Starbucks Ousted

In 2000, Starbucks, the undisputed king of American coffee, quietly opened for business inside the Forbidden City. The quiet, not surprisingly, lasted for only two months, with protesters decrying the presence of what they saw as a symbol of globalization and Western commercialization in Beijing’s most sacred spot. At the time, the management of the Forbidden City expressed their surprise at the outcry, and assured everyone that they the franchise’s one-year lease would not be renewed. But the coffee king remained more than six years within the Palace, with some concessions: the signage was minimal and far more discreet than the average Starbucks.

This past January, however, the controversy flared up once again, sparked by CCTV anchor (and former Ford Fellow) Rui Chenggang. Rui used his well-trafficked blog as a platform to condemn Starbucks’ presence within the former imperial abode. For a detailed (and critical) description of Rui’s posts, see this piece from the Shanghaist. Rui claimed that his blog received millions of hits and thousands of e-mail messages, and a storm of international and domestic articles resulted. At the time, a spokesperson for the museum issued a statement that they were in talks with Starbucks about “changes,” and that implementation of these changes would take place within a half-year.

The furor quickly died down, but six months later, the Forbidden City has followed through on its promise, issuing a statement this past weekend that Starbucks was on its way out. The Forbidden City’s management explained that from now on, no independent brands would operate within the complex; if Starbucks wanted to remain, it could do so, but only under the Forbidden City’s own brand. The media has awarded Rui victor, but the move was clearly a long time coming, and likely furthered along by profit-seeking motives as well.

For a heated discussion on the subject, a translation of Rui’s latest response to the news, and a number of inventive names for future Forbidden City products, check out this thread on our forum. For a balanced and thoughtful piece about commercialism in the Forbidden City, see this Beijing Times Editorial (in Chinese).

Links and Sources
CNN: Starbucks in the Forbidden City has some Chinese aghast
The Shanghaiist: Storm in a coffee cup brewing in the Forbidden City?
Wenxue.daqi.com: 谁动了故宫星巴克
Beijing News: 故宫星巴克停止营业
Beijing News: 以理性态度看待故宫星巴克
LA Times: Chinese media star gives Starbucks a jolt
tbjforum: Starbucks closes controversial Forbidden City cafe

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btw, the guy who lead the hubbub to have Starbucks ousted in the first place is now under arrest for corruption

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1552822/leading-broadcaster-rui-chenggang-detained-cctv-graft-investigation

A leading anchor with China Central Television was taken away for investigation on Friday, mainland media reported.

Rui Chenggang's sudden departure left an empty seat beside his co-host when his show aired that night.

Rui, who hosts the popular Economic News programme, was taken away by prosecutors along with Li Yong, deputy director of CCTV's financial news channel, and an unnamed producer, Caixin Online reported yesterday.

Several high-profile figures at the state broadcaster have been detained in recent months as part of graft investigations.

The report said more than one million yuan (HK$1.25 million) in cash was found in Li's office.

Li was due to depart for Brazil on Friday to report on President Xi Jinping's visit to South America and his attendance at the BRICS summit of leading emerging-market economies, Caixin said, citing unnamed CCTV sources.

Books by current and former Beijinger staffers

http://astore.amazon.com/truerunmedia-20