‘Fresh air’ speech and Cannes red-flag frock fire up Chinese nationalist backlash
Chinese graduate apologises after storm of criticism over her praise of fresh air and freedom, while actress says her red carpet look was patriotic
A graduate from Yunnan who praised the fresh air and freedom of the United States and a Chinese actress who wore a “flag” dress to the Cannes Film Festival have found themselves at the centre of a nationalist backlash.
Yang Shuping, who studied at the University of Maryland, apologised via social media after saying in her graduation speech over the weekend that she had been drawn to study in the US by its good air and democracy.
She was accused of belittling her country by angry Chinese internet users who saw a video of the speech.
Meanwhile actress Xu Dabao turned heads on the red carpet last week in a bright red dress featuring the five stars of the national flag, prompting accusations from internet users that she had desecrated the flag. Xu also apologised.
In Yang’s speech on Sunday, she began: “People often ask me, why did you come to the University of Maryland? I always answer: fresh air.”
She went on to say that she would be forever grateful for “another kind of fresh air”, meaning free speech.
It provoked the ire of internet users, who accused her of “humiliating” China. Some suggested that Yang – who graduated in psychology and theatre studies, with a minor in German – shouldn’t bother returning to China.