The 19th Asian Games has brought a global spotlight on China due to the escalating geopolitical conflicts in Asia and elsewhere in the world. Even as leaders from several Asian countries gather in Hangzhou for the inaugural ceremony of the Asian Games, China earlier directed its sportspersons to raise their own level of "political awareness", remember the "greater cause of the nation" and "present a positive image of China's reform, development and social progress to Asia and the international community."
Issued just ahead of the Asian Games, the latest directive has raised many eyebrows across the globe over China using big sports events like Asiad for its political benefits. The narrative has a political overtone. It is not the first time China has done it. China is not the only country that has used sports events to take diplomatic and political advantage. In the case of China, different perspectives have come on this issue. While some experts argued that China uses sports to promote positive narratives, such as national unity and cultural pride, others said, `no’ adding that China was using sports to whitewash its human rights record and promote its authoritarian ideology.
In the Winter Olympics, CNN.com reported that For China, Beijing 2022 was a resounding success that exceeded all expectations. To the rest of the world, it remained a deeply polarising event that projected China’s rising power and its growing assertiveness, ready to defy and challenge its critics. The US daily’s website stated that for the ruling Communist Party and its supreme leader Xi Jinping, the domestic audience matters the most.
The success of the Games presented Xi with a moment of national unity as he geared up for an unprecedented third term in power this fall.
Germany's international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle (DW) quoted experts who said that China has used the Olympics to reinforce political ties and influence its global and domestic reputation. China had used Beijing Winter Olympics held in February 2022 to advance the Chinese government's political agenda.
The Chinese government promoted "China Dream" initiative, which was part of a vision for China's future in which the country is strong, prosperous, and respected. The Olympics were also used to promote the Chinese government's narrative of national unity and harmony as well.
China’s human rights record came under heavy scrutiny ahead of the Winter Olympicsin 2022, with the United States and several other countries announcing a diplomatic boycott of the event as a statement against China’s “ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang.”
China has been accused of human rights abuses in a number of areas, including the mass detention of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province, crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong, and suppression of religious freedom. China has territorial disputes with several Asian countries, including Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
These disputes have led to tensions and mistrust between China and its neighbours. It has been accused of using debt-trap diplomacy to pressure other countries to accept its terms and conditions. For example, Sri Lanka was forced to hand over control of a major port to China after being unable to repay its loans.
China's economic dominance in Asia has raised concerns about its growing influence and its potential to bully smaller countries. China's military aggression in the South China Sea has alarmed many Asian countries. It has built artificial islands and military bases in the South China Sea, despite the fact that other countries claim parts of this territory. Hence, such narrative has irked many countries.
Experts explained that the purpose of such political narrative was to consolidate its position at the international and national level. China used sports to assert its influence at the global level. Hosting and winning major sporting events like the Olympics and Asian Games, have helped China release political narratives for the global audience. Chinese experts said that the presence of foreign leaders for the opening ceremony in China for Asiad speaks volume about China’s strategic moves.
King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia, President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" of Nepal, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao of Timor-Leste, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo of South Korea and Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat of Malaysia Johari bin Abdul confirmed their participation for the inaugural ceremony and provide China an opportunity to showcase the solidarity among Asian countries and reflect a consensus on building a community with a shared future in Asia.
Chinese experts conceded that the current escalation in geopolitical conflicts and the involvement of external countries, such as the US-led West, in Asian affairs have irked China which believes in opposing external disruption.
However, China is trying to demonstrate to Asia an attitude of inclusiveness, equality, and openness based on the spirit of sportsmanship. Hence, it launched political narrative for its sportspersons to spread among sportspersons from Asian countries about China.
Xi Lao is a freelance journalist based in Taiwan.
