BEIJING HAZE -- PERHAPS CHINA SHOULD REALIZE INDONESIA MIGHT BE EXACERBATING THE PROBLEM...

ONE THING I HAVE TO ADMIT IS THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS PUT IN AN IMPRESSIVE AND ADMIRABLE EFFORT TO MINIMIZE THE POLLUTION THAT HAS AFFECTED BEIJING FOR SO LONG SO THAT THE AIR WILL BE BETTER DURING THE BEIJING 2008 OLYMPICS GAMES.

CHINA DESERVES PRAISE FOR ITS GREAT AND MIGHTY EFFORTS.

BUT PERHAPS, JUST PERHAPS, IT SHOULD HAVE GIVEN SOUTH EAST ASIA A KEENER GLANCE AS ONE OF THE FACTORS AND CULPRITS AGGRAVATING CHINA'S HAZE PROBLEM. THE CALLOUS BURNING OF FORESTS IN INDONESIA, ESPECIALLY, MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE BEIJING HAZE TO LINGER LONGER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE. IN FACT IT IS STILL LINGERING IN BEIJING AND CHINA SHOULD PUT ITS FOOT DOWN HARD AND MAKE IT CLEAR THAT ENVIRONMENTALLY DEGRADING ACTS BY OTHER INSIGNIFICANT COUNTRIES THAT AFFECT BEIJING'S AIR QUALITY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.