For Taiwanese, Tests of Loyalty to China Bring Trouble in Workplace
- 6 years ago
For Taiwanese, Tests of Loyalty to China Bring Trouble in Workplace
China’s Global Times — a state news media outlet — published an article the following day, asking readers: "What do you think about this incident, mainland netizens?" The editors, leaving little to chance, added
that The Global Times "would like to go to Sydney, and give ‘Mr.
Sydney said that They are helping China erase the values that Taiwan and Australia share: democracy, human rights and the rule of law,
Mr. Li, of the Australian Taiwanese Friendship Association,
and many others in the Taiwanese community said Australia must do more to address the issue.
Their efforts have added to a sense of Chinese ubiquity: For anyone who identifies as Taiwanese, supports Taiwan’s independence — or even inadvertently refers to Taiwan as a country — Chinese nationalism has become a threatening
and unrelenting presence, like a smog that never lifts.
In Australia, service workers, professionals and students from Taiwan have all described gatherings with mainland colleagues
and acquaintances where the default setting is that Taiwan and China are one country.
Paul Lin, president of the Australian Taiwanese Friendship Association, said several people believed
to be Chinese agents were snapping photos of people at the Sydney Taiwan Festival in 2016.
But the experiences of Ms. Yang and Ms. Tuan — along with many others — reveal how Chinese nationalism
is also affecting private enterprise and, in some cases, leading to accusations of discrimination.
China’s Global Times — a state news media outlet — published an article the following day, asking readers: "What do you think about this incident, mainland netizens?" The editors, leaving little to chance, added
that The Global Times "would like to go to Sydney, and give ‘Mr.
Sydney said that They are helping China erase the values that Taiwan and Australia share: democracy, human rights and the rule of law,
Mr. Li, of the Australian Taiwanese Friendship Association,
and many others in the Taiwanese community said Australia must do more to address the issue.
Their efforts have added to a sense of Chinese ubiquity: For anyone who identifies as Taiwanese, supports Taiwan’s independence — or even inadvertently refers to Taiwan as a country — Chinese nationalism has become a threatening
and unrelenting presence, like a smog that never lifts.
In Australia, service workers, professionals and students from Taiwan have all described gatherings with mainland colleagues
and acquaintances where the default setting is that Taiwan and China are one country.
Paul Lin, president of the Australian Taiwanese Friendship Association, said several people believed
to be Chinese agents were snapping photos of people at the Sydney Taiwan Festival in 2016.
But the experiences of Ms. Yang and Ms. Tuan — along with many others — reveal how Chinese nationalism
is also affecting private enterprise and, in some cases, leading to accusations of discrimination.