Anger at foreign journalists

The fax machine hummed to life, and out popped the kind of “warning” that many foreign correspondents in China are getting these days.

It was a tirade specifically against CNN over its coverage of Tibet. But it condemned all foreign reporters in language that bordered on threat.

“If you go on acting like CNN, get out of China. Chinese people do not welcome you,” it concluded. The writer signed off simply as “a Chinese person.”

China is in the midst of one of its periodic cycles of intense nationalism. The riots in Lhasa last month left a wake of anger and indignation among the majority ethnic Han Chinese, and they see any defense of Tibetans as a sign of latent anti-Chinese sentiment. The easy targets of this wrath are foreign journalists.

All it takes is a glance around the internet forums and bulletin boards on the Chinese internet to feel how palpable the nationalism. Heck, just read some of the comments attached to recent postings on this blog. Many of them shed a lot more heat than light. The last time this kind of nationalism arose was in April 2005, when anti-Japanese protests erupted in major cities. 

Already some of my foreign colleagues have had to temporarily vacate their offices in Beijing because of these threats. 

Here are a couple of comments on the new forum that somebody set up at www.anti-cnn.com just to give you the flavor. You can see that a desire for revenge is a theme, but revenge against whom or what? Last time, it was the Japanese. Who will it be next time?

“I don't want to see my motherland being humiliated like this. Was there any human rights or equality when the Eight-power allied force invaded China? Western imperialism is obviously besieging China. Shouldn't we do something about it? Germany, France and the U.S. don't deserve to say these things. Tibet has belonged to China before these countries were even founded. That’s the truth." Signed Yuguo Wujiang

“Making China really strong is our primary task. . . . There are lots of things we should learn from the West. However, for a gentleman to take revenge, ten years is not too late (to wait). Proper patience is for a better counterattack!" Signed zajcn

I can only hope that the anger associated with this nationalism dies down well before the Olympic Games. Otherwise China will have difficulty reconciling its Olympic slogan of “One World, One Dream” with the evident antipathy some of its citizens feel for certain outsiders.

Comments

[A B]

Tim,

Just a word of encouragement and support.

It is somewhat sad to see the Chinese as a people have not matured beyond doing things like this. (I am referring to the small % that have the capability and wherewithal to fax a foreign correspondent.)

A different way to look at this is how much the central government have lost its grip. In the old days, persons who did things like this would be tracked down and promptly dealt with.

China is now a very diverse place, with many different voices, competing ideas, free discussion, and freedom.

The danger is, these freedoms come with it responsibility (like treating those with different or conflicting ideas with dignity and respect), and limitations on how much differences are permitted to be dealt with via violent or other unsavory methods.

Sorry, Tim.

Let's hope people see the light and understand the importance of foreign perspectives, which might not necessarily be wrong, just different.

Be rest assured that what you are doing as a journalist practicing in the western tradition is helping this process along.

[Paul Carr]

You write, "China is in the midst of one of its periodic cycles of intense nationalism. The riots in Lhasa last month left a wake of anger and indignation among the majority ethnic Han Chinese, and *****they see any defense of Tibetans as a sign of latent anti-Chinese sentiment."****."

This is just another example of your bias, Tim. The great majority of Chinese people, Han Chinese or otherwise, accept that the great majority of Tibetan people, like the rest of the Chinese population, unequivocably condemn the actions of the rioters in Lhasa and elsewhere in China done in the name of "Tibetan Independence". These rioters have virtually no support amongst the general Tibetan population.

[Mike]

I thought the reporting on CNN to be fairly fair over the last few days since the torch relay ceremony in Beijing. The fact that I can even watch CNN in my apartment was a surprise to me and shows how much China is changing.

[Zane Thomas]

There are plenty of examples of such fervent nationalism expressed by Americans, or citizens of any other nation as well. It doesn't seem to be a particularly Chinese characteristic and by making it appear so you add fuel to the fire.

