Spielberg's Olympics Exit Angers China

Film Director Drops Adviser Role, Says Beijing Not Doing Enough To End Darfur Crisis

(AP)  Hollywood director Steven Spielberg's decision to quit the Beijing Olympics over the Darfur crisis is drawing condemnation by China's state-controlled media and a groundswell of criticism from the Chinese public.

Last week, the American director withdrew from his role as an artistic adviser to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Summer Games, accusing China of not doing enough to press for peace in the troubled Sudanese region.

Officially, the Chinese government has not directly criticized Spielberg by name, expressing only "regret" over his decision. But the state-run media and the public have been far less restrained.

In newspaper commentaries and lively Internet forums, they have expressed outrage, scorn and bewilderment that China's Olympics have come under international criticism from Spielberg and others.

A biting front-page editorial Wednesday in the overseas edition of the People's Daily, the Communist Party's official newspaper, blasted Spielberg for his decision.

"A certain Western director was very naive and made an unreasonable move toward the issue of the Beijing Olympics. This is perhaps because of his unique Hollywood characteristics," it said.

Over the weekend, the Guangming Daily, also published by the Communist Party, ran an editorial saying Spielberg "broke his promise to make his contribution to the Beijing Olympics and betrayed the Olympic spirit."

He "is not qualified to blame China because he knows nothing about the great efforts the Chinese government has made on Darfur," it said.

An editorial in the China Youth Daily was equally scathing.

"This renowned film director is famous for his science fiction. But now it seems he lives in a world of science fiction and he can't distinguish a dream from reality," it said.

China is believed to have influence over Sudanese leaders because it buys two-thirds of the African country's oil exports. China also sells weapons to the Islamic government and defends it in the United Nations.

More than 200,000 people have died in Darfur in a conflict between rebels and militias backed by government forces.

China often uses its newspapers to make statements it does not want to officially comment on. But the issue also has exploded on the Internet, where scores of Chinese have been quick to add their criticism of Spielberg.

"We should have never invited him in the first place," was one retort on Sina.com, the country's largest Internet portal.

Others asked why China's Olympic Games were being linked to Darfur.

"Spielberg used the sacred Olympics as a tool. There are so many simpler or more complicated issues than the Darfur issue in the world," one said. "I rarely heard him say anything. Why was he so keen this time?"

But the recent storm of international criticism has prodded China to take some steps.

Earlier this week, the Foreign Ministry announced that China's special envoy to Darfur will be making his fourth visit to the region later this month.

In a telephone call Tuesday to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Premier Wen Jiabao detailed China's efforts to establish peace in Darfur, a move that underscored the sensitivity of the issue.

On Wednesday, the head of marketing for the Beijing Olympics defended China's stance on Darfur and appealed to activists not to pressure sponsors to pull out of the games.

"China has been doing a lot toward the resolution of the Darfur issue," said Yuan Bin, director of the Beijing Olympics marketing department. "I want to say the Olympics should be kept nonpolitical."

In an interview published Wednesday, China's special envoy to Darfur said that Western countries can help move forward the peace process by pushing rebel leaders to take part in negotiations.

"Western powers can exert more positive influence on those rebel leaders because many of them live in Western capitals," envoy Liu Guijin told the China Daily newspaper.

Abdel Wahid Nur, one of the most influential rebel leaders, lives in France.

Liu will be making his fourth visit to Darfur later this month. In a telephone call Tuesday to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Premier Wen Jiabao detailed China's efforts to establish peace in Darfur, a move that underscored the sensitivity of the issue.

[chaijixin]

The inurbane crisis is caused by ignorance. How much do you know about China. I am sure you have a wrong understanding of China due to your state-controlled media.Pls come and support China, You will realize that you are cheated for many years past.

[chaijixin]

Olympic Game is worldwide physical culture, pls do not relate it as political issue. What''s wrong with chinese product? look at your food, furniture and clothes.most of them are from China, without chinese product without your life! have you been to China? If you have ever been to China, You would change your mind. You are cheated by your government.

[trillion1]

I remember when a Chinese leader visted here awhile back and he saw a protest and told the president "You shouldn''t allow them to do that." It will be interesting to see what they will do if there is a protest while the world is watching.

[westjime]

He is quite a guy!!! He was said to have a personal account on a Luxury online service M e e t R i c h. c o m for successful and celebs singles with his hot pictures and blog there. Quite a few hot girls and ladies wrote to him.

[davek455]

Chinese food - contaminated
Chinese products - contaminated
China''s environment - the most polluted on the planet
China''s human rights record - the worst
China''s forced abortions - dispicable

China - you have a LONG way to go to be considered a legitimate world power

[kevzgrl]

How do you say "Wahhh" in Chinese?

[cjs_cnet_xyz]

I have been waiting and waiting to see who would be the first to touch the Darfur nerve of China''s oil purchasing. What are the political ramifications? Will African Americans buy Chinese-made automobiles given that China is contributing to this genocide? Will they continue to buy Chinese made goods or will there be a boycott?

