Thousands of mainland netizens are backing an online call to boycott French companies, including a May 1 rally outside branches of supermarket giant Carrefour, in response to disruptions on the Paris leg of the Olympic torch relay.
'Resolutely support strong-armed crackdowns on Tibetan independence and impose harsh punishment on countries and organisations that back them [independence-leaning Tibetans],' Beijing-based netizen 'Old Mao' wrote on a community bulletin board on Thursday.
Calls for boycotts of French goods have triggered overwhelming response on mainland websites since officials were forced to extinguish the Olympic flame several times amid chaos.
Asked why he was so angry, Old Mao said: 'I know France is a country in which people enjoy freedom to a large extent. I can understand and tolerate demonstrations like chanting slogans or unfurling banners alongside the route of the flame journey.
'But when the protesters publicly attack the torch, it's completely another thing. It's no more an issue about freedom, but a matter of turning a blind eye to such violence.'
The 30-year-old finance sector worker said he was not only disappointed with French media reports over the incident, but also with the attitudes of the Parisian municipal government and some French parliamentarians.
'They simply rejoiced in the calamity of others,' Old Mao said.