NEW YORK -- Republican Sen. John McCain said Thursday that if he were president, he would only go to the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Beijing if China improves its record on human rights and other issues.

But the likely Republican presidential nominee stopped short of joining Democratic rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton in calling on President Bush to boycott the ceremonies.

"Unless they change something pretty quickly, I would not go to the opening ceremonies," McCain said on ABC's "The View" when asked what he would do if he occupied the White House. His campaign has said McCain believes Bush should monitor the situation and "keep his options open."

Activists are urging world leaders to stay away from the ceremonies to underscore concerns about China's human rights record, its handling of recent unrest in Tibet and its relationship with Sudan.

"I would say right now it depends on Chinese behavior. Unless there is some progress with the Dali Lama, including conversations with him, including stopping this brutal crackdown that we're seeing in Tibet, and I would make the decision not to go," McCain said. "But I would say to the Chinese, 'Look. Clean up your act here. This is not acceptable."'

He said a nation that is a world's superpower shouldn't behave like this and a strong message needs to be sent to the Chinese.

"I would say look, I can decide the day before the opening ceremonies, but I would certainly keep that option open if I were president," McCain said.