On March 2, 2011, The Brookings-Tsinghua Center for Public Policy hosted a panel discussion entitled, “China’s Mega-Events Moments,” focusing on the meaning of three of China’s recent high-profile spectacles, which are interpreted as part of an effort to “rebrand” the PRC as a thoroughly modern country with state-of-the-art urban centers. The event was moderated by Dr. WANG Feng, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and Director of the Brookings-Tsinghua Center. The three discussants were Professor Jeffrey Wasserstrom of the University of California, Irvine; Dr. LIU Yu, Associate Professor at the Department of Politics; and Ms. Reshma Patil, Beijing Bureau Chief of the Hindustan Times.
Professor Wasserstrom focused mainly on China’s hosting of mega-events, such as the Olympics and World Expo in recent years. He highlighted the historical parallels between a rising China with a rising United States or Japan in the past, as other previous ascending powers have hosted mega-events as well to symbolize their rise. Professor Wasserstrom noted that what is remarkable about China’s rise is its rapid pace, prompting multiple events to be held in such a short period of time and extending from the larger cities like Beijing and Shanghai to smaller cities like Guangzhou and Xi’an. In addition, the mega-events could be seen as a rebranding exercise for China. For example, the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics portrayed China as a modern and open country. In contrast, the Commonwealth Games that India just hosted was marred by a number of problems leading up to the event, from construction delays to other accidents.
Professor LIU Yu expressed her own comments on China’s mega-events and media coverage. For instance, she mentioned the drastically different coverage of the Olympics between the Chinese media and international media. While the Chinese media emphasized almost exclusively on the successful showcase of its arrival onto the international stage through the mega-event, international observers often emphasize the problem areas for China. Professor Liu further stated that the Beijing Olympics actually created a model for the government to maintain stability. Ms. Reshma Patil provided an alternative perspective of the mega-events from India’s vantage point. She noted how the rise of China is an increasingly popular topic in India, as many Indians wondered aloud whether their country could duplicate the success of China’s mega-events.
