Nationalism through the looking glass

• Source: The Global Times
• [21:45 May 03 2009]
• Comments

By Xie Ying

The publication of the book Unhappy China has sparked a fresh round of discussion by the world's media on the nature of Chinese nationalism.

As one of the three principles promoted by the “Pioneer of the Democratic Revolution” Sun Yat-sen, nationalism focuses on national rights, interests and feelings. Yet when it gets right down to the individual, different people have different explanations and understandings of Chinese nationalism.

Primary school students in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, cheer for the Beijing Olympic Games.

When talking about nationalism, all those interviewed by the Global Times instinctively turned to sports, particularly the Olympic Games.

“It was during the Beijing Olympic Games that I strongly felt Chinese nationalism,” said Cho Soo-jin, the South Korean choreographer responsible for China's cheerleading squad at the basketball and beach volleyball matches. They chose a Tibetan dance for the basketball test event, but it was opposed by the International Basketball Federation.

Since they “have the right to choose what to play at their Olympic Games,” according to Cho, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad insisted on the Tibetan dance. “Though between two fires,” she said, “I was glad to see the Chinese people showed firm determination for their Olympic Games.”

An American arts advisor who came to China in 2000 immediately thought of the Olympics. “Compared with the American people,” said Nicholas Krippendorf, “the Chinese people cared more about their Olympic Games. Not every American could tell which city hosted the last American Olympic Games.”

Krippendorf said Americans care first about events happening in their community or their town. “The State is the last one that comes to their mind,” he said, “while Chinese are on the contrary. They put the State on the top priority.”