China promotes unity at Asian Games as its regional disputes continue
China will be spending billions to host the Asian Games and portray the image of Asian unity and success. But critics say that shouldn鈥檛 overshadow the nation鈥檚 continued, persistent efforts to vie for power over disputed territory.
Artists perform as live pictures of Chinese President Xi Jinping waving at the spectators are displayed on a large screen during the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Sept. 23, 2023.
Aijaz Rahi/ AP
Hangzhou, China
A month before the Asian Games, China released a new national map, doubling down on its claims to almost the entire South China Sea and disputed border territories with India.
A few days before the event, it flew more than 100 warplanes toward Taiwan, stepping up its regular military harassment of the self-governing democratic island that Beijing claims for its own.
At the games themselves, however, outward aggression has taken a backseat to unctuous charm as China sought to win the hearts of more than 40 Asian nations and regions by dazzling them with technology and slathering them with praise.
In a personal appearance in the eastern city of Hangzhou, into which the government poured billions of dollars for the two-week games, Chinese Leader Xi Jinping welcomed leaders and officials at an opening banquet on Saturday.
鈥淭he Asian Games embodies the Asian people鈥檚 shared desire for peace, unity, and inclusiveness,鈥� Mr. Xi told them, according to his prepared remarks.
No mention was made of the status of Taiwan, the tense standoffs in the South China Sea over competing claims with Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines 鈥� all competitors at the Hangzhou games 鈥� or the border disputes with India that resulted in a clash three years ago in which 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed.
Nor was anything said about a diplomatic spat China ignited with India the day before Saturday鈥檚 opening ceremony as it refused to back down on its stance on visas for Indian athletes coming from a region that leaders maintain belongs to China, resulting in three women wushu (martial arts) athletes being unable to compete.
Taiwan鈥檚 athletes even received one of the loudest rounds of applause at the opening ceremony, although they will compete under the name 鈥淐hinese Taipei鈥� and without their flag due to China鈥檚 claim on the island off of its east coast, which it has not ruled out taking by force.
Signs around Hangzhou billed the city as a 鈥減aradise on earth鈥� while China adopted the motto 鈥渉eart to heart鈥� for the Asian Games, which feature some 12,000 competitors 鈥� more than the summer Olympics 鈥� from across Asia and the Middle East.
鈥淭his will undoubtedly open new prospects for cultural exchanges, cultural integration, and people-to-people bonds in Asia,鈥� the Chinese Communist Party鈥檚 official People鈥檚 Daily wrote Monday in an effusive editorial about the Hangzhou games. 鈥淚t will inject profound and lasting cultural strength into the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.鈥�
The headlines that the state-run China Daily鈥檚 supplement edition for the games carried after the opening ceremony included 鈥淴i extends hand of friendship,鈥� and 鈥淲ave of Glory鈥� alongside a photo of the Chinese leader waving to the crowds.
Mr. Xi told the officials at Saturday鈥檚 banquet that the region鈥檚 recent economic growth had been an 鈥淎sian miracle鈥� and that 鈥渨e should make Asia an anchor of world peace.鈥�
But while offering a verbal carrot in Hangzhou, Beijing continued brandishing a physical stick elsewhere. Taiwan鈥檚 military said Sunday it had detected the Chinese military initiating an exercise featuring warplanes, ships, and ground troops in coastal Fujian Province, which faces Taiwan.
The Philippine coast guard reported over the weekend that it had detected a floating barrier placed by China鈥檚 coast guard to prevent Filipino fishing boats from entering a lagoon in a disputed shoal in the South China Sea.
The Philippines removed the barrier on Monday. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters Tuesday that China鈥檚 鈥渞esolve to safeguard its sovereignty and maritime rights鈥� was unwavering, and he warned 鈥渢he Philippines not to make provocations or seek trouble.鈥�
Mr. Xi鈥檚 banquet speech did not refer to any territorial claims or confrontations, nor to the mounting tensions with the U.S. and its allies as Beijing and Washington jockey for influence in the Asia-Pacific region
Still, geopolitics were clearly not far from Mr. Xi鈥檚 mind as he outlined China鈥檚 goals, thinly veiling his remarks with the language of sport.
鈥淎s a community with a shared future connected by mountains and rivers as well as cultural affinity, we should use sports to promote peace, pursue good neighborliness and mutual benefit, and reject Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation,鈥� he said, using language China commonly does when referring to the U.S.鈥檚 Asia-Pacific strategy.
鈥淎s humanity faces unprecedented global challenges, we should use sports to promote unity, seize the historic opportunity, and jointly stand up to the challenges,鈥� Mr. Xi said.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.