Posted on: Monday, October 1, 2001
Island Voices
Terrorism, seen through Chinese eyes
By Lucy Jokiel
Honolulu journalist now working in China
SHANGHAI — In China, where the government manages the news and restricts the media, obtaining timely and accurate accounts of the U.S. terrorist attacks has been surprisingly easy. But analyzing the muted reaction of Chinese officials and the outspoken opinions of some Chinese about America has been more difficult.
The day after the attacks, many Chinese reacted with disgust and loathing toward the perpetrators. "There are terrible people in the world who are capable of anything," said a 20-year-old university student. "It was murder and they must be punished," said Chen Weihua, executive editor of the English-language Shanghai Star newspaper. Wang Huigang, who works in a restaurant in Shanghai, tried to present a bouquet of flowers to the consulate general at the U.S. Embassy, but he was turned away.
But as the days passed, critical statements about America surfaced among Shanghai residents. Xian Wei, an assistant to Chen, said the United States must look at why it is hated. "You can't just dismiss those people as evil. Yes, America is a generous country, but it also must look at its faults. The world thinks America is arrogant, misuses its power and acts only in its own self-interest."
Some entrepreneurs even found a way to capitalize on Deng Xiao-ping's maxim "To get rich is glorious." Factories in China began running overtime to produce U.S. flags. The Shanghai Mei Li Hua Flags Co. received orders for more than 500,000 flags from customers in the United States in the first week after the U.S. attacks.
The response from China's top officials has been low key. In the only two public speeches since the attacks, the event was not even mentioned. The business press has focused on China's entry into the World Trade Organization. Insiders say that Chinese authorities do not want to erode consumer confidence, which is critical to maintaining its booming economy.
I came to Beijing from Honolulu in June to work as a "polisher" for the China Daily, the PRC's only English-language national newspaper, with a circulation of more than 300,000. Ex-pats tend to dismiss the publication for its adherence to the Communist Party line and strange blend of English and Chinese referred to as "chinglish."
Two weeks before the U.S. attack, I began working at a China Daily publication in Shanghai, the most westernized city in China and the birthplace of the Chinese Communist Party. When I arrived at the Shanghai Star the day after the event, I was greeted individually by each staff member expressing his sympathy.
Chen Weihua decided to provide wide coverage about the still unfolding U.S. drama. Closer contact with the West has influenced many Chinese journalists like Chen to have views closer to Western ideals of publishing. But it was a formidable task to accomplish before the paper's midnight deadline. He invited William Woo, a Shanghai-born journalism professor at Stanford University, to assist the reporters. Woo, who was visiting China to present a series of journalism talks, had been stranded in Shanghai after the U.S. attacks.
When I saw the newspaper on my desk the next morning, I was impressed by the outstanding coverage of America's nightmare. The "Act of War" headline and a dramatic wrap-around photo of the smoke-covered New York City skyline was grabbing. A banner on the back page said, "The world awaits the superpower's response."
The hard-hitting stories shattered my concept of the Chinese media acting only as mouthpieces for the Communist Party. Although Marxism remains China's official doctrine, a declining influence of Marxist-Leninist-Mao Zedong philosophy has weakened the state's manipulation of the media to shape public attitudes. And rising consumerism has motivated publishers to pursue capitalist marketing practices sensitive to customer demands.
On Sunday, I took copies of the newspaper to Jingian Park near the Bund to distribute to the Chinese who faithfully head there every week to practice their English with Americans. The papers were snatched from me and disappeared within minutes. I was bombarded by people eager to express their opinions about the attack.
An elderly man wearing a baseball cap grabbed my hand and looked directly into my eyes. "I am so sorry about what happened," he said with much emotion. "The U.S. must respond measure for measure." Glancing at the paper, he added, "Bush's policy doesn't help. Other countries do not like him."
Another student asked, "Why is it only America they attack? Why did this happen only when George Bush became president?"
"It was an attack against America, not the president," said Yang Lengyue, 18, an articulate freshman majoring in international trade at Shanghai University. "But I do think that Bush's policy has been unjust to the Palestinians. Nearly every Muslim in Arabic countries has one wish: to destroy America. They don't care if the destruction is big or small. They have to let their rage out."
"Terrorism is hated by china," said Yue. "We want a peaceful environment so our economy can keep growing. We don't want to be dragged down by the American economy."
Another student said the attacks would not dissuade him from flying in an airplane. "I do not have any fears because airplanes are still the safest transportation. And China has very strict regulations and security. They check everything. But I would definitely have fears flying in America."
"I recognize how fragile life is," said public administrator Xia Yahui. "I worry that the world might suffer more attacks by terrorists."
A 10-year-old girl waited patiently to approach me. Struggling with her English, she said, "It makes me cry and I wish one day no more war."
