Behind the Zhuhai incident

Amazingly, some people still fail to understand why many Chinese are so outraged over the episode in which Japanese men patronised prostitutes in Zhuhai.

Men of any nationality assembling by the hundreds to publicly engage prostitutes over a period of days shows supreme arrogance and contempt towards women. This act alone deserves condemnation by everyone.

The additional aggravating factor from the Chinese point of view is that by coincidence or design this particular event involved Japanese men on the anniversary of the start of Japan's occupation of China in 1931. Besides the loss of countless Chinese lives at that time, 'comfort women' had to endure the humiliation of sexual slavery for the gratification of Japanese soldiers.

The symbolism linking the 'comfort women' to the incident on the anniversary eve understandably arouses high emotions. That the Japanese abandoned chemical weapons which recently caused death and injuries in northern China further fanned public anger.

To the correspondent who wrote 'Lesson in values' (October 7), please do not label Chinese commentators as hypocrites. News reports say that local people who helped to procure the prostitutes have been arrested, and others are being sought. The hotel in question has been closed pending investigation. Zhuhai public security officials have been suspended.

Yes, the current Chinese regime has problems. I agree there are many areas of policy and enforcement that can and should be improved. However it is ludicrous to suggest that the Chinese government knew the intent of these Japanese men and still issued visas to them.