• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Women's tennis suspends all tournaments in China

Fishking

Fishking

Banned
DP Veteran
Joined
Feb 3, 2016
Messages
43,134
Reaction score
16,115
Gender
Undisclosed
Political Leaning
Libertarian - Right
I mean...this is a good move. More companies and organizations should be doing the same, as there is literal genocide, organ harvesting, ect happening there but that isn't enough for companies? They aren't much better than the companies that worked with the Nazis at this point, and that isn't even hyperbole. But then companies like Nike and Apple will do virtue signal commercials to add stupid levels of hypocrisy on top. Loved that Ricky Gervais called them all out on that at the Golden Globes.

www.cnn.com

Women's tennis suspends tournaments in China over concern for Peng Shuai

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) chairman and CEO Steve Simon has announced an immediate suspension of all WTA tournaments in China, including Hong Kong, saying it's based on a lack of transparency by Chinese officials over Peng Shuai's sitution
www.cnn.com www.cnn.com

Hong Kong (CNN)The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has announced an immediate suspension of all tournaments in China, including Hong Kong, in response to Beijing's silencing of sexual assault allegations made by Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai against a former top Communist Party official.

In a statement released Wednesday, WTA chairman and CEO Steve Simon said the decision was based on the "unacceptable" response of Chinese officials in the #MeToo scandal, including rushing to censor Peng's allegations and ignoring calls for a full and transparent investigation.

"In good conscience, I don't see how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and has seemingly been pressured to contradict her allegation of sexual assault," Simon said.

"Given the current state of affairs, I am also greatly concerned about the risks that all of our players and staff could face if we were to hold events in China in 2022."

One of China's most recognizable sports stars, Peng publicly accused former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of coercing her into sex at his home three years ago in a since-deleted social media post dated November 2.
Peng was immediately muffled by blanket censorship and disappeared from public view for more than two weeks, prompting the women tennis' world to demand answers as to her whereabouts -- as well as a full investigation into her allegations against Zhang.
 
Too good to be true.

That organization will back down as soon as China tightens the screws.

The Emperor is not going to lose face.
 
Last edited:
Love seeing broad consensus for once.
 
I admit I'm shocked. So many other large governing bodies have turned a blind eye to oppressive countries. I've always said money has no morality. But hats off to the WTA for standing up to China.
 
I was surprised to hear about this move, given how many companies have folded to China's reactions when they express opinions Beijing doesn't approve. This is a good move, because the private sector needs to develop a spine if it claims any kind of corporate principles. China can choose to censor their citizens, but that shouldn't mean companies fold like a house of cards if someone they employ makes a comment.

What this shows is at least one organization leads the way, because the relationship between businesses and China is a two way street, but the status quo has been to preserve access to the Chinese market than some of the basic principles these companies enjoy throughout most of the world. The WTA took a good stand, because they represent the women who are part of their tours, and hosting tournaments in a country where reporting a sexual assault gets you silenced shows the government cares more about protecting its elites than victims.
 
ElChupacabra said:
I was surprised to hear about this move, given how many companies have folded to China's reactions when they express opinions Beijing doesn't approve. This is a good move, because the private sector needs to develop a spine if it claims any kind of corporate principles. China can choose to censor their citizens, but that shouldn't mean companies fold like a house of cards if someone they employ makes a comment.

What this shows is at least one organization leads the way, because the relationship between businesses and China is a two way street, but the status quo has been to preserve access to the Chinese market than some of the basic principles these companies enjoy throughout most of the world. The WTA took a good stand, because they represent the women who are part of their tours, and hosting tournaments in a country where reporting a sexual assault gets you silenced shows the government cares more about protecting its elites than victims.
Click to expand...
I think the bolded is all too common in more than a few countries.
 
ElChupacabra said:
I was surprised to hear about this move, given how many companies have folded to China's reactions when they express opinions Beijing doesn't approve. This is a good move, because the private sector needs to develop a spine if it claims any kind of corporate principles. China can choose to censor their citizens, but that shouldn't mean companies fold like a house of cards if someone they employ makes a comment.

What this shows is at least one organization leads the way, because the relationship between businesses and China is a two way street, but the status quo has been to preserve access to the Chinese market than some of the basic principles these companies enjoy throughout most of the world. The WTA took a good stand, because they represent the women who are part of their tours, and hosting tournaments in a country where reporting a sexual assault gets you silenced shows the government cares more about protecting its elites than victims.
Click to expand...

Certainly applies to the USA.
 
joko104 said:
Certainly applies to the USA.
Click to expand...
And to @Rexedgar's point, others as well. It's more a question of what degree each nation goes to do so, and the amount of recourse non-elites have. In a country like China, you have little to no recourse.
 
ElChupacabra said:
Certainly, but China (and other authoritarian countries) makes it more overt than others.
Click to expand...
Not to be contrarian, but which do you prefer?

Makes authoritarian countries more honest than those who Pooh-Pooh corruption until they think no one is looking……
 
Rexedgar said:
Not to be contrarian, but which do you prefer?

