A visitor to the Soliton Systems stand at CES Asia in Shanghai takes aim at the effigy of Donald Trump. Photo: AFP
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https://scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3014364/chinese-expo-shuts-stress-relief-booth-let-visitors-strike Diplomacy
Chinese expo shuts ‘stress relief’ booth that let visitors strike effigy of US President Donald Trump with mallet
- Japanese company Soliton Systems encouraged ‘violent disrespect’ of public figure, organisers of three-day technology trade show in Shanghai say
The Trump attraction was closed for encouraging “violent disrespect” of a public figure. Photo: AFP
A low-tech attraction at a Shanghai technology fair that allowed visitors to hit a life-size bobble-head likeness of US President Donald Trump with a mallet was shut down because it encouraged “violent disrespect” of a public figure, organisers said on Thursday.
The offending item was set up by Soliton Systems of Japan at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show Asia (CES Asia) as a “stress-relief” station.
Visitors to the three-day trade show were offered the mallet to hit the effigy of Trump, who has angered many in China with an almost year-long, multibillion-dollar tariff war against Beijing.
The US Consumer Technology Association – which organises the annual show – said it warned Soliton about the display on Tuesday. A curtain was drawn across the Soliton stand on Thursday, and the Trump likenesses were gone.
The association said exhibitors were required to sign contracts that said displays must not be “offensive”.
“We will not tolerate violent disrespect of any public figure,” a spokesman said.
Soliton officials could not be reached for comment.
In the trade war, the United States and China have hit each other with tariffs on more than US$360 billion in goods, shaking world financial markets and business confidence.
Technology is a key battleground in the dispute, with the US pressing its allies to drop Chinese telecoms giant Huawei from their 5G network development plans, claiming Huawei gear could be used by China for espionage, a charge the company denied.