09.30.07
Beijing shows true colours
Everybody who has spent some time in China knows how xenophobic and racist the Chinese are. Normally they are careful not to display their racism too openly in this ‘all face and no shame’ society. Not so in the latest incident in Beijing, where African expats were attacked. See the following article from the Guardian of September 26:
At least 20 black men, including students, tourists and the son of a Caribbean diplomat, were arrested in a popular nightclub district of Beijing on Friday, several of the group being severely beaten on suspicion of dealing drugs, witnesses said.African expatriates in Beijing and witnesses claim the episode revealed a pervasive prejudice toward dark-skinned foreigners in China.
According to five bystanders, teams of police, dressed in black jumpsuits and reportedly wielding batons and taser guns, cordoned off a street in the popular Sanlitun nightclub district at around midnight and rounded up almost all the black men there. Many of the men were beaten.
The raid took place in front of hundreds of stunned expatriates outside the packed bars and clubs of the neighbourhood, which is popular with Beijing’s burgeoning foreign community.”I saw a guy being beaten by these kids. He wasn’t doing anything. He wasn’t fighting back,” said one witness, a white American college graduate working in Beijing.
“I have not really ever seen anything so brutal,” said another American. “There was blood on the streets. They were basically beating up any black person they could find.”
Beijing police yesterday declined to confirm or deny the incident.
The detainees included 22-year-old Joslyn Whiteman, son of Grenada’s ambassador. One witness said he saw police grab Mr Whiteman and beat him repeatedly, despite onlookers crying out, “Stop! He’s a diplomat!” According to the South China Morning Post, Mr Whiteman spent the night in a hospital with concussion. “Obviously I’m very angry,” the ambassador, the elder Mr Whiteman, told the Post. “My son was arrested and beaten for no reason … I will be taking this up with the authorities and looking into the matter.”
Chinese investment in developing countries, and especially Africa, has prompted a reverse migration and a growing number of African and other black people are migrating to China to study, work and learn the language. However, many African immigrants have entered China illegally and work as drug mules, a trade that is highly lucrative but which can bring the death penalty.
African dealers in Beijing offer a wide range of drugs, from cocaine to ecstasy, to a mostly expat market. Sanlitun was once a dealers’ haven but has been substantially cleaned up by roundups. None, though, approached the scale or violence of that on Friday night, described as “excessive” and “chaotic” by witnesses. “I wasn’t surprised [by the use of violence],” one person said. “I’ve seen this kind of thing happen before, but never against foreigners in front of other foreigners.”
This latest raid comes as part of the effort to clean up Beijing ahead of next month’s annual meeting of Communist party leaders and the 2008 Olympic Games, based in the city.
Africans say that living in China in the face of pervasive prejudice can be challenging. When Beijing rolled out the red carpet for more than 40 African heads of state last November, billboards depicting Africans clad in leopard skin underwear, and an indigenous man from Papua New Guinea, plastered the city.
MyLaowai said,
October 7, 2007 at 14:24 pm
Call me Mister Cynical, but what a fucking surprise.
Not long now, a few years at the most, until Beijing and the wonderful ‘people’ of this benighted land begin yet another war against yet another neighbor, then it’s helicopters off the roof time for the rest of us.
Lily Wang said,
July 11, 2008 at 23:56 pm
Well, with all the respect, I don’t doubt the truth in your articles about China. But one thing that everyone should consider here, for centeries, Chinese people, we lived in the country the whole life surrounded by Chinese only in the society, so its not hard to imagine it is normal that any other race is strange to Chinese people. While, you are surrounded by Indian, African, and probably Chinese too pretty much since you were born, for centeries, different races live together in your country, either UK or the US. Guess you are English. Still…….there are racist problems going on in both countries, racist insidents happening one after another, inbetween native people, people who were born in the same country. So, it should not be hard for you to understand Chinese will be racist in a way, no doubt there will be racism, given that people never had the experience of another race, never had the chance to learn how to deal with it, and live with it, and respect the difference. Chinese are still in shock. You can not expect a 2 month old baby to be able to walk like a 45 year old adult.
In China, almost always, the police will be on the foreigner’s side, because they dont want any trouble with foreigners. but myself, I have seen and experiened horrible foreign guys with abusive and affensive language for no reason. Some thinks all the girls will never turn them down! The insident in the article is only one sided story. The foreigners in China have been spoiled by Chinese society, because we were tought alway treat guest well, or better!
