Beijing 2008: a new look at China

Everyone watched stunned as China scored a point in its favor with the recent the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.  China’s host nation agenda was to use the games as a showcase for their modernity, organizational abilities, economic power and preoccupation for perfectionism. It also offered other nations the chance to see the delicate network of this ancient culture’s particularities in a framework of beauty and Eastern wisdom. It was that long-awaited, momentous occasion longed for, above all by Westerners, to get to know China’s greatness. It was a chance to see it as something other than just being at odds with humanism.  The fact that they did it before hundreds of millions of TV viewers is undeniably to their credit. The press was covering every aspect of the games in minute detail and broadcasting up to the minute reports.

Cristian Toloza’s article “The Olympic Games and National Image” is of great interest in this context. The director of the Asia-Pacific Project, though measured and objective in his article did express concern and a hint of pessimism vis-à-vis China’s attempt to renew its national image in the 21^st century. Sensitive areas may have been exposed which may come back to haunt China later. As he mentions in his piece, “the Great Dragon failed to take note of its own Achilles Heel; namely, its relative inexperience in the international public relations arena.  It entered into this realm, with its manifold actors, using logic which defies international pressure and which pertains to a public opinion which corresponds to no specifically defined public.”

Personally, I am a nit more optimistic as regards this PR move by China. For starters, we know that this agenda was developed after a long, arduous process, given that they are, after all, Asians. Accordingly, we can assume every detail was covered during the last four years of planning and preparation.   As such, they must have evaluated, step-by-step, any possible international forces which may be trying to reduce their national prestige. They also probably had a contingency plan for same.

From very early on, we were all witnesses of the "dirty PR" that sought condition us into eventually rejecting the Chinese project.  The signals in the broadcast media were clear and categorical: it will be difficult for the Olympics in China to be brought off well given their internal, domestic situation. Its ambitious architectural projects probably would not be completed on time. The “free” countries would not want to expose their athletes to imminent dangers and probably would not participate. The problems during the passage of the Olympic flame actually represented worldwide sentiment towards the games being held in China, etc. However, when the moment of truth arrived, these Olympics brought together the highest number of delegations ever. This all occurred in a flawless background which was cause only for amazement, and not disappointment.

The terrorist plots, most likely planned, never occurred; at least not during this first week since the start of the Games.  Chinese security services have taken all the necessary measures to ensure the safety of the competitors and visitors.    The only issues were some situations involving foreign tourists, who were deported immediately for Tibetan-related pamphleteering.

The splendor of the Opening Ceremony (China’s first expected triumph) certainly helped to hush much of the negative PR. The nay-saying gave way to ridiculous arguments which were, in turn, also broadcast to every corner of the planet.   Huge headlines complained of Chinese trickery.   Headlines like: “Poster Child for Games Lip Synced!”  “Real Singer’s Human Rights Trampled!” How many people across the globe mistake theater for athletic ability? If this is the case, how many other Chinese children, woman and young people had their rights trampled because they were not allowed to perform during this presentation of Chinese beauty and ability, due to their being small, ugly, dark or uncoordinated? Would it also be valid to denounce the marathon runner, who lit the torch at the Opening Ceremony, for having failed to truly run; to denounce him for making a mockery of the lighting because he was not really running a marathon? 

To this phenomenal Opening Ceremony, we can add China’s stupendous performance in the Games: winning an impressive amount of medals thus far. To all this we may add the deep respect, understanding and welcome which visitors have received from a truly dedicated Chinese public upon their arrival.  

This very commitment has been the true cause of this seemingly impossible PR miracle. Herein we see the result of millions of anonymous Chinese who worked to meet their nation’s commitment to hosting the Games. The nucleus of leaders who planned the Games share their laurels with the millions who transformed the venues into what they are today. This sharing of responsibility, along the lines of their millennial culture, is impossible for us to understand. 

I would personally compare today’s China to the Japan of 1853, who began a process of opening itself to the world; a nation who left behind Edo and came into an era of power and material wealth.   Then, after total destruction, it lifted itself up to become one of the world’s strongest powers. How did this occur? Through principles and strengths which emanate from an Eastern culture that has existed for millennia. China is doing the same. It started later and under a different paradigm, but its amazing achievements are developing it into a world power, while evoking the envy of the world. 

What will happen tomorrow, when the games end?  No doubt many changes will occur on the international stage. China will have gained a lot of international prestige and acceptance, which the nay-sayers will immediately try to damper. After this, as Toloza states in his article, it will be business as usual. But China will benefit from the feedback into its own internal development processes, from this, its latest and possibly most important achievement. It will increase its internal cohesion and increase its pride in being Chinese.