[anonymous]

On a seemingly unrelated note,

Given the recent behaviors of Chinese netizens (supposedly the best educated group in China), why some (or rather, plenty of) western politicians and journalists still try to sell the panacea of western-style democratic institutions, i.e. multi-party election, unrestricted free speech etc. to China? Seriously, what kind of stuff are they smoking? Do they really believe dissolving CCP and wholesale transplanting western system would somehow make world safer? China being less threatening on economic/employment side, sure, but a safer world? Hell no!

I hate to vent. But after Iraq, somehow some people still stick to the viewpoint that CCP/Putin/Ahmadinejad etc. is evil and only if we can get rid of them...

[hehe]

It is very easy for anybody from the west to dismiss any Chinese point of view. Grab the two tools that have been used extensively: 1. communist/propaganda/brainwashing label 2. nationalism label

[hehe]

It is very easy for anybody from the west to dismiss any Chinese point of view. Grab the two tools that have been used extensively: 1. communist/propaganda/brainwashing label 2. nationalism label

[Bill]

I think it would be much better for China if all foreign media people just vacate the country, and leave the Chinese government to harmonize the society the way Chinese people, especially the Hans, like it. It would also leave the world more peaceful too. I mean, do we really need these "discussion" with the Chinese. The western world was doing quite all right without talking to any of them for 50 years.

[Pan]

Ha! Look at the vitriol on some blogs when the issue is illegal immigration. Pot calling the kettle black?

[ABC]

Another quote from Kishore Mahbubani: "I sometimes feel a little sad when I pick up the leading newspapers and journals of the West and read their analyses of the state of the world. A favorite phrase used by the New York Times and Financial Times, the Economist and Time is “the view of the international community.” They have this mythical belief that there exists an “international community” that shares the views and perceptions of the West. I once asked the writer and broadcaster William Shawcross whom he was referring to when he spoke of the “international community.” After some reflection, he admitted that he was referring to those who lived in the West almost exclusively. It is less a global community of opinion than a self-selecting club."

One-World One-Dream. Yes, only if the dream is what the West is looking for. Do you think people in Asia are looking for the same values - the "universal" values proclaimed by the west? If there is freedom of speech, why can't there be freedom of values? Foreign journalists in China are the modern crusaders of western values, against the tide of rising Asian values.

[Pffefer]

I agree with Bill, to hell with the Olympics and China's image or "international reputation" as Richard Spencer suggested. As the Chinese like to say "How much is "image" worth?" The US has a terrible image around the world yet it is still doing incredibly well. I am pretty sure the US took in more foreign investment than China did last year.

Yeah I think if you don't feel safe or if you can't stand the nationalistic fervor in China these days, leave. Find a place that nationalism is not an issue. Maybe Antarctica? :-)

[nanheyangrouchuan]

China stinks, that is all there is to it. As for the Chris Carr's stupidity, there are quite a few Tibetans in other Chinese occupied territories and around the world who are standing up to be heard regarding the genocide in their nation.

Who really cares about the opinions of the Chinese people? They also express their opinion by showering foreign embassies with bottles while the police stand by.

As for pfeffer, I and the foreign journalists will stay in China to record the ugly truth for the world to read and to prepare for China's permanent deconstruction.

[Y]

@nanhey..., it sounds like you are a journalist, try to make a living in china by reporting china-related stories. Probably in Shanghai? Let me tell ya, even in Northern America and Europe alone, there are enough opportunities and news stories for a capable journalist.

Welcome back to home.

[Y]

Let me repeat the story of the British journalist who predicted in 1989 that the Beijing government was going to collapse, probably in days.
He is reported to have gone back to reflect why he was so wrong.

You know who interview first tihs time? The very person he was involved with in 1989. Come on, fellows, you are smarter than what you thought you are.

And by the way, his prediction is almost exactly the same as the rumors the studnets heard in those days. This explains. If the prediction turned out to be true, what a breaking news to report!!!

[Pffefer]

nh, be a man (unless you are a clueless chick), when your visa expires don't pay the evil Chinese government to renew it.