I am writing this not to make excuses for anything, but to make a point. And all of you foreigners in China should think about it, and show some respect to Chinese people. Why are you in China? For your own benifit for sure, so when you criticis on China, then you should also think why it’s happening. When you show more understanding for others, you will be respected as well.
Stranded Mariner said,
July 12, 2008 at 14:25 pm
“So, it should not be hard for you to understand Chinese will be racist in a way, no doubt there will be racism, given that people never had the experience of another race, never had the chance to learn how to deal with it, and live with it, and respect the difference.”
As a matter of fact they had the chance. Take Zheng He for example. But they chose not to. Japan was just as secluded for a long period of time, but they decided to open up. It’s all about decisions. There is free choice.
“In China, almost always, the police will be on the foreigner’s side, because they dont want any trouble with foreigners.”
Do you actually live in China???
“And all of you foreigners in China should think about it, and show some respect to Chinese people.”
Respect is something that has to be earned. It is not a given.
Lily Wang said,
August 12, 2008 at 17:53 pm
“As a matter of fact they had the chance. Take Zheng He for example. But they chose not to. Japan was just as secluded for a long period of time, but they decided to open up. It’s all about decisions. There is free choice.”
Excuse me, do you actually know much about histroy at all? Whats the point here talking abuot Zhenghe? Yeah, you proved one more thing, China did not go around to invade into africa or other far away countries as soon as they had a chance like you Did, which I guess you are very proud of. Thought you are talking about the situation now, clearly you have no intension to try to understand whats going on, well, let me take a guess, you are at least 50 year old, or older~ coz younger people with a brain will try to understand things better than they think they know.
Again, what is happening in Iraq, Mr.????? What is Britain doing there? for world peace? for the poor Iraqi people in the country? Dont kid yourself!
“Respect is something that has to be earned. It is not a given”.
Yes, exactly!!! This is the one thing I agree with you 100%, so when you are complaining you and your follow foreigners are not respected in ways you would like to be, then think, think why… Because you are not earning it, Mr.
From your article, did not show so much, but from your reply, just showed how Biased a OLD man you are.
In your country, rasism is everywhere, in London, black teens get killed every year, for one reason only, the color of their skin!! But British like you claim you are not rasist at all, while cristicis on others. Meantine, just because you are rasist, you could see all those you think its rasism.
Lily Wang said,
August 12, 2008 at 18:08 pm
Well, now I see, you are a German, not Surorised with your Biased view and your rasism interests anymore. German, that stands for something, doesn’t it? While travelling in Europe, I have to tell you, the country, make me feel the lest welcomed is Germany, walking around in the cities and viliages, people are staring at you while I am smiling back, they are very rasist nation, which is agreed by many in the world.
I see you work in the Marine industry for a system supplier, well, you visited my home, actually. Surprisingly you never said anything unpleasant, which is not like you. Maybe one day we will come face to face, and surely I would not indulge business with personal views, but clearly as a person, you will not be welcomed by me.
Being in the country of China for so many years, is why you can criticis on it so much, people get bored. Bear in mind Mr. China is the country has fed you for past what 20 something years?? Why on earth you stay in a Country clearly you do not show any love towards?? Purely for business reason to deprive your own personal interests?
Well, I doubt anyone, any free man at all in this whole world could stay in a country they hate for over 20 years!!! I take off my hat to you, MR.
Stranded Mariner said,
August 12, 2008 at 18:57 pm
“China did not go around to invade into africa or other far away countries as soon as they had a chance like you Did, which I guess you are very proud of. Thought you are talking about the situation now”.
Clearly history is not your strongest point. Ok, lets talk about the situation now.
China has invaded, and is still occupying East Turkestan, part of Mongolia, and Tibet. China tried to invade Vietnam after the US left, but got their asses kicked by the Vietnamese.
I don’t know what the British do in Iraq. Probably the same what the Chinese are doing in the countries that they occupy.
And as to racism, I think there is some form of racism everywhere, but nowhere like in China.
I was born in Germany. Does that make me automatically a German? One question. Where the people in Germany only staring at you, or did they also try to sell you fake handbags and watches in the street? Just curious, because I have not been in Germany for a long time.
China has fed me? Now you are clearly losing it. Everything you have in China is because we gave it to you, or sold it to you, because people like me taught you what you needed to know to build up your industries, and the management systems to run them. And the rest you copied or stole LOL.
You really have some funny ideas there.
