Furious debate sparked after Beijing expat hits woman in motorcycle accident

Reading Time:2 minutes

The accident and following argument has sparked an angry debate over racism and morals. Photo: ChinaSmack

Published: 3:49pm, 4 Dec 2013Updated: 5:29pm, 4 Dec 2013

An incident in which a foreigner driving an unlicensed motorcycle knocked down a woman at a Beijing street crossing has sparked an angry flurry of finger-pointing and online debate invoking racism, morality, and even the history of China’s interactions with other countries.

The accident occurred at 10.40am on Monday morning, according to the Beijing Public Security Bureau, and was captured by a surveillance camera over the Chaoyang intersection. After a lengthy argument following the collision, the woman was taken to hospital and released without serious injury. The male driver paid the woman 1,800 yuan (HK$2,276) to cover her medical costs.

The argument was filmed by onlookers and has been widely shared and commented on online.

In one video circulating online, the man was seen swearing at the middle-aged woman in Chinese and English as she squatted by the side of the motorcycle, clinging to the seat. The man was then seen yelling at her repeatedly to get up and go away. He tried briefly to remove her himself but an onlooker immediately intervened.

The video shows the man using impeccable Mandarin to insult the woman in crude terms.

Reports appeared immediately in the media and online forums accusing the woman of trying to scam the man to extort money, but it was soon confirmed by the police that the man was at fault.