With polarising perspectives on the NBA and Hong Kong protests, both China and the US should show more maturity
- An international incident over a tweet may come down to different perspectives between the US and China. While the dark side of the Hong Kong protests has been overlooked in the US, the Chinese public is becoming dangerously nationalistic
Meanwhile, Chinese social media was flooded with indignant calls to boycott the NBA. Netizens vented their frustration on what they saw as arrogant Westerners sympathising with “separatists” and their malicious agenda to weaken the power of a rising China.
Each side is convinced it is right, leaving little room for attempts to understand where the other is coming from, when the truth may be far more complicated and nuanced.
Back then, many ordinary mainlanders sympathised with the protesters, understood their concerns and supported their non-violent tactics. Unfortunately, as deep resentment against the central government spilled over to mainland Chinese in general, they grew disappointed with the protesters.
Understandably, people in the US and China tend to see the current situation in Hong Kong through very different lenses.
Given that the Hong Kong situation is framed in stark binary terms in the West, it might be difficult for people there to understand why Morey’s expression of support for a pro-democracy movement could offend. However, hurtfulness is a matter of perspective, and I believe modern progressive Western culture is mature enough to grasp the nuance.
Consider victims such as Korean-American shop owners who were beaten and had their shops looted. To their ears, a remark expressing support for the rioters would sound hurtful, even if no harm was intended. And this is how many in China feel about Morey’s tweet.
China’s citizenry have yet to develop the maturity commensurate with the nation’s growing status as the world’s second-largest economy and a geopolitical superpower. Instead of a boycott, a better approach would be to invite Morey and others who are unfamiliar with the intricacies of the situation to China for an honest conversation. Displaying a bit of self-deprecating humour would also help.
In this age of social media, tribalism is again polarising the world. People are becoming more eager to preach than to listen. The huge echo chamber that is the modern media environment reinforces the mental rigidity of tribes.
But Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, for one, has declined to be drawn into the storm over Morey’s tweet. Instead, he offered wise words: “The world is a complex place, and there’s more grey than black and white. I realise that what’s popular these days is making it black and white. You’re either good or you’re evil. It’s convenient to do things that way, but not realistic.”
Audrey Jiajia Li is a nonfiction writer and broadcast journalist