Click to play videoBeijing: China is confident that the protests against it during the Olympic torch relay are “doomed to fail”.
The torch relay was disrupted in London and Paris and protests against China have already begun in San Francisco, the next state of the run on Wednesday. China blames the protests on Tibetan separatists.
"We express our strong condemnation. The Olympic flame belongs to the people around the world, so the behaviour of a few separatists would not gain sympathy from people and will cause strong criticism and is doomed to fail," said Wang Hui, Director of BOCOG Media and Communication Department in Beijing.
The torch was extinguished thrice in Paris after chaotic protests and put on a bus to protect it from Free Tibet protestors. By tradition the torch must stay lit until the Olympic closing ceremony.
There are threats the torch could be targeted in India but China has put up a brave front. “We are satisfied with the security made by India for torch relay. We also appreciate the efforts made by the Indian government,” said Chinese Tourism Minister Shao Qui Wei.
The controversy over Olympics has not hampered India from reaching out to China though. The country opened a new tourism office in Beijing and Tourism Minister Ambika Soni has reiterated that the torch will get full security in India.
“The External Affairs has said that the torch will get full respect and security in India,” said Soni in Beijing.
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