Weapon of nationalism
It was announced on Friday that famous Taiwan actor and director Leon Dai is to be replaced in the mainland-produced film There Is No Other Love due to massive protests by netizens who claim that the actor is a Taiwan separatist.
Previously a post on the film's official Sina Weibo account announced that filming on the movie, the second film directed by actress-turned-director Zhao Wei, had just finished.
The announcement set off a huge backlash from mainland netizens, who argued out that Dai, one of the film's lead actors, has made statements that hinted at pro-Taiwan independence leanings in the past.
Many Chinese netizens demanded Dai to apologize for being a separatist and state he is Chinese.
Dai posted a clarification statement on Friday, which garnered more than 61,000 reposts and 120,000 comments in Sina Weibo, but it didn't satisfy his nationalist critics.
In his statement, Dai claimed he was taught to be proud of being Chinese, never a "separatist.""I was not sensitive to politics. I never thought what I did would cause so many conflicts." Dai wrote.
In January, Tzuyu Chou, a 16-year-old K-pop star from Taiwan, was accused of being pro-Taiwan independence, and was forced to apologize.
"Though entertainers can influence society and especially young people and they have to bear great social responsibilities, it doesn't mean the celebrities have to be forced to show their stance on each event. That would be ridiculous," Hu added.
Stay calm
After the arbitration result, Net users have leveled false accusations against public figures and have lead people into boycotting foreign products and brands such as Philippine bananas, iPhones and KFC.
"Our online shop will not sell Cebu mangoes from the Philippines and will not sell any snacks imported from the country anymore," a Shanghai-based Taobao vendor who declined to be identified, told the Global Times.
Another vendor in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, put a notice on its online shop, saying that "this shop will no longer sell dried mangoes imported from the Philippines and will give any snacks now in stock to consumers who provide their address for free."
The hashtag "strike down China" has garnered 2.4 million views on Sina Weibo, with some netizens claiming when you type "strike down" in Chinese in an iPhone, the phone will automatically add the word "China." However, this is an automatic association based on users' search history rather than a conspiracy led by US-based Apple, the People's Daily reported Monday.
"These events show that long-term patriotism education is effective, but proper limits for speech or action are necessary," Zhang Xiaojin, director of department of Political Science under Tsinghua University, told the Global Times.
"Something ridiculous, narrow-minded and extreme can seem rightful and positive, which is ridiculously wrong," said Yu Guoming, vice-dean of the Journalism School at the Renmin University of China.
People should stay calm, reasonable and tolerant when talking about patriotism, Hu said.
"True patriotism is not shouting slogans, but truly taking the responsibility to the country and to the world," Yu said.