Makes authoritarian countries more honest than those who Pooh-Pooh corruption until they think no one is looking……
Click to expand...
The main difference is having a means of recourse. Here through public pressure, have the government take some kind of action. Authoritarian countries don't have this as a feature, so I prefer our version. What they are doing is less about honesty than the overt exertion of state power. If you're a person seeking action against a political elite in China, this recent case makes it abundantly clear the government has no interest in your case, and your freedom is impacted.
 
ElChupacabra said:
The main difference is having a means of recourse. Here through public pressure, have the government take some kind of action. Authoritarian countries don't have this as a feature, so I prefer our version. What they are doing is less about honesty than the overt exertion of state power. If you're a person seeking action against a political elite in China, this recent case makes it abundantly clear the government has no interest in your case, and your freedom is impacted.
Click to expand...
Don’t misunderstand my devil’s advocate position, I prefer the devil I know, but some of your “non-elites have no recourse “ is true here in the US. Matter of degrees and glass houses…….:cool:
 
Rexedgar said:
Don’t misunderstand my devil’s advocate position, I prefer the devil I know, but some of your “non-elites have no recourse “ is true here in the US. Matter of degrees and glass houses…….:cool:
Click to expand...
Sure, but at least there's the possibility versus not having it at all; that's my main point. There are plenty of hoops you have to jump through to hold those in power accountable, but at least there are hoops.
;)
 
Fishking said:
I mean...this is a good move. More companies and organizations should be doing the same, as there is literal genocide, organ harvesting, ect happening there but that isn't enough for companies? They aren't much better than the companies that worked with the Nazis at this point, and that isn't even hyperbole. But then companies like Nike and Apple will do virtue signal commercials to add stupid levels of hypocrisy on top. Loved that Ricky Gervais called them all out on that at the Golden Globes.

www.cnn.com

Women's tennis suspends tournaments in China over concern for Peng Shuai

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) chairman and CEO Steve Simon has announced an immediate suspension of all WTA tournaments in China, including Hong Kong, saying it's based on a lack of transparency by Chinese officials over Peng Shuai's sitution
www.cnn.com www.cnn.com

Hong Kong (CNN)The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has announced an immediate suspension of all tournaments in China, including Hong Kong, in response to Beijing's silencing of sexual assault allegations made by Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai against a former top Communist Party official.

In a statement released Wednesday, WTA chairman and CEO Steve Simon said the decision was based on the "unacceptable" response of Chinese officials in the #MeToo scandal, including rushing to censor Peng's allegations and ignoring calls for a full and transparent investigation.

"In good conscience, I don't see how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and has seemingly been pressured to contradict her allegation of sexual assault," Simon said.

"Given the current state of affairs, I am also greatly concerned about the risks that all of our players and staff could face if we were to hold events in China in 2022."

One of China's most recognizable sports stars, Peng publicly accused former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of coercing her into sex at his home three years ago in a since-deleted social media post dated November 2.
Peng was immediately muffled by blanket censorship and disappeared from public view for more than two weeks, prompting the women tennis' world to demand answers as to her whereabouts -- as well as a full investigation into her allegations against Zhang.
Click to expand...
About time.
 
Rexedgar said:
Don’t misunderstand my devil’s advocate position, I prefer the devil I know, but some of your “non-elites have no recourse “ is true here in the US. Matter of degrees and glass houses…….:cool:
Click to expand...
The fact that you can not only freely and openly criticize all the groups you're referencing in the U.S., but would be in among a very large group doing it, itself shows how the comparison falls short.
 
Fishking said:
The fact that you can not only freely and openly criticize all the groups you're referencing in the U.S., but would be in among a very large group doing it, itself shows how the comparison falls short.
Click to expand...
Yeah, we aren’t as exceptional as we have been led to believe….


What groups did I “reference?”
 
Rexedgar said:
Yeah, we aren’t as exceptional as we have been led to believe….


What groups did I “reference?”
Click to expand...
Anyone you consider part of the elite.
 
It was nice to see an organization not fold like cheap cards.

We should keep in mind that tennis tournaments have been and continue to be suspended in China due to pandemic so the immediate practical impact is somewhat TBD.
 
ElChupacabra said:
I was surprised to hear about this move, given how many companies have folded to China's reactions when they express opinions Beijing doesn't approve. This is a good move, because the private sector needs to develop a spine if it claims any kind of corporate principles. China can choose to censor their citizens, but that shouldn't mean companies fold like a house of cards if someone they employ makes a comment.

What this shows is at least one organization leads the way, because the relationship between businesses and China is a two way street, but the status quo has been to preserve access to the Chinese market than some of the basic principles these companies enjoy throughout most of the world. The WTA took a good stand, because they represent the women who are part of their tours, and hosting tournaments in a country where reporting a sexual assault gets you silenced shows the government cares more about protecting its elites than victims.
Click to expand...
Hopefully this will be the beginning of a trend as people wake up and put principles ahead of profit.
 
Chainsawmassacre said:
Hopefully this will be the beginning of a trend as people wake up and put principles ahead of profit.
Click to expand...
That's not the capitalist way though. While the WTA will lose money in this, larger corporations have a lot more to lose, and are only prone to make changes in practice if the negative press is worse than a short term financial loss.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom