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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 024430 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2031 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KCUL SOCI CH
SUBJECT: NOT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY TEXT: "RISE OF THE 
GREAT POWERS" CREATES STIR IN BEIJING 
 
Classified By: Political Section Internal Unit Chief Susan A. Thornton. 
  Reasons 1.4 (b/d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (C) A popular CCTV-2 documentary "The Rise of the Great 
Powers" has set Beijing's chattering classes abuzz in recent 
weeks.  The 12-part series tells the story of how nine 
nations, including the UK, Japan, Russia and the United 
States, rose to become great powers at various points in 
history.  Some observers contend that the documentary 
constitutes a watershed because it takes a relatively 
objective look at history without adding a propagandistic 
gloss.  Others note that the program's subtext of a) reform 
and opening to the outside world, including adopting western 
ideas, b) governments/rulers being responsive to their 
people, c) pragmatism over ideology and d) national unity is 
a barely veiled and sanctioned prescription for China's rise. 
 Contacts said the documentary aired without prior approval 
from Propaganda or other Central Government authorities.  The 
press has seized on the show's popularity and Internet forums 
are flooded with commentary.  Contacts we spoke to said they 
are anxious to see how censors react to the program's 
popularity and publicity, noting that the reaction will 
reveal much about the limits on public discourse regarding 
reform.  End Summary. 
 
How to Be Great 
--------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) "Rise of the Great Powers" aired initially in 
November and is currently in its second run on CCTV-2.  The 
series presents the key factors and turning points in each of 
the nine countries' route to great power status, telling the 
story through the personalities and ideas of major historical 
figures, with accompanying analysis by both Chinese and 
foreign experts.  The content is implicitly supportive of the 
current Chinese leadership's direction and stresses the 
benefits of pragmatic policymaking, especially in economics. 
Throughout the narrative, national pride and domestic unity 
are clear catalysts for development across the board, the 
implication being that each country is unique and must choose 
its own path.  Nonetheless, the series underlines that 
openness to ideas from abroad helped each country advance and 
that market mechanisms are crucial for economic growth. 
 
Surprise: Objective Treatment of Old Nemeses 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) What has surprised observers is the lack of an overt 
propaganda slant to the documentary.  In fact, the series 
corrects some misperceptions about the past, said Ding Dong 
(protect), a historian and outspoken advocate for free 
speech.  The production "is not your old history textbook 
from school," he remarked, adding that when addressing world 
history, the Chinese curriculum tends to emphasize the evils 
of colonialism and capitalism.  Among the surprises: 
 
-- British colonialism was given decidedly low-profile 
treatment.  Even the Opium War, played up in traditional 
Chinese historical accounts as a prime example of rapacious 
and morally bankrupt British policies, is not mentioned. 
 
-- The German segment underscored the great influence of 
German social philosophy on the Europe of the 19th century 
but did not mention Karl Marx.  It focused instead on 
Friedrich List, a proponent of strong state intervention in 
the economy and state-owned industry. 
Q-- While the documentary showed footage of Japan's invasion 
of China in 1937, it did not mention the Nanjing Massacre or 
other hot-button "history" issues of today.  Instead it 
emphasized Japan's ability to absorb positive influences from 
abroad while maintaining its own character.  "The lesson from 
Japan is that any rising power must focus internally on 
bringing prosperity to its people and externally on bringing 
peace and security to the world," the moderator pronounces. 
 
-- The United States receives positive treatment, with ample 
discussion of the values that underpin democracy, including 
constitutional government and a multi-party system.  The 
roles of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and FDR were 
highlighted as were the importance of the Mayflower Compact, 
the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.  The 
segment also stressed the role of intellectual property 
rights protection in spurring technological innovation and 
entrepreneurial activity. 
 
Genesis: A Politburo Meeting 
---------------------------- 
 
BEIJING 00024430  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶4.  (C) Chinese commentators and contacts we spoke with 
rejected assertions that the documentary was commissioned by 
President Hu Jintao or that it presents a Party-ordained view 
of the past.  They generally ascribed the genesis of the 
series to a 2003 Politburo study session at which Hu Jintao 
and other leaders discussed how various countries attained 
global prominence.  News of the meeting was reported by 
Xinhua at the time and inspired CCTV-2 producers to launch 
the project, CCTV contacts reported.  Production took three 
years and required a budget of some RMB 10 million (USD 1.25 
million).  Several prestigious advisors had a hand in shaping 
the content, including Wang Jisi, Dean of the School of 
International Relations at Beijing University and Qian 
Chengdan, a Beijing University history professor who was one 
of the lecturers at the Politburo meeting on world history 
three years ago. 
 
No Prior Approval 
----------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) The program received no prior stamp of approval from 
the Propaganda Department or any other Central Government 
authority, said CCTV-9 producer and longtime Embassy contact 
Li Xiaoping (protect).  She said CCTV-2 deputy programming 
editor Yuan Zhenmin decided to green light the project 
despite concerns that the censors might squelch the show.  A 
number of issues had worried CCTV management, Li remarked. 
First, using the word "rise" in the title was seen as risky 
because the term China's Peaceful Rise, coined previously by 
Hu Jintao advisor Zheng Bijian, was controversial and, 
ultimately, dropped.  The other worry, Li said, is that the 
Propaganda Department or even top leadership will be unable 
to accept the production's core messages, which she listed 
as: a) it is okay to discuss reform, b) democracy is not bad 
and c) it is acceptable for China to incorporate lessons from 
abroad into its development plan. 
 
It's Really About China 
----------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C) While "Rise" examines what made other countries 
prosper, the subject of China's own political, economic and 
social development is never far from the surface.  Wang Jisi 
wrote on the CCTV website that he is "confident that every 
group of viewers watching the program will be thinking about 
China."  The country is at an important crossroads in 
implementing reforms, judged Xu Fangzhou (protect), a 
professor at the Beijing Broadcasting Institute who supports 
greater media freedom.  The documentary's director, Ren 
Xue'an, was a student of Xu's at the Institute.  "Is China a 
great power? The show's message is, not yet," Xu maintained. 
As such, how China chooses to behave toward its own citizens 
and in the international community will affect its future 
status.  The documentary positsthat a variety of societal 
ingredients are necessary for a successful growth recipe, Xu 
said, adding that "Rise" opens up new possibilities for 
reform discussion in China.  Talking about economics is one 
thing, but the program stresses that reform in areas such as 
politics and education are also important elements in a 
nation's development. 
 
What Will the Censors Say? 
-------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (C) Against this backdrop, media insiders are watching to 
see what the Propaganda Department's reaction to "Rise" will 
be.  So far there has been silence, although the rumor in the 
corridors at CCTV, Li told poloff, is that the only criticism 
to filter down has come from a Propaganda official who was 
unhappy that the segment on France failed to discuss Deng 
Xiaoping and Zhou Enlai's pre-revolutionary experiences 
there.  Professor Xu forecast that the censors would respond 
in one of three ways, by a) banning the program and related 
media coverage, b) censuring the CCTV producers or c) doing 
nothing.  If no ban emerges, broadcast executives will likely 
promote new documentaries examining China's dynastic history 
-- minus the heavy-handed political messages.  Nonetheless, 
the Party leadership is unprepared to allow television to 
treat China's sensitive recent past with similar candor, Xu 
said.  Ding separately agreed.  He said an authoritative 
documentary on the "Reform and Opening" era, arguably the 
least sensitive period under Communist rule, would be 
impossible to produce because media discussion of the 1989 
democracy movement and subsequent crackdown remains verboten. 
 
Bootlegs and Bruised Egos 
------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (C) The documentary's success has caused a stir at CCTV 
headquarters, Li related.  There have been internal frictions 
 
BEIJING 00024430  003 OF 003 
 
 
because journalists at CCTV-1, especially those working on 
televised news magazines such as Focus, are jealous of 
CCTV-2's broadcasting coup.  People are wondering why CCTV-1, 
the network's flagship station, is not producing such 
material.  Professor Xu assessed that CCTV-2 has more 
flexibility because it receives less strict attention from 
the censors than CCTV-1.  With its focus on economic issues, 
CCTV-2 has historically enjoyed more leeway.  Meanwhile, IPR 
issues are vexing network management, Li related.  Viewers 
can buy pirated copies of "Rise" in the subway station 
underpass opposite CCTV headquarters.  This especially 
rankles because of the production's hefty price tag, Li said. 
 One silver lining, she acknowledged, is that the prevalence 
of bootlegs is the one reliable gauge of the documentary's 
popularity, as the viewer ratings have not yet been released 
(and are of questionable accuracy). 
 
Colorful Coverage 
----------------- 
 
¶9.  (C) Print and other media have seized on the popularity 
of "Rise of the Great Powers" and are running colorful 
coverage.  The progressive weekly journal Southern Weekend 
and several high-circulation dailies, including The Beijing 
News, have published lengthy interviews with the director and 
production advisors about the documentary's meaning.  The 
China Youth Daily's respected weekly insert Freezing Point 
dedicated its November 29 issue to "Rise," including an 
interview with Mai Tianshu, the chief strategist for the 
program.  Internet news portals such as Sina and Sohu have 
also posted considerable content on the subject.  Much of the 
discussion has had a political flavor.  One notable comment 
from the Guangdong Party daily website was rehosted on the 
Sina news site on December 2.  The deputy editor of Southern 
Metropolis Weekly, Chang Ping, criticized two of the show's 
advisors for downplaying in a Southern Weekend interview the 
importance of freedom and democracy in the rise of the 
powers. 
 
¶10.  (C) Internet chat room traffic has also been heavy with 
lively debate about the documentary and what it means for 
China.  Popular forums on Sina, Sohu and Tom.com have seen 
thousands of postings.  Most netizens are praising the show 
for what they view as its straightforward treatment of 
history.  Political postings appear to be in bounds as well. 
One forum participant on Sina wrote that "the key to great 
power status is an advanced political system! There is still 
a long way to go for China."  In a similar vein, another 
chatter wrote that "no great power became wealthy by 
oppressing its own people." 
 
RANDT