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China Voice: Biased remarks about China should stop

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E-mail Xinhua, May 16, 2014

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At a time of growing headline hyperboles highlighting the bad image of Chinese travelers, biased remarks should stop and restraint should be in order.

Bobby Chen, a Taiwanese singer, is the latest talking head to criticize visitors from the mainland, alleging they should first learn the habit of shutting the toilet door before relieving themselves. He has also said that mainland tourists should not visit the island.

In April, a young mainland couple let their toddler urinate on a busy Hong Kong street. The incident was taped and uploaded to the Internet, leading to a debate about proper behavior.

In May last year, graffiti by a teenage Chinese tourist in an Egyptian temple caused countryfolk to reflect on how to build a good national image.

It is true that some do not often behave with the best manners. Chinese tourists' misbehavior both at home and abroad has been chastised by fellow countrymen as a national disgrace.

But uncivilized behavior is limited to only a tiny number of tourists, who are most probably unaware of or unintend to cause embarrassment.

It needs to be pointed out that remarks from singers or other public figures in Hong Kong and Taiwan ostensibly targeting the misconduct of tourists were not made to help strengthen ties.

Taiwan has been a big beneficiary of the mainland's opening up and economic development. The same is true for Hong Kong.

Hong Kong hosted 40 million arrivals from the inland last year, or more than 70 percent of its total. Tourists from the mainland have brought 355.1 billion new Taiwan dollars (11.78 billion U.S. dollars) to Taiwan in the past six years.

Business has always been done on a voluntary, win-win basis.

For years, Hong Kong has been hailed as the world's freest economy with freedom at the heart of its success. Taiwan is also an export-oriented economy.

For those who call for less interactions, they need to see the bigger picture or end up on the wrong side of history. Endit