Zhang Ziyi Puzzled By Olympic Protests: "I Don't See Why People Are So Negative"

HONG KONG — "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" star Zhang Ziyi has told Vogue magazine that she is puzzled by the protests against China's human rights record before the Beijing Olympics.

Activists have criticized China's rule in Tibet and its alleged failure to do more to help stop mass killings in the Sudanese region of Darfur. Protests marred several international legs of the Olympic torch relay.

The actress served as a torch bearer for the Chinese leg of the relay.

"I don't see why people are so negative. The games are about friendship," Zhang was quoted as saying in the current issue of Vogue. "I'm Chinese and I'm proud of my country."

Zhang's manager didn't immediately respond to an e-mail from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Zhang's film credits also include "Rush Hour 2," "House of Flying Daggers" and "Memoirs of a Geisha."

Comments

[daddydamon]

Here come all the anti-China, pro-Tibet posts...

Here's an idea: look at the human rights violations of the USA before you criticize China. China has done more to modernize Tibet than to harm it. They took the power away from the ancient warlords who were REALLY oppressing the people. Literacy is way up. Poverty is way down. Stop believing Richard Gere and a bunch of misinformed Americans. Read about the history of the area. To condemn China for what happened in Tibet and then ignore the history of the USA is itself a criminal act. As Chris Rock says, "When was the last time you saw 2 Indians." Let it go people. Even the Dalai Lama (not a good guy in my book) has said that Tibet has prospered under Chinese rule.

[AfricanLived]

China and U.S. human rights cannot even begin to compare.

[pibble]

Why can't we do both? Why must criticizing China be linked to "first looking at" what the USA has done? Fact: all countries in history have black marks and injustices. This is a standard Chinese government / nationalist tactic, to deflect any criticism of current injustices in China by changing the subject to past injustices elsewhere. I'd take the Dalai Lama over YOU any day. You don't seem to be a good guy in my book.

[dolphy]

The native aboriginies did not have a black mark.

[OsamaBushLadin]

Hey stupid. You know for a fact everybody here is from the U.S.A.? Maybe you should judge the actions of the PRC on its face value instead of trying obscure the issue with a lame attempt at moral relativism.

[alsm9]

I'm not. FACT.

[sg6297]

What a flake

[masha2008]

duh?! china is the bully of asia and starting to expand its bullying on the rest of the world. is she that ignorant?

[johnbkk]

Great point. Maybe it's jealousy.

OT: she is beautiful.

[GreenT2]

Folks who have any degree of global cultural awareness will not be surprised to know that Zhang Ziyi is surprised. Chinese folks are really into their country--period. In the big picture, pretty much all countries have brutalized their citizens in order to promote the continuity of the central government, so to the Chinese the brutalization of some segments of the population is not necessarily a disgrace unique to China, and is thus somewhat easily compartmentalized psychologically. ("Screw with the Communist Party, and you will be screwed.") People who think that Chinese people should "just wake up" to the negative things their government is up to need a little wake-up therapy themselves: it's not going to happen.

[JonasH]

Excellent comment. And as for things like Tibet, keep in mind most Chinese sees Tibetans as backwards people who've been given a helping hand. The Dalai Lama is to the Chinese simply irrational.

[didzter]

i don't see why everyone has their panties in a twist. she does have a point. the olympics are not supposed to represent the cleavages amonst mankind. they're supposed to bring us together for a short while before we go back to the way things typically are.

she's not condemning the human rights violations, just them in light of the olympics. so everyone who is attacking her should read what her statement actually says. it might well be in fact that she does disapprove or does not, but the fact is everyone moaning about how stupid/etc etc she is are only making inferences from her statement.

furthermore, human rights schmuman rights. although i believe they're essential to protect, you've got to look at all the atrocities that have been committed around the world by governments and people alike. china's a different world. don't act so high and mighty just because you're from the land of "freedom" and "justice".

[darthmaul]

I guess the difference is that here we can write about this stuff, while if we did the same thing in China it would never see the light of day and we might be arrested and thrown in jail too. I'm sure Zhang Ziyi is a wonderful actress. But no way is she going to criticize China. That would be the end of her career, at least in China. She's smart enough to know what side her bread is buttered on.

I think it's a cop out to say that since there is injustice in most parts of the world, that China should get a pass. To get the Olympics, China made promises and commitments regarding human rights. It has not only not met these commitments, but has gotten worse, and is arresting more people, journalists etc....

[daddydamon]

Oh yeah, that's right. Our press is free and objective. That's why they refuse to report all the negative, misinformed information that McCain spouts daily. China is not as bad as you think. It's actually a wonderful, progressive country that is still developing.

[AquarianEye]

people say the same of the US - "why do they hate us? I'm proud of my country." Both countries, same ignorance, same uniformed public.

[MrUnlimited]

AquarianEye:

Although I believe that China is still more censored and controlled than the U.S, I think that your post sums up the situation nicely.

P.S. People who are offended by what China has done in Tibet should research what we have done in Iran, Indonesia, Zaire (now Congo DR), much of Latin America, etc. and ask themselves why our actions didn't disqualify us from hosting the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, etc.

[luckyoldson]

Maybe she's planning on returning to China and wants to make sure she gets to leave again.

[Titonwan]

Zhang is a lovely child and adept at running along the tops of bamboo, but her head is three times too small (size 2.3). Don't chide her as she would mistake your reasons and commence to knock the sichuan outyer @ss.

[tinkaboutit]

Because it suits the american government of course. "The CIA controls anyone of any significance in the major media." former CIA director William Colby

[Killjoy]

Maybe she should go out side once an awhile. ....why is her neck so long?

[Kevbo68]

Apply "Neck So Long" directly to the affected area. Repeat as necessary.

[AgentMacGyver]

What else could she say? Risk being blacklisted? I don't believe she's really that stupid.

[LittleSanityLeft]

China's no different from America in that no matter the social status of it's less fortunate citizens the most famous citizens risk being raked over the coals if they say anything at all negative about their country to the international media.

It's not a Chinese thing, it's a gun-to-your-head-patriotism thing.

[ZimboChick]

sorry girl but you do not understand and I get why you do not understand but understand this.....I will be advocating for my countrymen to not serve your kind in our bars as well. I think it works right?

[didzter]

what the hell is your problem? you're going to willingly say ignorant things? gtfo.

[drumz]

Ignorance is bliss