Lily Wang said,
August 12, 2008 at 22:11 pm
History obviously is not your strong point, although you should have lived long enough to know more, and understand better, but it seems like otherwise.
“And as to racism, I think there is some form of racism everywhere, but nowhere like in China.”
Let me tell you, you lived in China for too long, you are detached from the rest of the world. As you said you have not even been back to where you were born for too long, so you are not eligible to make comparisons at all, MR. know it all !
Oops, you were born in Germany, but you clearly do not want to be called a German, mmm…. guess you didnt just leave that country right after birth!
“China has fed me? Now you are clearly losing it. Everything you have in China is because we gave it to you, or sold it to you, because people like me taught you what you needed to know to build up your industries, and the management systems to run them. And the rest you copied or stole LOL.
You really have some funny ideas there.”
You do make me laugh I have to say, your ignorance tops everything~~~ Well, you are a German after all, perhaps after so long in China, you are half Chinese too??
You last sentence really concluded yourself well. One can talk with no shame at all, haha, what have you Given China? What have you tought China??? What have you taken from China instead ??!!
Well, with all my respect, why on earth you are still in China??? Teaching China?? oh, right, now you are selling system supplies…..thats how you get an income, and thats how you fed your family over the past 20 something years, do you not call that you are being FED by China???
One with no appreciation for nothing will get nothing worthy out of life.
You do make your Mama proud, Such A great Man.
Why dont you just get out of China? Because, no one needs to be tought by you. And YOU have nothing to GIVE to China, all you ahve been doing, is taking, whether you like it or not, you relied on China to make a living for yourself and your family, and you can say that in any other way.
Shame on you, Mariner.
Stranded Mariner said,
August 12, 2008 at 22:27 pm
For your information, I left Germany when I was 6. Not been back. And my nationality is not really anybodies business.
As for my motives for being in China, well they are my own as well. The bit of money I make here does not tip the scale LOL.
And yes, you really are a funny person, and living proof of what is wrong with this country. Really hilarious
Lily Wang said,
August 12, 2008 at 23:04 pm
Yes, the country is so wrong to allow people like you to stay and make money there.
The bit of money you made seemed fed you well, I guess. And I suspect you are travelling around Chinese shipyards to market your products still ???
haha, the LITTLE money does really keep you going~~
Dont get me wrong, I have no interest in you what so ever, in case you adress it again your nationality or your motive is your own business. But when you Swear at a Nation, and try to humiliate a country, when you make affensive comments, its not just your business anymore.
You really should take care of your own business rather than mind anybody else’s.
As for your motives in China, well, only one explaination, the country gave you so much that you can not afford to leave. Action speak louder than words, words are cheap. You lived in China for what, nearly 20 years?? Stop kid yourself, accept the reality. You might be able to sell more marinetime systems once you learn to appreciate things around you.
Lily Wang said,
August 12, 2008 at 23:10 pm
Gaan Uit China ~~ ~~
Stranded Mariner said,
August 12, 2008 at 23:15 pm
The reality is that small minded and ill educated people like you, make this country a joke.
I have much bigger fish to fry than that little business I am doing here. I really could not care less.
I am just doing a few friends a favour. I stopped working full time a long time ago LOL.
I don’t have to do anything to discredit this country. People like yourself seem to be doing a great job at just that. As I said earlier, ‘living proof’.
But you are very funny, I have to give you that. Thanks for the entertainment anyway.
Lily Wang said,
August 12, 2008 at 23:26 pm
“I am just doing a few friends a favour. I stopped working full time a long time ago LOL.”
Such a selfless person! How wonderful!
And you do not need to work, have all the money in the world, still chose to live and breath in China, well, that says it all, my dear Mariner, you can not find another greater country to match your huge ego.
Thank you, although your words towards China are poor, but action speaks louder, you are a living proof that China is the Best Place to be.
Have fun, and take each day as God’s gift to you.
You are lucky to be in China.
Stranded Mariner said,
August 12, 2008 at 23:30 pm
Yeah sure, keep on dreaming sweetie. Just give me the name of your ‘hair salon’, so I can send a few friends to make YOUR living. Or are you a ‘fashion designer’ by any chance?
Mariner out.
Lily Wang said,
August 12, 2008 at 23:46 pm
Thank you for your kindness towarding even a stranger, unfortunately, your help is not needed.
I might help you one day.
Out of China? Hoooraayyyy!
BYE BYE