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.

[Y]

MAC and all the people, here is a link to an article by a very professional journalist. It tells us what is the real root of the tibet unrest

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080329.TIBET29/EmailTPStory/TPInternational

It was published in GlobalMail:

HOW 3 CANADIANS UPSTAGED BEIJING

It was supposed to have been China's week - the Olympic torch ceremony kicking off the final countdown to the Beijing Games. Instead, protesters spoiled the party. Doug Saunders traces the seven years of planning to usurp the showcase ...

So we are now clear about who are the mastermind about all this. Gee, "mastermind"!!! The word sounds too familair.

[Y]

Sorry, a clarification:

the last two sentences in my previous posting are my comments, not from the original article.

[Y]

I seriously call for those journalists, activitists, and etc. I believe that you think you are doing the right things. But please reflect on this: by doing this kind ad hoc actitivities whose only purpose is to spoil Beijing olyimpics, are you willing to come forward to say that you are responsible for the history if things turn out to be a human tragedy?

Do things, even if small thing, that are constructive. Do not waste tax-payers' money.

[A B]

Let's think about the 4 Canadian women who are instigating the protests mentioned in the Globe and Mail article above.

To be fair, almost any major international event (G7, etc.) tend to attract even larger crowds of protesters who are even better organized than Tibetan protesters abroad.

The difference is the G7 nations do not have a fresh memory of a event like 1989 to fan the fires. There are earlier memories, like Kent State, etc. that have receded into the back ground.

The reality - if you trust Tim's and other western journalist like Michelle Higgins of NY Times - is that the outbreak of violence has subsided.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/travel/06practibet.html

Sure, there is no doubt a massive police / military presence there, and no doubt, there is repression of some kind.

But the truth is there is not evidence of heavy handed violence by the Chinese government as of today.

Indeed, it can be argued that it is the initial restraint of the Chinese government that allowed the riot to get out of hand to begin with.

Could things be better in Tibet? Absolutely.

Are there legitimate grievances? Almost certainly.

But that means grievances not only from ethnic Tibetans, but ethnic Chinese too.

Do the Chinese government need to do a better job. Certainly.

Can the Chinese government be more transparent? Definitely.

Would the alternative of letting Chinese nationalism collide with Tibetan separatism be more pleasant than the current situation?

Almost certainly no.

When things are this tense, sometimes, the best thing to happen is for all sides to find a way to lower the temperature, and then, when the emotions subside a little, engage in dialog.

Professional protesters from abroad are beyond the control of the Chinese government unless they do something in violation of international law or commit an extraditable offense.

China has bent over backwards to help foreign nations with terrorists. If and when foreigners cross the line to terrorism, I would hope that the other countries think real hard about their reciprocal obligations to China.

PS It is noted that the Dailai Lama did not do the utmost in his power to halt the violence.

Gandhi would not be impressed by the Dailai Lama.

[A B]

Another bothersome postscript:

Remember the L.A. Riots?

See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Los_Angeles_riots

The United States systematically oppresses an entire ethnic group (Blacks) and routinely gets away with it without serious international censure.

Think about it.

Would an American police force have fired on demonstrators if they thought shots are being fired (at the police)?

You bet.

[nanheyangrouchuan]

The US gov't has been paying reparations to the aboriginal Americans to the tune of tens of millions of dollars and that is not counting the 60 billion USD that the Supreme Court is making the White House pay to the tribes in back compensation for mineral rights.

And that Atimes piece is pretty colorful. All past history while China continues its current empire building and rape. China continues to pick fights with ALL of its neighbors over small pieces of territory, mostly because those territories have minerals, water or arable land. Something that chinese leadership has all but destroyed in their worthless country.

[Marvin Foushee]

I hate to think what kind of anthrax attack "Y" would unleash upon Congress and the American Press if he decided to turn Islamic.

Factoid: Asian Americans are the majority race in California state universities. Of the top 12 percent of high school graduates that enter the California college system, 41 percent of these students are Asian American, 36 percent are White.

"Y" is not smart enough to be an FBI agent. You should get a job that accepts white trash morons who like to read Chinese pulp fiction.

[Pffefer]

nh,

Indeed you have no shame. The US government paying reparations? Yeah right, all they have been doing was allowing Native Americans to set up casinos. So much about compensating them.

China picks fights with its neighbors? Alright, you tell me which is worse: a country picking fights with its neighbors or a country invading countries that are on a different continent?

When does your visa expire by the way? :-)

[bemis]

NH's visa-expiry date? None! MAGGOTS (self-confessed, some blogs back) don't NEED visas: they creep & wriggle in hideous ways, into unfortunate & unwelcoming hosts & then shamelessly refuse to leave. Leave & STARVE? Nah...Maggots know where they are well-off. Of course, there ARE drastic cures for maggot infestation, but that is another story.

[nanheyangrouchuan]

@ pfeffer,

How little you know. Those reparations are in the form of 60 billion USD in mineral rights accumulated over the past 200 years and lawsuits brought by tribes over the treaties they signed with the US gov't back in the day and were violated. The casinos are funded by the money won from the lawsuits (as are the property giveaways, medical care, autonomy from state governments, etc).

My visa keeps getting renewed, and your bar tab keeps getting higher.

[Menon]

Who does China think she is anyway? Trying to assert her presence in the world stage through repressive ideas and policies will not earn China the credentials of a good country. She has to shed her arrogance and cloak of dishonesty in order to embrace the trust of all those around her. Threats should make way treats and fair journalism.