FOR the past month newspapers and news bulletins have been filled on an almost daily basis with images of Olympic torchbearers being jostled by protestors crying out for a free Tibet.

In London, the world's attention focused on China's human rights record and the mysterious Chinese officials in their now infamous bright blue tracksuits.

However, behind the barriers lining the capital's streets was another largely ignored group who simply wanted to demonstrate pride for their country and celebrate the world's greatest sporting event.

Some of those thousands of Chinese living and studying in Britain - including more than 100 from Southampton - returned to London last weekend to protest against the BBC and other media organisations for their coverage of the "free Tibet" protests and the Olympic torch relay.

Waving giant flags, wearing "I love China" T-shirts and brandishing placards reading "stop media distortion", the students stood united by patriotism.

The growing nationalistic tone is reflected on the Internet, with the Chinese encouraged to show support for their country and the Beijing Games during the torch relay.

Social networking sites and the video-sharing website YouTube have been swamped with postings highlighting alleged media bias, while bloggers have championed wheelchair-bound torchbearer Jin Jing as a national hero after she protected the torch in Paris.

More than 1,000 Chinese students study at Southampton's two universities and - as reported by the Daily Echo last year - they are increasingly becoming victims of race hate attacks.

Ping Hua, chairman of the Chinese Association of Southampton, said she feared the Western media's "misleading" reporting of the Tibet protests and Olympic torch relay could lead to even more racism in the city.

She said: "Students have told me that they are so worried they can't concentrate on their studies. They think the media has the habit of saying whatever they want about China, without any evidence or investigation."

One of the greatest challenges, Ms Hua said, was a lack of understanding among the British public of the Tibetan issue.

"How many people who shout Free Tibet!' actually know the history of Tibet? Without being in China, they seem to believe whatever the media says about China.

"The media in this country tends to portray a negative image of China on all issues. There is a danger of the public being seriously misled by the media, which could result in grave consequences.

"The media has the responsibility to present a full and unbiased picture of a foreign country which the public may not be familiar with. If misleading the court is a crime, what about misleading the public?"

She added: "What happened in Tibet was more of a riot than a peaceful protest, with innocent people being hurt and killed by rioters, but the media jumps to the conclusion that it's just the Chinese government cracking down on a peaceful protest."

The BBC responded to the criticism in a statement issued last week: "Despite restrictions placed on journalists, our coverage of Tibet has been extensive, fair and balanced.

"The same is true of our reporting of the Olympic torch relay and the protests that have accompanied it."

Ms Hua - who last year won the BBC South Community Champions award for Racial Harmony and Understanding - said she hoped that, rather than widening the cultural divide, the Beijing Games would be an opportunity to bring China and the West closer together.

"China is making great progress in terms of human rights and I think people here find it very easy to speak out about human rights, but they don't think about themselves. So there are double standards here.

"I think the Olympics is a great opportunity for China to show itself to the world and I hope people will go to the Olympics to see the real China.

"The Olympics represents peace, friendship and progress, but if protestors try to sabotage the torch relay it is a serious violation of the Olympic spirit because the Olympics don't belong to China, they belong to the world."

The Daily Echo this week attended a forum with Chinese students and staff from the University of Southampton to debate the Western media's coverage of the Tibet issue and the Olympic torch relay. Here is what some of them had to say: Shuang Liu: "I wish that China can improve and that all the Western people can come to China and see what it is really like. I want everyone to see the real China."

Qi Lin: "China is far from perfect, but I want Western people to learn the real story for themselves, or come to China and then make a judgement."

Jun Xia: "I don't agree with the people who want to grab the Olympic tourch. You can say whatever you like about China, but what is the point of trying to grab the Olympic tourch?"

Wei Wu: "There are issues in China, but don't exaggerate it. Don't make comment, just tell the truth - that is enough."

Rong Zhang: "The Olympics are a very good opportunity to communicate between the Chinese Government and the Western media."

Weidong He: "My only wish is that one day in Beijing the Tibetan flag can be shown there, like a Scottish flag can be shown in London."

Liqin Dong: "I hope that my country will get better and better and I hope it will be peaceful during the Olympic Games."

Fan Zhang: "I was told by a British friend that our protest would be forgotten very soon, so my hope is that our voices can be heard more and more by Western people."