What the Chinese papers say

China has voiced regret at Steven Spielberg’s withdrawal as an artistic adviser for the Summer Olympics because of Chinese involvement in Sudan, and in its first response to his decision has lashed out at those it accused of having ulterior motives.

The snub from the Oscar-winning director this week coincided with a public protest by a group of Nobel prizewinners and Olympic athletes critical of Beijing’s record in Darfur, who addressed a letter to Hu Jintao, President of China.

Liu Jianchao, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, said: "We hope not to see such a major event anticipated by the whole world disturbed by political issues. This not in line with the Olympic spirit.”

Chinese officials have consistently voiced their opposition to any attempts to politicise the Olympics, which open on August 8. Mr Liu said that China had been working with the United Nations to resolve the crisis in Darfur and had been playing a positive and constructive role to try to bring peace.

“It is understandable if some people do not understand the Chinese government policy on Darfur, but I am afraid that some people may have ulterior motives, and this we cannot accept,” he said.

China commonly makes reference to “ulterior motives” as a term to describe people it considers to be operating behind a cover and with the purpose of doing it harm.

Spielberg had been invited to act as an artistic consultant for the opening and closing ceremonies of the games. He said that his conscience would no longer allow him to participate because he felt China was not doing enough to put pressure on Sudan to end the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

China is believed to be able to wield special influence with the Islamic government in Sudan because it buys some 40 per cent of the country’s oil exports while selling it weapons and defending Khartoum in the UN Security Council.

Its close ties with Sudan prompted the actress Mia Farrow to launch a campaign last year in which she described the games as the “genocide Olympics” — a label that has stuck.

Farrow tried this week to deliver a letter signed by a group of Nobel peace laureates —including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Shirin Ebadi, Elie Wiesel and Bishop Carlos Belo as well as politicians, Olympic medallists and entertainers — to the Chinese mission to the United Nations. The aim was to urge China to bring its influence to bear in Sudan.

China has reacted angrily to the criticisms that threaten to cast a shadow over the Games that have come to be viewed as the country’s debut on the international stage in its development from impoverished agrarian society to industrial giant.

Zhu Jing, a spokeswoman for the Beijing Olympic organising committee, said: “Linking the Darfur issue to the Olympic Games will not help to resolve this issue and is not in line with the Olympic spirit that separates sports from politics.”

The Chinese public, in Internet comments, have rallied around the Games. Commenting on Spielberg’s withdrawal, one wrote: “Do you think you are a human rights warrior? Don’t pretend to be great when in fact you’re just creating publicity for yourself.”

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