Chinese Spectacular Targeted

Chinese Spectacular Targeted In Attempt To Discredit The Cultural Showcase

As the Divine Performing Arts Chinese Spectacular is blazing a trail of beautiful and traditional Chinese culture through Australia; the New Zealand organising team is experiencing some bizarre actions from some Chinese.

University magazines have been stolen by Chinese representatives of the NZ Chinese Student Group - a group closely affiliated with the Chinese Consulate. One of the thieves, Jim Sun, is featured on the consulate website speaking at the regime's local functions.

Sun approached Auckland University Student's Association president David Do on Thursday March 27, and asked him to pull an advertisement for the Chinese Spectacular before the student magazine, Craccum, was published.

“When he saw me last Thursday he also, towards the end, did give some hints that if Craccum decided to pull the ad we might be able to be financially compensated in some way,” Mr Do said.

One of the main hosts of the show in New Zealand, New Tang Dynasty Culture and Arts Exchange, agreed with Mr Do when he said the theft was an “amateur” attempt at censorship.

“If people began to learn about traditional Chinese culture, they would understand that the Chinese have always respected heaven and fate,” spokesperson Jay Zelaya said.

“Ancient China believed in Buddhism, the Tao and Confucianism,” said Zhou Yu, a contact person for the Chinese Spectacular, “however, the Beijing government is a communist government, believing only in atheism, which is incompatible with traditional Chinese culture. In addition, communism advocates 'class struggle' and 'violent revolution,' which also contradict the traditional Chinese tenets of harmony and tolerance."

Internationally, the Chinese regime has been caught out pressuring public figures and organisations in the United States, Australia, Sweden, Belgium, Malaysia, Korea, Germany, Czech Republic, and Denmark. Officials have been threatened that trade and relations, and even the recipient's reputation, would be affected if they supported or attended the show.

The scheduled concerts in Malaysia were cancelled by Malaysia's Culture, Art, and History department. The department issued a written notice to the show's sponsors stating that the reason for cancellation was the Chinese Communist Party's opposition to the show.

The Beijing regime dislikes the Chinese Spectacular because it includes two acts depicting the illegal persecution of the meditation practice Falun Gong, which the Chinese Communist Party has brutally persecuted and sought to vilify since 1999.

Along with Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism, Falun Gong is part of Chinese history, and the values of all these practices are embodied in the show Other ethnicities portrayed in the Spectacular are Tibetan, Mongolian and Korean.

Divine Performing Arts, a New York-based company, is leading a renaissance in traditional Chinese culture with the Chinese Spectacular. China was once called “the Land of the Divine” because society was based on moral integrity and higher principles.

“The show itself is a perfect synthesis of ancient and traditional Chinese culture and contemporary cutting-edge Western technology, such as 3-D digital backdrops which make the audience feel as if they are actually a part of the extraordinary and timeless scenes they are watching on stage. A very special visual treat-not to be missed,” Mr Zelaya said.

The Chinese Spectacular is touring 65 cities this year, with more than 220 shows playing to a live audience of 650,000. The show has drawn full houses around the world, and standing ovations are a common occurrence.

The Chinese Spectacular will be held at the ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland City on Thursday 17th, Friday 18th, Saturday 19th April at 7.30pm; with an additional show on Saturday afternoon 2.30pm. Tickets available at Ticketek.co.nz or phone: 0800 ticketek (0800 842 538)

"This is a peaceful cultural spectacular. What type of government officials would condemn such an event? A controversial scene is said to depict the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by Chinese police. Such persecution is well documented by human rights groups.

- Australian Greens MLC Ian Cohen, Sydney, 2007

"Don't sit home and wonder. Pick up the phone. Make a booking. Go and see the show, the Chinese Spectacular!"

- Neighbours star Tom Oliver (plays the character Lou Carpenter), Melbourne, 2008

ENDS

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