Concerns and controversies in Shanghai Expo 2010

A number of concerns and controversies in Shanghai Expo 2010 surfaced before and during the 2010 Shanghai Expo.

Domestic planning

Cancellation of maglev train route

To improve intercity traffic, officials in Beijing announced plans on March 6, 2006, to begin construction of a second commercial maglev train system in Shanghai by the end of 2006. The planned Shanghai-Hangzhou Maglev Train would have connected Hangzhou as a west extension of the existing line and was planned for completion in time for Expo 2010.^[1] However, after massive public protest and the fall of the project's champion, Chen Liangyu, to corruption charges, the project was put on indefinite hold by the Chinese government in May 2007 to study "electromagnetic radiation concerns".^[2]

Unofficial China pavilion

Prior to the opening of the expo Funing County, Jiangsu spent 2 to 3.5 million yuan to build a 8,000m² replica of the China pavilion.^[3] The structure is seven stories high. Some have complained about the copycat project that spent too much money in the poor village.^[4]

International issues

Closing borders

A number of minor political crises took place before the Expo. Concerns about Islamic extremism led the government to close the PRC borders with Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.^[5] Both nations do have their own pavilions at the expo.

Little mermaid statue

Denmark sent the original Little Mermaid statue from Copenhagen to the expo. It was the first time in 100 years that the statue has left Copenhagen.^[6] In Denmark the statue is replaced with a video installation of the statue by that of controversial Beijing artist Ai Weiwei. Ai is known for his criticism of the Communist Party of China and censorship. Denmark's choice was said to have political implications.^[5]

Some people also criticized that they should have sent a replica statue instead of the real statue.^[6] The visitors at the expo were not allowed to touch or climb the statue, which is a normal thing to do in Denmark. Inside the pavilion was a sign saying that said you could walk out in the water, but a rope had been placed to prevent it. In the evening of Denmark's national day, and after the expo closed, the Danish pavilion staff had a party and climbed on the statue. It was reported in the Chinese media as a scandal.^[7]

Human rights

Home displacement criticism

There were criticisms from human rights groups which alleged the wrongful or forced displacement of 18,000 families from their homes in and around Shanghai in connection with the Expo.^[8]

The "Chinese League of Victims" (中国冤民大同盟) chairperson Sheng Ting (沈婷) protested in Taiwan in April 2010, a month before the opening of the expo. After the successful bid to host the expo in 2002 many residents began experiencing injustice due to home demolitions. According to the group more than 1,000 families are affected with about 8,000 people affected. A book was compiled called "Shanghai World Expo World Disgrace" (上海世博世界耻辱).^[9]

Falun Gong

Human Rights groups claimed that Expo served as pretext for the suppression of dissidents and religious believers, including Falun Gong adherents. The Congressional Executive Commission on China reported that Chinese authorities seized upon the Expo as an opportunity to conduct propaganda campaigns deriding Falun Gong, and detained and imprisoned over 100 Shanghai practitioners. Shanghai authorities offered monetary incentives to citizens who reported on Falun Gong adherents. The Commission also noted that some who refused to disavow Falun Gong were subjected to torture and sent to reeducation through labor facilities.^[10] Amnesty International issued an urgent action notice in connection with the disappearance of Shanghai Falun Gong practitioner Jiang Feng, who was reportedly abducted at the Shanghai airport on 18 Feb 2010 while en route to the United States. Jiang disappeared into police custody, and was said to be at risk of torture.^[11]

Shanghai Expo of unjust cases

Shanghai activist Feng Zhenghu criticized local corruption and the practice of forced eviction. In mid April 2010 he pledged to launch a "Shanghai Expo of Unjust Court cases" (冤博会) to present the city's legal system problems. He was interrogated and his computers were confiscated by the police. He was then told he would "disappear" if he spoke out during the expo.^[5]

ICPC

Zhao Dagong (赵达功), a Shenzhen based human rights activist and member of Independent Chinese Pen Center (a group where Liu Xiaobo was formerly president) tried to attend the expo, but was sent back to Shenzhen by security.^[12]

