Chinese netizen poll: Better our kids live on Senkaku than Diaoyu

by Bobby McGill on September 29, 2012

The Atlantic has an interesting piece on the contradictions of Chinese nationalism. It looks at an online survey asking Chinese netizens:

“If your child were born on the Diaoyu Islands, what nationality would you pick for him/her: Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong or the mainland?”

The results?

Around 40 percent answered Taiwan, followed by Hong Kong with about 25 percent, followed by Japan. Mainland China was the least popular option. A formal poll, set up on Weibo after the original post was pulled, returned similar results, with Japan at 20 percent and the mainland at 15.

{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }

1 R. Elgin September 29, 2012 at 7:59 pm: This is too funny and illuminating. Left to themselves, the CCP will have their hands full trying to manipulate the people and will likely fail.
2 Jakgani September 30, 2012 at 8:28 am: Foolish Chinese. The truth is Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan don’t want them either !!

They are considered “locusts” – http://dok.do/JATy6I
3 redwhitedude September 30, 2012 at 9:44 am: Taiwan and HK complain about bad manners of mainland chinese and also there was controversy that certain department stores tend to favor them because they bring mucho $$$$$$.
4 mickster September 30, 2012 at 10:02 am: I’m more impressed that sort of polls are allowed at all in China than the poll results themselves.

At my work place, there are several Chinese and we get along with no problem; well, we do not discuss the Senkakus/Diaoyu. When they produce documents in Chinese they duely write “Senkaku islands (Chinese name: Diaoyu)” without making a fuss — I guess, just like UNIQLO, a Japanese apparel outlet, in China put up a sign “Diaoyu is Chinese territory” during the violent demonstration and successfully avoided being attacked.
5 mickster September 30, 2012 at 10:04 am: Oh, by the way, the title of the post is misleading, though rightly eye-catching.
“Around 40 percent answered Taiwan, followed by Hong Kong with about 25 percent, followed by Japan.”
That means they still live on Diaoyu, not Senkaku.
6 Bobby McGill September 30, 2012 at 10:42 am: @ mikster. Very nice catch. You are correct that under Taiwanese rule the name would be “Diaoyu.” Bad headline.

Happy Chuseok.
7 TheKorean2 September 30, 2012 at 11:23 am: The Chinese is divided on this issue.
8 mickster September 30, 2012 at 11:58 am: Bobby:
Come to think of it, Taiwanese may be pro-Japanese and pragmatic enough to keep the Senkaku name as long as their fishermen are allowed to operate in the area.
Cheers.
9 mickster September 30, 2012 at 8:30 pm: Poor Li Na…
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90782/7965322.html
10 Koreansentry September 30, 2012 at 8:44 pm: This is same as Indian and Arabs as well, unless your arab royalty no Arabs wants to live in Arabian world and as for Indians and Chinese, most of rich Indian & Chinese lives in developed & freed speech nations. It’s sad reality for most countries with more 50% poverty rate.
11 jk641 October 1, 2012 at 1:32 pm: mickster @#9,

Maybe they will embrace her again if she won the tournament.
(On the other hand.. if she lost to a Japanese, well, I’m not sure if she could ever return to her country.)
12 jk641 October 1, 2012 at 1:33 pm
13 mickster October 1, 2012 at 10:36 pm: jk641,
She lost in the third round, but it was not to a Japanese player fortunately. She lost to No.1-ranked Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark.
14 jk641 October 2, 2012 at 2:36 am: Well, that’s not too bad then.