[mitywhity]

Darfur? Okay. What about the Chinese'' own atrocities on their own soil at the hand of their own government as in their citizens drowning baby girls to avoid the "quota", imprisoning and beating and killing Christians. Doesn''t that count for something Spielberg? Darfur is horrible, but no more horrible than China wearing the mask of "Good Neighbor" while oppressing and brutalizing their own people. Spielberg, your actions are hollow. I''ll not watch a second of the Chinese Olympics - we should just have them in North Korea next go around.

[katelady-2009]

Why China is responsible for the politics? Olympic is the physical jerks%uFF0C why you make it related to politics? If you want to boycott the Chinese Olympics for Human Rights violations, no one cares.

[erasmus6]

Not that it matters as none of them will be allowed to read this." posted by cbscrash07


Ahhh, WRONG! The whole world can see this website. I think a lot of people are under the impression that ALL of China is communist, it isn''t.

[Syndicate]

Good for Spielberg.

I have this to say to the chinese. Not that it matters as none of them will be allowed to read this. The opinion of the chinese people is handed to them by thier government therefore thier opinion on anything is worthless and irrelevant. It is obvious that if the chinese knew of the horrid conditions in thier own country they would be to embarrased to criticize a director who is only doing what he thinks is right. Again the chinese people are display thier stupidity to the world.

[runningralph]

China is a great country filled with hard-working, intelligent, well educated people. They used to be Communists and they purged a bunch of people and fought the Korean War and propped up Hanoi. Then they realized Communism makes a country starve and go broke. They changed. They went to controlled capitalism. More power to them. If you don''t like Chinese goods, don''t buy them. As far as I know no one has died from Chinese goods in the US.

[bill1fj]

I wish everyone would boycott all chinese goods.
Probably wouldn''t happen with WalMart pushing the sale of chinese goods, with or without lead.

[misssuzq]

Why is it China''s or any other country''s responsibility to help Darfur?

We are in a financial mess in the US because we always help everyone else, but not ourselves!

And...those countries with our money still hate us.

That''s gratitude for you.

[jschufm]

I''m no fan of the Spielberg MegaConglomerate, but I support his "boycott". Actually, we should all boycott the Chinese Olympics for Human Rights violations! And I don''t appreciate them poisoning our children with lead paint either!

[hypnotoad72]

johnstossel - if we weren''t a globalized economy, how much clout might China have?

Do they deserve any clout right now, given their record on the products they export?

koko98 - well, as FOX, Paramount, and others put out $3 DVDs for Chinese consumers to get around the so-called piracy problem, I''m not sure many big companies really care about piracy when the day is said and done. Some even tolerate it, seeing (what they believe to be) long term goals.

Do a web search of "$3 DVDs in China" for all the links you''d ever want to see and more.

[johnstossel]

Just who the f**k does China think they are. What people don''t realize is that these f*cking commies want to take over the world without firing a shot. Look at the Soviet Union before 1989!!! Waybe the should put all of these communist leaders in Tiannemen square and let a bunch of students shoot at them!!! Peace!!!

[rational_1]

"...drawing condemnation by China''s state-controlled media..."

As soon as you read the words "state-controlled media" you just gotta know you''re getting the truth. Who gives a rat''s patoot what they think!!
They''ve got enough problems in getting the Olympics to actually run smoothly - not killing off the athletes with their omnipresent air pollution might be a place to concentrate their efforts instead of going after Spielberg.

[likeitis5050]

drawing condemnation by China''s state-controlled media and a groundswell of criticism from the Chinese public.


So? We''re not too happy about all the lead and toxic c.rap in everything being made and shipped back here...and I don''t see them turning flips over that? Sit on it and spin.

[fuzzybear9]

Hello America

what do you have today Fuzzy? Oscars.

I would like to discuss the topic
`` Where is the Beef ? ``

Answer is : the beef is being drug along the floor
by a forklift in the Hallmark Meat Packing Plant in California, apart of the goverment sponsored school meat programs that involves the contractor Westland Meats.

Now none of this is of any interest unless you eat at McDonalds, Burger King, or any Washington D.C. Cafeteria, or public school cafeteria, or Academy Award dinner.

Disease laden bovine forced into slaughter at a U.S. regulated meat packing plant.

Who would do such a thing ?
why only third World People could do such a thing because that is what they do in Mexico its common table fare.

So as the United States settles into its third world status and its standard of living continues to decline to sub saharan depredation, It kind of brings a smile to your face and a tear to your eye, Knowing that the Bleeding Heart Liberals and Soccer Moms were succesful in destroying a great nation.
Now as the U.S. economy sinks in the west, perhaps other uprising democracies such as Russia can learn from our foolish mistakes.
Drive the invaders from your shores.

Now as you carefully watch Speilberg, Jacko,
and Tom Cruise eat their succulent disease ridden table fare at the Oscars, all of you `` Workin at the CarWash Blues Folks `` can smile as you keep your barf bags handy.

Sincerely your cabin fever Bear
Fuzzy