Arthur Liu Junguo, father of Olympian figure skater Alysa Liu, is elaborating on why he rejected China’s attempt to get his daughter to skate for them.
“Obviously, I would not allow my daughter to compete on behalf of China, because of the serious human rights violations in China,” Arthur Liu told Japan-based English-language magazine Nikkei Asia in an online interview Monday night. Arthur Liu left China in 1989, following his involvement in pro-democracy protests after Tiananmen Square, according to Nikkei Asia.
Alysa Liu was targeted by China’s “naturalization project,” which sought to recruit ethnically Chinese athletes living abroad, according to The Economist. Arthur Liu and his daughter were reportedly surveilled by spies working for China ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. (RELATED: Jimmy Lai’s Daughter Begs For Help From Eileen Gu, American-Born Skier Competing For China)
“I want to say that there was contact, and I made it very clear that I would not allow her to compete on behalf of China,” Arthur Liu told Nikkei Asia of the Chinese government’s attempt to get Alysa Liu to compete under their flag.
Arthur Liu says he never discussed finances with the Chinese government, but believes the “financial package would [have been] very enticing.”
There really is no justification for NBC et al to devote more time to Gu than Liu.
— Legal Phil (@Legal_Fil) February 25, 2026
Liu won a far more prestigious event, has a great comeback story, & has a moral compass. She even has the "right" politics for these folks, telling you all you need to know about NBC's reasons. https://t.co/YMCQuiUen9
Arthur Liu is likely correct on that count.
American-born skier Eileen Gu and American-born figure skater Zhu Yi, who both compete for China, were slated to earn a combined $6.6 million from the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau in 2025, the Wall Street Journal reports. Yi has reportedly renounced her U.S. citizenship. The details of Gu’s citizenship remain murky — China does not officially recognize dual citizenship, but Gu’s name has never appeared on the government’s quarterly list of individuals who have chosen to expatriate.
Arthur Liu “said he is often asked to compare Alysa with other U.S.-born athletes who have opted to compete for China,” such as Gu, according to Nikkei Asia. He left his thoughts at this: “Their choices are theirs, and my choices are mine, and I don’t want to say more than that.” (RELATED: Liberal Media Gushes Over American Competing For China, Bashes US Men’s Hockey Team)
“Chinese people still have no freedom of speech, no freedom of religion and there are still political prisoners in China,” Arthur Liu said to the outlet. “Clearly, I wouldn’t allow my daughter to compete for such a government.”
Arthur Liu needn’t compare his daughter to Eileen Gu. Their divergent paths speak for themselves. One Olympian was raised by a father who stuck to his principles when tempted with a boatload of cash. The other was raised by a mother with no apparent loyalty to the nation to which she immigrated.
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