IMPACT OF OLYMPICS ON VIEWS TOWARD CHINA

UNCLAS BRASILIA 001365 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SCUL PGOV PREL BR CH SUBJECT: IMPACT OF OLYMPICS ON VIEWS TOWARD CHINA REF: STATE 105512 ¶1. (SBU) This cable transmits Brasilia's responses to questions (reftel) about the impact that China's hosting of the Olympic Games has had on views of China. A) How closely did the public follow the Beijing Olympic Games? The Brazilian public followed the games with great interest, especially the sports that have been traditionally been popular in Brazil and those in which Brazilian athletes were expected to do well (soccer, volleyball, swimming, judo, etc.) B) How were China and the Games portrayed in local media? Mostly as a sporting competition, or did coverage touch on changes in China, discussion of human rights, or China's position in the world, or none of the above? There were many criticisms in the media regarding the lack of freedom and human rights violations in China (see examples below) C) Was Beijing city or China seen as modern, wealthy, developed? Portrayed as an economic threat or opportunity? China/Beijing was generally seen as modern and increasingly developed. This comment from Veja magazine (August 6) was typical: "China spent 40 billion to do a facelift of the urban landscape and construct fabulous stadiums, but the great work is the social engineering to reform the hearts and minds of the population." D) If there was an increased profile of Beijing during the Olympics, have businesses, civic groups, media, or government organizations changed their approach to dealing with China? It is not clear from reporting Mission has seen whether the media has "changed its approach" to China. E) Have expectations of China's global role and position changed in the view of elites after the Games? Because of the level of exposure, expectations may have changed, although this is difficult to quantify. Brazilian elites already see China as a major independent global player with whom they want to be associated, and the Olympics did nothing to diminish that view and might have strengthened it. ¶2. Additional examples of commentary on the Beijing Games: VEJA magazine - August 27 - Opening made in China. Life in a country where freedom arrived for the economy but only God knows when it will arrive in politics. According to Veja, China wanted to break the record of medals and was successful. The Chinese also gave a show of competence and determination during the Olympics. But the Chinese Communist Party is an incredible machine of social cooptation ever created: it changed China so that everything would remain the same. In the letter to the reader, the editor notes that the reporter sent to do the coverage was surprised to see that foreign magazines are sold whose content about China was glued in by censors. He was also surprised with the people he met that show they are happy with the economic prosperity and indifferent to the political constraints. Epoca - June 23 - Epoca did a scene-setter for the Olympics. The reporter sent to do the special coverage said that she had already travelled to the other side of the world but it was "the first time that I travelled to another planet." "I was surprised with the way the Chinese do not give you responses, with the delirious traffic, the working capacity, the exaggerated patriotism and the will to successes." Epoca - August 18 - Epoca highlights what it calls "Chinese Shadows" showing make-ups and disguises to fool the world such as: the "volunteers" were part of the Army or paramilitary; lack of freedom for the internet; volunteers called up to fill up empty seats; lack of freedom of speech, the "clean" air, and many other tricks to show that everything was impeccable. SOBEL