Special administrative region planning

HK May Expo trip boycott

In April 2010 the Shanghai government invited the entire Hong Kong 60-member Legislative Council to the expo from May 8 to 10.^[13] However, six legislators from the pro-democracy camp boycotted the trip. Pro-democracy legislators have long been denied Home Return Permits to enter the mainland.^[13] They are generally referred to by Beijing as "troublemakers" due to their democratic views, but are allowed to enter mainland this one time for the expo.^[13]

The boycotters criticised the invitation as an attempt to get them to cooperate on the issue of political reform. The lawmakers also criticised the timing of the trip which comes just a week before the scheduled Hong Kong by-election, 2010.^[13] In a phone interview Emily Lau said the Chinese government was trying to create a harmonious atmosphere to tone down enthusiasm for the special election.^[13] Some democratic legislators like Albert Ho made the trip to check if HK taxpayers money were misspent at the Hong Kong pavilion.^[13]

HK September Expo trip issues

In September 2010 a four day trip took place where 9 HK undersecretaries led by Raymond Tam and 7 political assistants were invited to inspect infrastructure projects such as cargo terminals, Shanghai expo and hold discussions with Beijing and Shanghai officials on cooperation. But the trip was paid for by the State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office and does not include air fare. This has caused outrage. Observers were convinced the trip was unnecessary.^[14]

Investors denied entry

Eleven business men from Hong Kong who have previously invested in the mainland tried to enter the expo. As soon as they arrived in Shanghai, they were detained and refused entry. A few of them were taken to a hotel to be searched. Some were even refused food and water and sent back immediately to flights back to HK. The business men tried to complain through the Hong Kong government.^[15]

Historical

No Japanese flag

The designers of the Japan pavilion were aware of lingering anti-Japanese sentiments from the Second Sino-Japanese War. Thus the Flag of Japan, a symbol of Japanese militarism, was not raised at the Japan pavilion. Instead the director of the pavilion, Noriyoshi Ehara, decided to focus on a joint effort between Chinese and Japanese scientists to save the Crested Ibis bird. According to professor Guo Dingping at Shanghai Fudan University, Japan was trying to improve its image among Chinese people. He recognized that ever since prime minister Junichiro Koizumi stepped down in 2006 due to his frequent visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, their relationship have been improving.^[16]

Diaoyu Island controversy

In September 2010 a trip was scheduled for 1,000 Japanese youths to visit the expo according to the Japanese foreign ministry. Due to the Senkaku Islands dispute, Beijing cancelled the youth visit. This move came after anti-Japanese protests erupted across mainland China from the 2010 Senkaku boat collision incident, where a Chinese crew member was captured. Prime minister Naoto Kan's spokesman Noriyuki Shikata said the postponement right before the trip departure was extremely inappropriate and regrettable.^[17]

Germany pavilion crowd issues

Long lines at the Germany pavilion caused visitors to shout "Nazi, Nazi". General commissioner for Germany's pavilion Dietmar Schmitz said he also observed workers suffer unbearable behavior including shocking insults and physical attacks. Schmitz claim he did not receive a response from the Chinese. Employees at the pavilion had to call emergency services on a number of occasions to control the people and end fights.^[18][19]

Expo planning

Attendance controversy

Shortly after the Expo concluded, news reports emerged detailing how state employees (including workers of state-owned companies) were "ordered to pile onto buses, trains and planes and head to the Expo 2010 in Shanghai" in order to fulfill the target of 70 million visitors. Employees of some state-owned companies were allegedly threatened with loss of their wages if they did not attend.^[20]

Stampede controversy

A show was scheduled at the Expo Cultural and Performing Arts center featuring K-pop group Super Junior. When free tickets became available, some 2,000 teenagers stormed the South Korean pavilion. More than 100 people were injured in the stampede. Some sources reported that one girl died after she fell from a height. A spokesman for the expo said no one died, and he also played down the chaos. A spokeswoman for the Korean pavilion also denied any stampede despite eyewitnesses said there was a crush.^[21]

Security

Bund incident

Two days after the closing of the Expo, the body of a young man was hanging from a tree at the Bund waterfront. The man in a light-coloured sweater and white trousers was hanging by the neck from a noose tied to a branch 8 meters above the ground. Securities across the city ensured the Expo would pass without incident. Case is under investigation.^[22]

