Peng Shuai: Beijing is angry with the WTA for pulling out of China. But it can’t let the Chinese know about it
Contrary to the enveloping silence at home, Chinese government-controlled media lashed out at the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) on Twitter – a platform blocked in China – accusing the organization of The organization “organized an exaggerated show” and “supported the Western attack on the Chinese system.”
The two seemingly contradictory approaches reflect the extreme sensitivities attached to the WTA’s decision inside China – and the alleged #MeToo outbreak that sparked it.
But while that may have worked domestically, it was only intended to provoke a reaction abroad.
Xiao Qiang, editor-in-chief of China Digital Times, a US-based news website that tracks censorship in China, said: “China’s foreign propaganda on this issue is like a cardboard box. could not hold water in front of his people.
“How ironic they hope to use this story to convince the international community.”
For experts who have long watched and analyzed China’s propaganda efforts, this carefully guarded parallel path presents a more chaotic reality.
“What we really saw was desperation, the editor-in-chief of a state-owned newspaper went on Twitter and smashed his pantry. The point was to distract the world from the obvious and worthy facts. curse.”
Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the nationalist government-owned Global Times, became the first state employee to protest Thursday’s WTA decision – but only on Twitter.
In another English-language article, the Global Times said the China Tennis Association (CTA) had expressed “indignation and firm opposition” to the WTA’s decision. The CTA’s response was not reported by the Chinese-language press, nor was it posted on the association’s own website (the CTA did not respond to CNN’s request for comment).
And at a press conference on Thursday, in response to a question about withdrawing from the WTA, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry said, “China has always resolutely opposed any action that politicizes sports.” .” But even that exchange was removed from the official Q&A transcript on the Department’s website.
The length of time Beijing has spent hiding its anger at the WTA from the Chinese public shows how serious and sensitive the scandal is in the eyes of the ruling Communist Party – especially ahead of a two-decade leadership reshuffle next fall, when the President. Xi Jinping is expected to seek a third term in office.
As deputy prime minister, Zhang, 75, served on the party’s seven-man Politiburo Standing Committee – the country’s supreme governing body – with Mr. Xi from 2012 to 2017.
“It was a storm outside, and they wanted to keep the storm outside of China,” Bandurski said. “It’s an extremely sensitive issue for leadership. I think it’s probably one of the most sensitive news stories that’s happened in the last decade.”
The Chinese government’s main concern is evident in Hu’s tweet, which accused the WTA of attacking “China’s system”.
“This is basically about protecting the political system in China – this is the only agency that is concerned. It’s not about Peng Shuai’s personal safety, or her rights as a person. individual, woman, as a citizen.” Bandurski said.
“Because as soon as they actually talk about this internally, people will ask, ‘What about Zhang Gaoli? Is it right? This is a high-ranking official, why has nothing happened to him? What’s happening? ‘ with him? Where is he? ‘ And those questions immediately go to the heart of (party) power and legitimacy.”
Shortly after the WTA announced its withdrawal from China in the early hours of Thursday, several Weibo users voiced their support for the decision on the association’s official Weibo account, under the association’s old posts. (The WTA did not release a Chinese version of its announcement on Weibo.)
“WTA has a strong spine!” one comment said. “Why is this man not arrested. He really has super strong backing. It’s ridiculous,” continued the comment, seemingly referring to Zhang.
These comments were soon deleted. As of Thursday afternoon, the comments section under its two most recent posts had been disabled. “Someone was busy deleting the post,” wrote one user under the third post, only because that too was deleted and comments on the post disabled.
The WTA account – which has more than 400,000 followers – still appears on Weibo, but it has been blocked from search results.
While it all seems powerful and far-reaching, such censorship can cost the whole group, Bandurski said.
“There’s always a downside to censorship, especially when you can see it happening, when you experience it. That’s a point to blame for the system,” he said. “The most effective way to control is to let it happen invisibly, and you don’t really realize what you’re missing.”
In a way, the censorship surrounding Peng and the fire also betrays Beijing’s lack of confidence in its ability to turn the story around and gain public support.
Beijing has proved successful in mobilizing support at home in the face of international criticism regarding Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet, and sanctions on Western companies, organizations and governments. for meddling in “China’s internal affairs”. On social media, nationalists often reiterate Beijing’s anger, calling for companies to be boycotted for “insulting China”.
But Peng’s scandal was a different beast. Her allegation of sexual assault by a powerful man who was at the height of patriarchy is likely to spark outrage and sympathy in China, especially among young women, many of some of them have spoken out in support of previous #MeToo victims.
And if the Communist Party is too fearful of trying to convince its own people, any attempt to influence an international audience is almost certain to fail, experts say.
“It’s very husky. It’s very unstrategic. And I think in that sense, it’s incredibly stupid.”
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