Chinese official takes on Olympic critics

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu harshly criticized attempts to link the 2008 Beijing Olympics to political causes, AP reported. Her comments were aimed at the Dalai Lama, whom she accused of pursuing Tibetan separatism and sabotaging China’s external relations, and at groups that have called for a boycott of the Olympics over China’s relationship with Sudan. "To link the Darfur issue to the Olympics is a move to politicize the Olympics and this is inconsistent with the Olympics spirit and will bear no fruit," Jiang told reporters at a press conference. Earlier this month, China’s special envoy to Darfur, Liu Guijin, also rejected attempts to link China’s role in Sudan with the games, saying China had made great efforts toward resolving the Darfur conflict.