Daily Lessons from Life 22 May 2012 - China TV host sparks debate with 'foreign trash' tirade

"China TV host sparks debate with 'foreign trash' tirade - AFP May 22, 2012

BEIJING - A well-known state television presenter's call for China to kick out "foreign trash" and two highly publicised incidents of bad behaviour by visitors have set off a heated debate on foreigners in China.

The vitriolic comments posted online by Yang Rui, who presents a daily talk show in English on the state-run China Central Television network, have channelled into a growing controversy playing out on China's popular microblogs.

"The Public Security Bureau needs to clean out the foreign trash," wrote Yang on his microblog, accusing expatriates of "engaging in human trafficking" and "spreading lies" about China.

He made his comments after Beijing police last week launched a 100-day crackdown on foreigners working illegally in the capital, with posters showing a clenched fist and a phone line for residents to inform on visa violators.


Yang urged police to focus on areas popular with expatriates in Beijing, and also welcomed the recent expulsion of Al Jazeera journalist Melissa Chan, which has been strongly condemned by rights organisations and by Washington.

"We kicked out that foreign harpy and closed Al Jazeera's Beijing bureau. We should shut up those who denigrate China and send them packing," wrote Yang, whose comments have been widely criticised in the foreign media - though his employer, CCTV, has remained silent.

In a statement Tuesday, Yang said he intended his comments to be a "wake-up call" for foreigners who violated China's laws, citing the recent example of a British tourist accused of sexually assaulting a Chinese woman.


Just days later, footage showing a Russian cellist verbally abusing a female passenger on a train in China was posted online, adding further to the growing controversy.

The cellist has since been fired from his position with the Beijing Symphony Orchestra, which said its reputation had been "badly damaged" by the actions of Oleg Vedernikov, a move welcomed by many Chinese bloggers.


"We are too indulgent towards foreigners and that is why they are so badly behaved," posted one web user."

After 2 highly publicised bad public behaviors by foreigners, sentiment run high. Rationality takes a back seat and emotion takes over. It is therefore naturally to see this outburst of indignation expressed by some Chinese.

Lessons for me are:

1. basic universal rules apply in any interpersonal relationship - mutual respect for each other. This is non-negotiable.

2. stereotyping is good for general reference at best. The British and the Russian in the cases mentioned are 2 specific individual. They DO NOT represent the population of UK and Russia. That distinction has to be made and made very very clear! The Chinese in China recently ALSO join in the condemnation of the unfortunate 3-death accident in Singapore supposedly triggered by a Chinese driver here. It shows that the Chinese CAN be fair- and clear-minded too! This is important to note as the ability to control heightened emotion and think rationally is most critical for purposeful and productive resolution of differences between different cultures and nations and nationalities;

3. focus on the now instead of dragging the past into the picture is another critical area to take note of. The old hurt are there for sure. The key is those perpetrators are NO LONGER with us. They are dead and buried. Sure the hurt remains and it is anyone's right to want to continue to mourn about the humiliation and loss. At the same time, dragging the past into the present and insisting that things have not changed when people, things and time have changed is simply irrational and unproductive. Again, emotional outbursts are allowed as long as clear thinking rein and dominate after the venting is done.

'Foreigner' in China and in Singapore. Who are they? Could they be you and I? If it is me, I know how to behave in the host country: acknowledge the stereotyping while knowing that it is the Chinese that I get in touch with, know well and work well and respecting each other that COUNT. Not some stereotyped Chinese that I have no business with! Thank you!!