China's foreign ministry responds to Mbappe's apology, keeps the boycott sword hanging over La Liga and Real Madrid
China's Foreign Ministry struck a cautious diplomatic tone on Wednesday over the crisis surrounding French star Kylian Mbappe, welcoming his apology but giving no hint that it would lift the boycott measures imposed on him and on the Spanish league.
Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said, responding to a question about the French player's statement: "We attach importance to the apology offered by the person concerned." Pressed again and directly on whether the apology would help end the boycott, he simply repeated the same line, adding nothing.
A slip of the tongue in three languages
Mbappe had posted an official apology on Tuesday in French, Chinese and English, describing his comments as a "slip of the tongue". He admitted his words had hurt many people in China and among Chinese communities abroad, and expressed his "deep respect" for the Chinese people and their history.
The crisis traces back to an interview in which Mbappe said one of his favourite satirical images is a composite picture of his face superimposed on that of a "Chinese dictator", a clear reference, without naming him, to former leader Mao Zedong.
Mao founded the People's Republic of China in 1949 and holds a central, almost sacred place in the Communist Party's national narrative. He is the symbol of restored sovereignty after the so-called "century of humiliation", even as the party itself acknowledges the disasters of some of his policies such as the "Great Leap Forward" and the "Cultural Revolution".
Collapse of sponsors and suspension of broadcasting
The economic fallout was swift. Mbappe's comments triggered the immediate collapse of huge commercial deals with Chinese giants Dongpeng, Mengniu and Milk Ground. Platforms slapped restrictions on his content, and Chinese state television pulled its broadcast of Spanish league LaLiga matches from Monday 26 October.
Spanish moves to contain the crisis
Facing those losses, the Spanish league moved fast. LaLiga apologised for the offence, while president Javier Tebas met the Chinese ambassador to Spain, Yao Jing, on Tuesday to thrash out a solution and shield cooperation agreements from the damage, calling China a "strategic partner".
Then came a striking turn. China Media Group (CMG), owner of the official CCTV channel, confirmed on Wednesday, in a statement issued at six o'clock in the evening local time, that it had received an official letter of apology from Real Madrid to the Chinese people through LaLiga.
Excerpts published by the group read: "Our club holds deep respect for China, its history, its culture and its people." The club confirmed its desire to keep strengthening relations with the Asian state, alongside Mbappe's public apology.
CMG confirmed receipt of both letters but did not say whether it considered the apology sufficient. Nor did it announce any change to the decision to suspend broadcasts of LaLiga matches, Mbappe's matches, or the advertisements in which he appears.
That statement came just hours after a hardline stance from the Sports and Youth Centre affiliated with CMG, which rejected a Spanish press account claiming Mbappe's comments were a "personal expression" and not meant to offend.
The organisation insisted the player's words went beyond what is acceptable and beyond freedom of expression, warning Real Madrid that it cannot dodge its responsibility, and that "without a satisfactory apology, there is no room for discussion".