Shirt incident

On May 19, 2010 Taiwan fantasy literature writer Lucifer Chu, who gained fame for translating the Lord of the Rings, was detained by expo security for wearing a shirt with the message "Revolt by the geeks" (阿宅反抗軍). Expo security took him aside to a security station and asked him to change his shirt. Shanghai police denied they had arrested Chu.^[23][24]

Camera assault

An ATV cameraman's equipment was damaged when a cameraman was filming the long lines outside the China pavilion. An expo volunteer worker put his hands in front of the camera and told him to leave. The volunteer than struck the camera again until it broke.^[25]

See also

Shanghai portal

• Concerns and controversies over the 2008 Summer Olympics
• 2010 Asian Games controversies

References

1. ^ Xinhua (March 6, 2006), Maglev railway to link Hangzhou, Shanghai. Retrieved March 6, 2006.
2. ^ Lu Wenjun, Shanghai will complete a metro network of 400 km before Shanghai Expo, Sina News, July 16, 2008.
3. ^ News.qq.com. "News.qq.com." 江苏贫困县建“山寨世博中国馆”惹民众不满. Retrieved on 2010-01-23.
4. ^ Chinadaily.com.cn. "Chinadaily.com.cn." Controversy erupts over China Pavilion copycat. Retrieved on 2010-01-23.
5. ^ ^{a b c} Atimes.com. "Atimes.com." Shanghai Expo - a message for all. Retrieved on 2010-01-23.
6. ^ ^{a b} Cbsnews.com. "Cbsnews.com." Little mermaid taking trip to China. Retrieved on 2010-01-23.
7. ^ Expo.163.com. "Expo.163.com." 一男一女深夜与美人鱼"亲密接触"遭全球直播. Retrieved on 2010-01-23.
8. ^ United Nations Watch, Joint NGO Appeal for 18,000 victims of forced evictions by 2010 Shanghai World Expo, July 22, 2010.
9. ^ Libertytimes.com.tw. "Libertytimes.com.tw." 上海強拆民房 冤民來台抗議. Retrieved on 2010-01-23.
10. ^ Congressional Executive Commission on China, Annual Report, 2010.
11. ^ Amnesty International. 'China: Falun Gong Practitioner Missing in China: Jiang Feng', 10 May 2010.
12. ^ Rfa.org. "Rfa.org." 赵达功看世博被遣返 冯正虎因《官逼民反》再被传唤. Retrieved on 2010-01-23.
13. ^ ^{a b c d e f} South China morning post. 13 April 2010. Pro-democracy legislators boycott Shanghai trip.
14. ^ South China morning post. 4 September 2010. Political assistant's trip to mainland stirs scorn.
15. ^ Zaobao.com. "Zaobao.com." 世博上访港商遭遣返 效冯正虎拒入境. Retrieved on 2010-01-23.
16. ^ South China morning post. 25 May 2010. Japan pavilion deals deftly with potential for friction.
17. ^ South China morning post. 21 September 2010. China pulls plug on Japanese youth tour.
18. ^ Deutschenachrichten.com. "Deutschenachrichten.com." Chinese brawl, hurl Nazi insults at Germany's expo pavilion. Retrieved on 2010-01-23.
19. ^ Chinese.rfi.fr. "Chinese.rfi.fr." 世博德国馆遭游客辱骂扬言要闭馆 . Retrieved on 2010-01-23.
20. ^ David Barboza, "Shanghai Expo Sets Record With 73 Million Visitors," New York Times, Nov 2 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/03/world/asia/03shanghai.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
21. ^ The Standard HK. "The Standard.com." Korean crush sparks ticket rethink at expo. Retrieved on 2010-01-23.
22. ^ South China morning post. 3 November 2010. Body of man found hanging from tree on Bund.
23. ^ Tw.nextmedia.com. "Tw.nextmedia.com." 「阿宅反抗軍」 朱學恒逛世博遭盤查. Retrieved on 2010-01-23.
24. ^ Chinapost.com.tw. "Chinapost.com.tw." Writer forced to change shirt at Shanghai expo. Retrieved on 2010-01-23.
25. ^ Yahoo.com. "yahoo.com." 世博義工打爛亞視攝影機. Retrieved on 2010-01-23.