Hi everyone, this is Klaus.
There is a common perception in China
that foreigners discriminate heavily against the Chinese.
In today's video,
we will talk about the origin of Wuhan pneumonia and the sick man in East Asia,
and why the Chinese are so easily insulted and discriminated against.
In addition, many netizens have also discovered that
Little Pinks may not be awakened by the iron fist of socialism
Why is this? What are Little Pinks thinking?
This also has to do with what we are going to talk about today.
Can you believe it?
I hope you enjoy this video.
This year, what a lot of Chinese people are most upset about
is foreign media calling the epidemic "Wuhan pneumonia".
China protested multiple times.
If you call the epidemic "Wuhan pneumonia",
you will be under attack from countless Chinese netizens.
However, the term "Wuhan pneumonia" was actually first used
by the Chinese media
such as People's Daily in 2019.
Since most cases came from the South China Seafood Market,
the epidemic was called "Wuhan pneumonia".
The English version of the Global Times called it "Wuhan pneumonia" on January 18.
The English version of Xinhuanet also called it "Wuhan Pneumonia" on January 22.
But later the "Wuhan pneumonia" was renamed as "2019-nCov".
In fact, on January 31, 10 days later,
the WHO recommended that the new pneumonia be named "2019-nCov".
This seemed strange, unless Xinhuanet had the ability to predict the future.
Also because of the epidemic, on February 3 this year,
a Wall Street Journal article used the term "sick man of Asia" to describe China.
Consequently, China revoked the visas of three foreign journalists and deported them.
The term "sick man of East Asia" China finds most insulting.
This term is known to every Chinese and viewed as a shame of their nation.
The term has existed since the late Qing.
The Chinese believe this term to be an insult towards them from the Western world.
During the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, China distributed brochures to middle school students
which said that "the sick man of East Asia" is a derogatory term for China used by foreigners,
to describe the Chinese as being physically weak and vulnerable and mock China's low status in the world.
But in fact, "sick man of" is a common phrase in English,
and does not contain any racist meaning.
This phrase is often used in the West to point out problems in a country and society.
Although it’s not a good word, it doesn’t mean anything insulting.
It merely means that the government and social phenomena have some problems.
If you're sick, see a doctor. There is nothing shameful about being sick.
Anyone can get sick. And many countries have been called "sick man".
In the 1860s, Turkey was called "the sick man of Europe".
In the 1970s, Britain experienced economic problems, and was known as "the sick man of Europe".
Then Ireland, Portugal, Russia, Germany, France, etc.,
have all been called "sick man" for their social and economic problems.
In 2008, Italy was called "the sick man of Europe" because of its political reforms affecting its economic growth.
So, considering how the term has been used,
it really isn't an insult, so how did the Chinese become so triggered?
Zhou Yingjie, a scholar of modern Chinese history did some research.
The first person to call China "the sick man" was actually not a foreigner.
The term was first used by the Chinese themselves, just like "Wuhan pneumonia".
In 1895, a Master of Modern Chinese Studies,
Yan Fu, the first western scholar, published an article in Tianjin Zhibao, "Yuan Qiang", saying
China was a "sick man", a patient in need of treatment.
Later, it was spread by Liang Qichao among others who invented the phrase, "the Chinese nation".
Slowly, it evolved into "the sick man of East Asia".
So, "the sick man of East Asia" is actually a label that the Chinese put on themselves
to stir up Chinese nationalism and patriotism,
to blame China’s internal conflicts on foreigners.
The term "Wuhan pneumonia" was weaponized by the Chinese government in the same way.
It is customary to name an epidemic after its place of origin.
So China first called it "Wuhan pneumonia".
But then the epidemic spread abroad.
Foreign media and governments began to hold China accountable.
So China cleverly equated "Wuhan/China pneumonia" with the word "discrimination", and used it as a shield,
downplaying the fact that the virus was from Wuhan, China.
Although China has responded in a very intense manner,
appearing to protect its people from foreign discrimination,
have the Chinese really been discriminated against overseas due to the virus?
Of course, zero discrimination is impossible, but the Western world, after all, values human rights and is ruled by law.