You don't have the balls to do that, of course. You simply don't have the balls to do anything. You don't have balls. :-)

[Y]

This is a blogger comment from CNN web page:

"wE BOYCOTTED THE MOSCOW GAMES FOR THE WAR THEY STARTED. BECAUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS. nOW PELOSI JUST WANTS BUSH TO BOYCOTT THE OPENING EVENT."

I guess he was referring to the war MOSCOW started in Afganistan.

What is going on in Afganistan right now anyway almost 30 years later? Unfortunately today is not April Fool's day. Otherwise, you know what I just want to write. But think it over, I decided not to make that joke 'cause it will hurt american people's feeling, and is unhuman.

[nanheyangrouchuan]

And China has been strangling Tibet for 50 years and they still get the Olympics. The difference between the USSR and the PRC? 1 billion slave laborers/potential customers and every MNC in the world is up to both armpits in badirty China.

[Y]

LOL @nanheyangrouchuan. Take it easy, do not get too mad --- not good for your health.

"... they still get the Olympics". The desicion regarding to who to host Olympics is made through a democratic process and with a fair competition. It only indiactes that the majority of the world people agree with the chinese people. Too bad for you (and those dirty and arrogent politicians) if you do not like it. This is the power of democracy.

[Y]

A good practice to journalists

I am not trying to give them a crash course here because I know nothing about the branch of study. But as an average JOE, here is my advice: learning mandrain, studying the history and culture of china, talking to average joes you can grab on the streets, sharpening your persepctives as if your are doing a hard assignment in school,


and lastly avoiding those political dissents who thought they know much more than an average chinese simply becuase they visited, say Los Angles, for two months ------ it takes much longer than that to see the essence of the western society and chinses society.

[Y]

Want to report on Tibet?

Go talk to ordinary Tibetants. Not monks because they are not the majority and cannot represent the opinion of majority tibetants. Not those who were born in Nepal or India or even New York, because they have no idea what they are doing? Where is Tibet anyway?

[the tank men]

“I don't want to see my motherland being humiliated like this. Was there any human rights or equality when the Eight-power allied force invaded China? Western imperialism is obviously besieging China. Shouldn't we do something about it? Germany, France and the U.S. don't deserve to say these things. Tibet has belonged to China before these countries were even founded. That’s the truth."

This is how the CCP propaganda works on a large number of innocent and pathetic chinese nationalists or so called patriots .They simply equate the CCP with their motherland, even though they have been relentlessly abused and slaughtered all the time since CCP came into power,and in most cases whenever there is a negative report agaist CCP's policy, these young impulsive nationalists would stand out aggressively to defend the whole country.
with diverse sources of reports and information from you folks here to free the tyrany of the only CCP narrow minded throat and tongue, the chinese people will be better informed in terms of what may exactly has happend, at least they provide a chance to view the event from some different angle, so closing them into the truth.

Rather than the money ,the love,the fame,the faith and the fairness, give me the truth---Rousseau

[Hong Kong person]

The western media collectively report lies about the Tibet riots. Western journalists, where are you conscience?

[MAC]

Hey Y, do you really think that Chinese are more able to get the real story from the Tibetans than foreigners are? I have spoken to ordinary Tibetans- like the ones who can't speak Chinese, let alone English (I had companions who spoke both)- and you know what they often said? I quote, "You Americans did so much for us Tibetans, thank you." "Tell your president we want the Americans to come back to kick out the Chinese." And no, I certainly didn't head down a sensitive line of question that would have elicited such comments; we were given a rare opportunity and told not to screw it up for everybody by talking politics, and I didn't.

[ABC]

"Tell your president we want the Americans to come back to kick out the Chinese."

Sorry, poor Tibetans, you got no oil so Uncle Sam cannot finance a war for you and turn your sacred place into another Iraq. But... given that the red China is competing with your uncle, he will send media spies to your place and help you out. Last time those CIA boys didn't do their jobs right and the Monk King had to flee to India. BTW, your uncle owed the red China a lot of money. You have do this quietly, okay?

[Pffefer]

Nh, the US has been occuying much of North America for more than two hundred some years and yet it still hosted several Olympics.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/JD04Aa02.html

Mac, it really depends on who you talk to.