Washington: Maintaining that "quiet diplomacy" is a more effective way of pressuring China on Tibet issue, the US today said boycotting the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics to protest the crackdown on Tibetans would be a "cop-out".

"I think this issue is in some sense a bit of a red herring. I think, unfortunately, a lot of countries say, Well, if we say that we are not going to the opening ceremonies, we've checked the box on Tibet. That's a cop-out," US National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said.

"If other countries (are) concerned about Tibet, they ought to do what we are doing, through quiet diplomacy, send the message clearly to the Chinese that this is an opportunity, with the whole world watching, to show that they take into account and are determined to treat their citizens with dignity and respect," he told Fox News.

Leaving open an element of uncertainty whether President George W Bush will attend the opening ceremony on Aug 8, Hadley said the quiet diplomacy would put pressure on China to meet with representatives of the Dalai Lama and use this as an opportunity to help resolve the situation.

"If people are concerned about Tibet, that's what they ought to be doing rather than making these sort of symbolic gestures about whether you go to the opening ceremonies" Hadley said.

The White House has long maintained that the President will be attending the Olympics this summer in China but has not said whether he will be there for the opening ceremonies.
Source : PTI