China: Patriotism flares, government picks up fire-hoses

Professor Guo Quan of Nanjing Normal University told Mandarin reporter Ding Xiao that student counselors have been told to pay attention to students’ movements, and to make sure they are not going to stage public demonstrations:

All the student counselors have been told to ‘manage student sentiment’ and to learn what students are going to do, and to make sure that students don’t go out to demonstrate.

Previous mass demonstrations such as the anti U.S. demonstrations in 1999 and 2001 were organized by the government. Documents from the state education department ask schools not to block students’ demonstrations. I am afraid recent mass demonstrations will likely shift focus from protesting against the West to protesting against the Chinese government, as we know that the May 4th movement (1919) was also targeting the West first, then shifted to target the government. The Chinese government is trying to cool patriotic fervor now, because it believes that it has achieved the desired goal: to tell the world that Chinese are protesting against the French. The goal has been achieved. The game is over.

Zhang Yong, chief editor of China Railway and China Journalist News Web sites said that although he had not received any direct instructions from the central government on how to deal with mass demonstrations, he felt that the central government had obviously begun its propaganda with a clear directive to cool down anti-West sentiment among China’s netizens.

The government did not say whether people can or cannot stage mass demonstrations. But the propaganda guidelines have clearly pointed out that radical methods of protest should be avoided. The employees of Carrefour are Chinese, if the boycott of Carrefour continues, those Chinese will lose their jobs. I think government propaganda has more or less diverted mass resentment away from targeting Carrefour

I am constantly receiving cellphone messages about this. One of them reads, “The West wants chaos in China, but we should avoid it.” Another message says, “Protest should have a limit. Protest should focus on safeguarding the Beijing Olympics and opposing Tibet independence.” I believe these activities are purely the actions of private citizens; they has nothing to do with the government.

Retired professor Sun Wenguang of Shandong University said all opinions should be equally respected:

The rights of “fenqing” (angry youth) should be respected, although I don’t agree with many of their opinions as they have been brain-washed with propaganda. I think everybody should respect each other’s right to speak. Why are the “fenqing” allowed to demonstrate, but we are not allowed to do so?

An Wuhan resident told Mandarin reporter Shi Shan:

Western countries may be scared by this. They may feel that it is best to leave the Chinese to themselves, as the Chinese are so patriotic. Protesting against Carrefour may scare off other foreign investors.

Another Wuhan resident said:

College students see things in black and white, and therefore they can be very easily stirred up. The government doesn’t need to do a lot to mobilize the students, who always don’t have a second thought on the issue of patriotism. Students just want to vent their anger. But we also see an understanding and cooperation between the masses and the government.The government will let the demonstrations go on as long as it can stay in control.

Video: Participant video of a protest at the French retail giant Carrefour in Hefei, Anhui province. Protesters are shouting “Boycott Carrefour!” “Support the Beijing Olympics!”