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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: What changes have you seen in xenophobic hysteria in China in the last year?
My friend warned me that I have to watch what I do in China as the domestic situation is more serious this year, no explanation. I've always seen men that are resentful.
In general, if any misbehaving ex-pat makes any local/national news, over the last year more english speaking local people have come up to me and almost accused me of being guilty by association (ie because i am also a foreigner): 'Why are you foreigners here and doing these things to us?" And this includes the Middle Eastern man who allegedly assaulted the Chinese woman in Changsha. Thankfully local friends know this is a stupid way to behave because they can differentiate between those who are involved and those who clearly aren't. BUT I have noticed a lot more comments and hostility directed at foreign men. "they're taking our women!"
The current xenophobic hysteria began during the successful campaign against anyone and everything Japanese last year. Seeing how successful that was, the CCP decided to broaden it against all things foreign, including people.
The first earnest attempt was the targetting of Apple in the Chinese state media. This was then followed by the targetting of KFC and McDonalds, then the milk companies and drug companies. Then the CCP got the heads of the 30 biggest foreign companies in China together for 2 days of brow beating, trying to force them to confess to crimes they did not commit.
All foreign companies have now been targetted, with the most recent success being the "confession" of private investigator Peter Humphrey on the heinous crime of checking people's identities, to make sure they were who they said they were (after a month in detention without charge).
Expect an increase in such detentions as the new visa laws are applied to the fullest extent of the imagination of those applying them. These laws allow for indefinite detention of foreigners on SUSPICION of having committed a crime, as in the case of Mr Humphrey and others at present.
It is to the CCP's benefit to channel hatred towards foreigners, as the CCP teeters on the brink of collapse due to irresolvable internal problems. Just as they did towards Japan last year, except now the problems are much more serious.
Do more people seem hostile or more so?
masonk:
I reckon definitely more so in Northern and Southern cities, Beijing and Guangzhou are probably the most anti-foreign, that being said iv heard Hunan is pretty bad..
I've gotten increasingly xenophobic against the CCP.
Up in the morning to the risin' sun
Gonna hate all day, til' the hating's done
Xi Jinping is a son-of-a-bitch
Got the blue balls crabs and the seven year itch...
Nothing that I know of has changed here in Shanghai, there have been a few unnecessary scenarios that have led me to be a bit pessimistic, I don't think many Shanghainese/Chinese living in Shanghai believe that I'm a foreigner. Iv been asked if I was from Xinjiang (when I grew a small beard), was called a 'Japanese dog' by an old guy in a Burger King, and have been told that I'm not Australian (even though I showed the employer my passport). This and the occasional death stare I get from a few Chinese women (usually when I'm with my girlfriend) has put me off living here in a way.
Hulk:
lmao.
In China, people kept telling me I look Chinese, or that I look like a Xinjiang muslim. With my beard, they thought I was a muslim. I honestly don't think I even look remotely Chinese...
masonk:
Yeah I hear ya Hulkster, the whole "you're a Muslim because of your beard" thing is ridiculous, Chinese just can't differentiate and buy heavily into stereotypes. When they do actually see Muslims (especially women wearing Hijabs) on the street or on the metro, they freak out.
I can't say that I've notice any changes. The girls still smile at me and random dudes still ask me for my phone number. I suppose I'm pretty well behaved though....
I think you will find that the heavy layer of smog smooth things out, it is increasingly difficult telling people from bushes and this will eventually mean all racism in the Middle Kingdom will end and be replaced by a wheezing cough only broken by peoples 200db ringtones.
If you find the Chinese males resentful, then I'd recommend avoiding them and only spend time with the women.
In all seriousness. I think the main change for me is that I understand more Chinese now, thus I am acutely aware of the fact that it is impossible for people to pass me without pointing out that there is a foreigner.
Hulk:
"外国人啊!!!!"
"老外啊!!!"
I started turning around, looking at them in utter shock and disbelief while yelling, "中国人啊???”
That usually makes them laugh, and we get a kick out of it. Actually, I'm usually the one to get a kick out of it. On the ground. WIth feet. In the face.
And the expat websites have become increasingly anti-foreigner. Except eChinacities, of course...
Perhaps through a combination of factors not least of which appears to be the increasing resentment of foreigners living in China, for the first time in the ten years I have lived here, I have resolved to leave next year. I shall play out the remainder of my residence permit up to August 2014 but, in the meantime, start to wind down my business interests.I will lose quite a bit of investment capital but I no longer care. My instinct is telling me that to stay longer would almost certainly result in greater losses. Thanks for everything, zhongguo! Good luck in pursuit of bringing in the so called foreign experts on special visas.
That the drive to censor and exercise hate on all things foreign has been put into overdrive.