A Chinese confusion or PR owngoal?

About turn or not?As Gordon Brown announces that he will not be attending the opening ceremony of the Olympics,the government claims that it was never his intention to go.

Nick Robinson reports that

Downing Street sources insist that the Chinese government were never in any doubt that Gordon Brown intended to attend the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games. They say that the prime minister made this clear to China's Premier Wen when they met recently in Beijing. What's more, a letter sent by China's ambassador to London on the 5th of April informs No 10 that the Chinese premier was looking forward to welcoming the PM at the closing ceremony.

But is this simply a case of mismanagement? Again Nick seems to have the inside gossip

The problem for Team Brown is that he and they have never stated clearly and publicly their man's position. Thus they stand accused of making a U-turn in the face of public pressure when, it would appear, they have done no such thing. They have, however, been guilty - once again - of an utterly avoidable PR own goal.

James Kirkup thinks Gordon is becoming somewhat of a joke

But is there some truth in what Nick Clegg says which is reported in this morning's Guardian which reports he said

Brown was suffering from "strained semantics" and it was "a belated U-turn" as Brown had never said in public that he would be absent. The Downing Street confirmation was "part of a pattern, when he only does the right thing late in the day when he is forced to do so by public opinion,"

James Forsyth is under no illusions

Gordon Brown’s position on the Beijing Olympics is becoming more absurd by the day. He’s happy to have the Olympic flame surrounded by guards from a particularly unsavoury branch of the Chinese security services in Downing Street but not to touch it himself. Now, he’s planning to skip the opening ceremony but doesn’t want anyone thinking that he is snubbing or boycotting the event.

I suppose that I have a bit of the problem with all this talk of boycott etc.After all China is not different now to when it was selected to be the host nation.It is not a democracy,has a bad record on human rights and constantly intervenes in the administration of its diverse ethnic makeup.Tibet is just another example of a long history of oppression

Should he or shouldn't he

Gordon Brown continues to dither over whether or not to meet the Dalai Lama on his visit to Britain in May.

The first post is reporting that the Prime Minister

is now expected to welcome the controversial Tibetan leader to Downing Street - but only if the current violence in Tibet has died down

.

Brown does of course face a political dilemma coming so soon after his visit to China to foster good economic relations earlier in the year.But what of the government's ethical foriegn policy?

The Chinese are not going to be happy,the same report tells of David Cameron suggesting that he will meet with the spiritual leader,

When Cameron told the Chinese ambassador, Fu Ying, that he intended to meet the Dalai Lama, "She threw a hissy fit," according to a Conservative shadow minister. "It was made pretty clear to David that it would be regarded as highly unhelpful."

Liberal leader Nick Clegg has written to the Prime Minister urging a meeting,

"I have always been a staunch supporter of the rights of the Tibetan people which have been trampled on for far too long by the authorities in Beijing.
"That is why I will be meeting the Dalai Lama when he comes to London in May and I have written to Gordon Brown to urge him to do the same.
"Given the worrying reports of protests and violence in Tibet the Prime Minister must urgently confirm that he will meet with and listen to the Dalai Lama and make the strongest possible representations to the Chinese Government.
"The Chinese government must understand that with the privilege of hosting the Olympic Games comes the responsibility of honouring the highest standards of human rights at home as well as abroad."

The free Tibet campaign have also written to the Prime Minister

with an urgent request that the UK government endorses the Dalai Lama’s call for UN observers to be dispatched immediately to Lhasa. Whilst we appreciate the calls you have already made for restraint, much more action is now needed.