Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam and Japan: A public relations disaster for China PRC
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HONG KONG, China – China’s public image is being severely battered across Asia ever since the start of the year as the China government is hardening its stance following a repressive movement launched by China President Xi Jinping who has embarked into a consolidation of power for the Communist Party and is muzzling any signs of discontent. Internally, international media and observers are talking about increasing repression against human rights defenders, lawyers, or social media. A worrying sign for many observers, is a strong comeback of references to Mao Zedong in today’s official speeches - not a sign of a greater openness. Violence used in Hong Kong against the “Umbrella Revolution” movement is also a clear sign of China’s hardening, and at the same time, it shows the increasing rejection of the model of society wished by the China Communist Party.
Abroad, China’s aggressive attitude is also likely to deeply damage the country’s image with its neighbors, generating a phenomenon of rejection - certainly a short-sighted vision of China’s communist leaders, especially as ASEAN is gaining strength. Despite all the money that China is pouring into ASEAN countries to “help” with the development of infrastructure, the empirical view of the country is seen as authoritarian and increasingly aggressive, and will raise suspicion.
Since the beginning of the year, China has been showing its teeth against many countries in the region as it claims sovereignty over maritime territories. The islets’ occupation, for which sovereignty has been claimed by Vietnam, is being translated into a wave of nationalism from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. All across Vietnam, an art exhibition has been circulating with posters and art works of artists against the “Chinese aggression.” Although China speaks about its good will in territorial claims in the South China Sea, the country’s aggressive attitude has already strained relations with many of its neighbors from ASEAN (Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam) as well as with Japan and Taiwan.
Even tourism is battered by worsening relations between China and its neighbors. Tourism is indeed one of China’s best economic weapons against a country. While all the world runs after China’s tourists, for obvious economic reasons, there is a dark side to this medal. By becoming overwhelmingly dependent on the money spent by Chinese tourists, China is then acquiring the right tool to put pressure on many countries.
The Philippines and Vietnam have already experienced it in the past when the Chinese government asked tour operators to cancel tours “for safety reasons.” At the end of September, China again issued a travel warning against the Philippines, citing a potential bomb plot against the Chinese embassy in Manila and the danger of criminal gangs. Thousands of Chinese tourists immediately canceled trips to the country, inflicting major economic losses to the tourism sector. Talking to the AFP press agency, Helen Catablas, Director of Boracay Tourism Authorities, spoke of a loss estimated at around US$11 million for the island. Airlines also reduced frequencies and suspended routes between China and the Philippines.
All of these events are unlikely to enhance China’s image, while current events in Hong Kong show that discontent is growing against China’s current repression. One has to wonder if China really cares very much about its image.
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