Tibet again

Herald Tribune article on China-Tibet, emphasizing an anger among many Chinese, in China and abroad, toward the world press for what they see as a distorted, pro-Tibetan reporting of the riots in Lhasa and elsewhere (look here for reporting that is probably more appreciated.. eeh..). There are (highly recommended) exceptions of course, but I wasn't aware of the balancing act Hu's government has to make in appeasing anti-autocratic human rights sentiments in the West on the one hand, and a national sentiment demanding even harsher treatment of the Tibetan rioters on the other. My question is: why maintain such strong nationalism in the first place?

And did you know the Olympic flame is gonna climb mount everest? :O