waves a wand, and all wars will end; tensions in Asia will disappear, South American problems will be solved; and Africa will be a haven of peace.

It beggars belief but there are some who think - and take "principled" stands - that the Darfur issue can be wished away if China so wishes, regardless of the government's stated policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of another country and continued high-level efforts to find an amicable solution.

The latest salvo came in the form of Steven Spielberg's withdrawal as an artistic advisor to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games, claiming Beijing was not doing enough to use its influence with Khartoum to end the crisis.

The acclaimed director's reasoning is as illusory as ET, but there are similar fanciful stories doing the rounds around the world - Globe, a popular Chinese-language fortnightly, listed the Top 10.

I'll delve on my favorites.

Heading the list: Too much stress is being laid on the appearance and posture of hostesses at medal ceremonies. Organizers' pickiness in choosing hostesses illustrates the inordinate amount of planning that has gone into the upcoming Games, said one leading newspaper.

So will an "ordinate" amount of planning do? And at the risk of being sexist, why not pretty girls giving out the medals? Don't airlines do it when they choose stewardesses? Or hotels for their front office staff? Or companies for advertising their products? Has anyone been to an auto show?

Coming in at No 7: Bibles will be banned at the Olympic Village, said a report by Catholic News Agency used extensively around the world.

Chinese officials immediately discounted the report, saying it was "intentional distortion of truth" but one wonders how the story originally gained currency.

By the way, religious services will be available in the Olympic Village for Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists. Oh, and a church is being built in the Village.

At No 8 is an inauspicious prediction for what is considered a lucky number: That the Chinese economy will melt down after the Games.

Past performance is no guide to future results - that's the caveat employed by mutual funds. But should we discount the World Bank, the IMF, the Asian Development Bank and countless ratings agencies? After growing at a blistering pace for more than two decades, will the economy go belly up?

Certainly, the people who put their money where their mouth is are betting against it. Foreign direct investment more than doubled in January from a year earlier despite concerns over the impact of increased corporate income tax on foreign investors which took effect this year.

At 6: There is heavy stress on reducing vehicle numbers to ease traffic.

For the greater good, what's wrong in adopting even/odd number plate rule where you can drive only on alternate days during the Games? For those not in the know, Athens - the previous host of the Olympics - does it all year around. No mention about the four subway lines launched, or will be, in the run-up to the Games. Beijing has 142 km of subways and will have 200 km by August.

Others on the list are old hat: More than a million migrant workers will be forced out of Beijing before the Games, the weather will be bad, and foreign journalists will be closely monitored.

But my favorite is: Special pigs are secretly being raised organically to ensure safe food during the Olympics.

Why complain?

E-mail: ravi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 03/05/2008 page9)