China Targeting Starbucks

China is taking a big swing at Starbucks, the ubiquitous coffee purveyor, for nothing more than not being Chinese.

The low-key outlet, within the gates of the Forbidden City, is certainly Chinese in influence but remains a recognizable Starbucks, a most enterprising and capitalist of companies. And even though China has embraced many policies that would seem capitalist, the philosophy of the country, government, and army remain fundamentally Communist.

A powerful television anchorman also denounced Starbucks just for being Starbucks recently, and powerful bloggers within the country's online establishment have been echoing that criticism. The outlet, by contrast, has done much to lower its profile, including removing all external signs, such that someone just wandering by might have no clue as to what the small shop actually sells.

The comments come at a time of heightened tension within China and an increase in scrutiny from without in anticipation of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.