At most, people might keep their distance from you if you are Chinese.
It’s okay to say that it’s discrimination, but it’s also understandable.
Everyone stays away from what they think is dangerous.
But how about in China?
People from Wuhan were shunned by those from other cities in Hubei, who in turn were shunned by the whole country.
At the beginning of the epidemic, people from Hubei became pariahs and punchbags.
If you're from Hubei, you were not allowed to enter another province. And if you do, the person who reported you could get rewarded.
Many drivers stayed on the highway for several months.
When work resumed, people from Hubei couldn't return to work, and no employer would hire them.
In addition, you could get arrested like a criminal on suspicion of carrying the disease.
After the first wave was under control, the government congratulated itself and greeted Chinese students returning from abroad with open arms.
But soon they began to shun returnees also, encouraging the masses to report them.
Discrimination in China is actually quite serious, as we have revealed in previous programs.
Discrimination in foreign countries is at the personal level at most, but discrimination in China is systemic.
You were labeled the moment you were born by your household registration (Hukou).
Your family background determines how you get treated in society.
Senior officials and their children enjoy certain privileges.
Then why can't the Chinese feel any systemic discrimination in China?
Instead, they feel that the Chinese are pariahs in foreign countries.
Because they are under the influence of nationalism.
Nationalism serves the totalitarian system and the emperor's agenda.
The ruler uses nationalism to incite people's emotions
and gather internal forces which the ruler can then direct at foreign enemies.
Sometimes events are staged as needed to incite national sentiment.
Both "Wuhan pneumonia" and "the sick man of East Asia" were actually made in China.
Nationalism aims to make you proud of achievements that don’t belong to you,
and make you hate people whom you have never even met.
The common good is always higher than individual wellbeing in the eyes of nationalism.
Communist propaganda suggests that personal sacrifices must be made for the sake of the collective good.
In this way, a slave can always act in the best interest of the ruler,
since the interests of the ruler have been equated with the common good,
and the enemy of the ruler becomes the enemy of the people.
Someone brainwashed with this ideology, when treated unfairly,
will believe they are making a contribution to the common good.
In the same vein, anyone's human rights can be taken away in the name of the country.
Using the so-called collective interest and national honor as a shield,
neither the victim nor the aggressor would realize any problem.
Hence, many people still can’t be awakened even when oppressed by the government.
Even though many people have seen social injustice,
they still don't think there is any problem in their country.
Nationalism is deeply rooted in the Chinese.
Even many overseas Chinese have strong nationalist sentiments.
Therefore, anti-communism alone is definitely not a panacea that can save China.
I hope you find this video thought-provoking.
Alright, time to hear your comments.
In our last episode, we explained the essence of unification
and talked about how wrong it can be.
Netizen John Su said, "Unification is the root cause of human warfare.
It forces others to obey the ruler, and follow his beliefs, his thoughts.
Wars are caused by this."
Netizen Wen Zhang said, "While I was behind the GFW,
I was always quick to argue that Taiwan belongs to China.
Since I got access to the free world, my way of thinking has changed a lot.
The CCP is a bully. People of the mainland are already slaves on their knees.
Why should Taiwanese people suffer the same fate?
If the mainland were democratic, then reunification wouldn't matter."
Netizen Ethan said, "Chinese officials send their children to the US to be Americans,
and then ask the Taiwanese to be Chinese. What is their logic?"
Netizen Ming Si Te said, "True unity is based on common beliefs and values
as well as mutual respect; anything less would be annexation and aggression."
Netizen Wang Biao said, "Eastern and Western Germany were unified, as was the Republic of China."
We talked about it in the last video.
Invaders always interpret unity as "merger and union" to beautify the invasion.
The Republic of China, by a treaty, inherited the land and obligations of the Qing Dynasty.
Eastern and Western Germany, however, were not unified; they were merged.
Finally, netizen ZERO F91 said, "There are only three types of people in China: the powerful elite,
slaves, and slaves that help the rich and powerful to harvest other slaves."
Alright, that's it for this video.
Thank you for your comments.
This is Klaus. See you next time.