Tourism declines as Beijing cracks down on security

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BEIJING -- Every night at 8, dozens of red-shirted security agents begin their patrols of Beijing's most famous bar district, wielding batons as they watch alertly for any signs of rowdiness or excessive drunkenness.The Sanlitun district, two blocks of nightclubs and cafes, already has a police station in the middle of it and regular police patrols. China, as an authoritarian state, has never had a shortage of police. But now, with the Beijing Olympics approaching, the security presence is heavier than ever.Special new units of security agents, about 80 men with uniforms of red shirts and black pants, have begun prowling the short Sanlitun strip, accompanied by dozens of undercover police officers.Altogether, more than 100 new security agents have been deployed, according to one plainclothes agent, even though the bar district has always been tame by international standards.It's just the latest in Beijing's massive new security operation as it strives to eliminate any potential embarrassments to its showcase Olympics this summer. The bars are seen as a key target for Chinese security because of their combination of alcohol, young people, foreign customers and occasional drugs and violence.The security crackdown, combined with tighter rules on foreign visas, has helped trigger a sharp decline in visitors to Beijing in the past several weeks. By the time the Olympics begin on Aug. 8, the city's freewheeling spirit will be seriously dented. Some locals are already calling it the "Killjoy Games."With only six weeks remaining until the opening ceremonies, the fate of China's historic coming-out party is still unclear. While the Beijing Olympics will likely draw praise for its memorable architecture, its efficient organization and its enthusiastic volunteers, it could also face criticism for its security excesses and potentially sterile atmosphere.The number of foreign tourists in Beijing dropped by 14 percent in May, after a 5.3 percent decline in April, and the decline is expected to continue until after the Olympics, travel industry officials say.Many of Beijing's hotels have suffered a sharp drop in their occupancy rates. The city's four-star hotels are reporting a dismal 45 percent occupancy rate in what was supposed to be a booming Olympic year. Many outdoor gatherings, concert festivals and academic conferences have been cancelled for security reasons.The heavy security is becoming visible all over the city. Some subway stations have installed X-ray machines to screen the bags of subway passengers. Police patrols have been boosted in many districts. Restaurants and bars adjacent to Olympic venues are being ordered to close for two months.In April, the police called a meeting of managers from 71 bars and cafes in Sanlitun and forced them to sign an anti-drug policy, aimed at eliminating all drug use in the district by the time of the Olympics.Many of the 440,000 Chinese "volunteers" at the Olympics will actually be security agents, watching for any trouble from protesters or dissidents.At the same time, Beijing is ramping up its anti-terrorism operations. It has mobilized a 100,000-strong anti-terrorism force, including commandos and other military units, to prevent security threats at the Olympics. It has even deployed batteries of surface-to-air missiles near the main Olympic venues, in case of any terrorist attacks from the air.Because the Olympics has become such a crucial project to China's national prestige, there is a danger that it could be over-regulated and antiseptic. Even the cheering behavior of Chinese spectators is being strictly regulated. According to the official cheering rules, Chinese spectators are supposed to clap twice, give the thumbs-up sign, clap twice again, and then punch the air with both arms. The Chinese media have described this as being "in line with general international principles for cheering."(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)