The Beijing Daxing District government has decided to cancel its Spanish bullfighting program after strong protests against animal cruelty from deputies to the Beijing Municipal People's Congress (BMPC) and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Shen Baochang, secretary of the Beijing Daxing District Committee of the Communist Party of China, said a bullring now under construction -- touted as the largest in Asia -- will show tame animal performances and circuses instead of bullfights in the future, the Beijing News reported.

Investors in the project at the Beijing Wild Animal Park said the original plan called for US-style rodeos rather than Spanish bullfighting.

"In Spanish bullfighting a matador kills the bull. In the US, a cowboy rides a bull but does not kill it," park officials were quoted as saying.

In rodeo bull riding, the competitor attempts to remain on a bull's back for eight seconds, holding on with only one hand while the 1,000-kilogram bull attempts to throw him off.

Park officials said the district government and other authorities will make the final determination as to how the ring will be used.

The 6,400-seat ring is set to be completed this month, and bullfighting was scheduled to begin on May 1.

Shen Mengpei and Wu Shoulun, both BMPC deputies, complained to Shen Baochang late last month, saying that Spanish bullfighting is cruel and that China should not introduce an event that its own traditions consider uncultured.

CPPCC member Liang Congjie said that Beijing is preparing for the 2008 Olympics and should display civilized behavior, not cruelty to animals.

Mang Ping, an expert in animal welfare, said that even if officials stage US or Canadian-style rodeos rather than bullfights, calves could still be hurt. In rodeo calf-roping events, young animals are lassoed by cowboys pursuing them on horseback. The cowboys, who are timed for the winning score, jump from their horses, twist the calves' necks until they fall and bind them.

"Such meaningless competitions in the United States even have examples of the necks of calves being broken, or other injuries," she said.

"It goes against moral principles," Mang complained.

(China Daily April 2, 2004)