{"id":1919,"date":"2017-08-17T04:08:14","date_gmt":"2017-08-17T11:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/?p=1919"},"modified":"2017-08-17T04:08:14","modified_gmt":"2017-08-17T11:08:14","slug":"chinese-media-racist-video-on-india-clash-sparks-anger-bbc-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/?p=1919","title":{"rendered":"“Chinese media ‘racist’ video on India clash sparks anger”, BBC News"},"content":{"rendered":"

London, 17 August 2017<\/p>\n

Chinese state media has released a propaganda video that lambasts India over a border dispute, sparking accusations of racism.<\/p>\n

The English-language clip<\/a>, which accuses India of committing “sins”, features a Chinese actor in a turban, mockingly speaking in an Indian accent.<\/p>\n

Xinhua published the clip on Wednesday which is from a chat show discussing the ongoing Doklam stand-off<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It has been met with both bewilderment and anger in India.<\/p>\n

What happens in the clip?<\/h2>\n

Titled “7 Sins of India”, the video stars female presenter, Dier Wang, who lists out China’s grievances against India in the ongoing border dispute in the Doklam area, which borders China, India and Bhutan.<\/p>\n

It is the latest episode of an online series called The Spark, an English-language online chat show recently launched by Xinhua.<\/p>\n

Speaking in an amused yet indignant tone, she accuses India of “trampling international law” and “inventing various excuses to whitewash its illegal moves”.<\/p>\n

Her monologue is interspersed with dialogue from an “Indian”, depicted by a Chinese actor wearing a turban, sunglasses, and an obviously ill-fitting beard.<\/p>\n

In what appear to be attempts at humour, he waggles his head and speaks English in an exaggerated Indian accent, amid canned laughter.<\/p>\n

In another scene he points a pair of scissors at another actor who is supposed to represent Bhutan – a clear reference to the Chinese stand that India is “bullying” the tiny Himalayan nation.<\/p>\n

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The video appears to be solely targeted at a foreign audience. It is delivered entirely in English and appears on Xinhua’s YouTube, Twitter and Facebook feeds – services which are banned in China.<\/p>\n

Chinese reports say the online chat show aims to “comment on hot domestic and international topics from China’s perspective and with an international vision”.<\/p>\n

Previous episodes have also focused on the stand-off and Sino-Indian relations, as well as relations with the US and President Donald Trump, but were more sober than this one.<\/p>\n

How did Indians react?<\/h2>\n

Indian news outlets have rounded on the video, slamming it as racist.<\/p>\n

The Hindustan Times<\/a> said Xinhua released “a racist video parodying Indians” which “particularly targets the Sikh minority”.<\/p>\n

News portal The Quint<\/a> said it was “yet another attempt by Chinese media to push its aggressive rhetoric on the standoff”, while India Today<\/a> accused Chinese media of going a “step further” in mocking India.<\/p>\n

The video also prompted criticism from social media users.<\/p>\n

“It’s not okay in the 21st century to have someone dress up in a turban, mock an Indian accent. Shocking from official agency.”–Ananth Krishnan<\/span> @ananthkrishnan<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

“Propaganda is not enough for Xinhua, it now also makes racist videos about India. This is really unbelievable coming from state news wire.”–Jojje Olsson<\/span> <\/a>@jojjeols<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

But it has also generated some debate on the Doklam stand-off, with many on Facebook arguing about which country has sovereignty over the disputed territory.<\/p>\n

How did all this begin?<\/h2>\n

The conflict began in mid-June when India opposed China’s attempt to extend a border road through a plateau known as Doklam in India and Donglang in China.<\/p>\n

The plateau, which lies at a junction between China, the north-eastern Indian state of Sikkim and the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, is currently disputed between Beijing and Bhutan. India supports Bhutan’s claim over it.<\/p>\n