The New York based Divine Performing Arts (DPA) began its world tour in 2006 and the show has won audiences’ hearts worldwide because of its excellent stage performance and its unique content that is deeply rooted into five thousand years of Chinese culture.
As more and more people recognize DPA’s effort in reviving the Chinese culture and its traditional values, emphasizing the harmony of humans with nature. The Chinese Communist regime views such values as the ultimate threat and has tried its best to stop the show year after year. This year is no exception.
In Germany, Chinese consulate representatives sent official letters to the State of Hessen’s Chancellery and consular corps on Jan. 6, in an attempt to defame DPA and its sponsors, urging them to boycott the show. Despite this, DPA successfully opened its European tour in Frankfurt.
In South Korea, the Chinese embassy threatened the Universal Arts Center, saying that it will not issue any visas to theater staff if it does not break its contract with DPA, and that the theater’s large business investments in China may also be affected. However, DPA successfully returned to Seoul after the Seoul Local Court ruled in favor of DPA on Feb. 3.
Interference Helps Promote DPA
Although the Chinese consulates spare no effort in their attempts to block the show around the world, more and more people have actually noticed the show as a result and decide to watch it by way of the regime’s attempted interference.
A representative of DPA in Germany jokingly said, “This is how the Chinese consulate promotes the DPA show every year.”
A German congressman who did not want to be named told an Epoch Times reporter that he made the decision to go see the performance once after he learned about the Chinese regime’s interference.
A United Kingdom’s Member of Parliement, Mr. Barden, recommended that all European Parliament members should watch the upcoming performances. The Chairman of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering and vice chairman Edward McMillan-Scott also wrote welcome letters for DPA’s 2009 European Tour.
In Frankfurt, some state officials actually learned about show via the Chinese regime’s letters and decided to book their tickets. Furthermore, some audience members said they decided to purchase the tickets after receiving some fliers revealing the regime’s interference. They indicated that it was exactly because of the regime’s interference that motivated them to support the DPA show.
The Frankfurt-based International Association for Human Rights (IGFM) posted the Chinese consulate’s letter on its website and condemned the regime for attempting to “interfere with cultural freedom on the German soil,” which also garnered the attention of many.
The Regime’s Relentless Tactics
Harassing potential audience members is just one of the regime’s tactics. The regime has resorted to various means, trying to stop DPA’s world tour, including making attempts to harass DPA’s sponsors, block hot lines for the show or mobilizing overseas Chinese students to stop audience members from entering the theater.
The Danish Royal Opera House canceled the performance last March due to immense pressure received from the Chinese Communist regime. The Chinese consulate in Stockholm also tried to stop the performance in Sweden.
According to information provided by DPA organizers in various countries, such attempts at interference occurred in South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and in the United States. In the United States, the regime even resorted to sending threatening letters through secret agents to overseas Chinese organizations or Chinese student associations. The Chinese regime directly threatened members of these organizations, saying that they would covertly take their photos if they were to go to the show and threatened that they will have problems going back to China in the future.
DPA Gains Worldwide Support and Recognition
Despite the Chinese Communist regime’s relentless efforts to stop the show, many people in different countries have shown strong support.
For example, Danish National Television, the largest station with the highest viewing rating in Denmark exposed the CCP’s plot to the public on March 18, 2008. They broadcasted a prime-time in-depth report titled, “Theater Encounters Great Pressure from China.” The station’s reporters had interviewed more than 80 people during the preceding month.
25 members of the Parliament in Sweden published a joint statement, “We warmly welcome the first visit of the Divine Performing Arts to Sweden! We, members of different political parties in the Swedish Parliament, condemn the Chinese embassy for violating freedom of speech in our country.”
In late 2007, New York Assemblyman Michael Benjamin, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle and chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors Chris Norby, all received letters from the Chinese Consulates asking them not to recognize DPA. All three elected officials exposed the letters and rebuffed such requests. Mr. Norby even openly rebuked the Chinese Consulate, saying that he was insulted and will not honor the request.
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