Why This Topic Landed in Japan

Two unrelated China stories circulated together in Japan. First, after a run of incidents involving Chinese tourists in Thailand—fans breaching a restricted area at Bangkok's airport on July 29, where 22 people were denied boarding, and a clash with staff at an event—the Chinese embassy in Thailand publicly asked its nationals to behave "civilly, rationally and in an orderly way" and to check event rules in advance. Many read that as Beijing itself conceding a manners problem. Second, a bridge railing in Hubei collapsed in strong wind and turned out to have no rebar inside, "fixed with adhesive" according to authorities—an easy symbol of shoddy construction. The appeal was aimed at visitors to Thailand, not at Chinese residents in Japan; the two events are unrelated; and the details of the railing collapse remain unconfirmed.

Key Reaction Themes

  • Irony that "even the government admits it" — "It's cruel to ask that of Chinese people" and "as if the Communist Party is in any position to say that," mocking the appeal itself.
  • Disbelief at shoddy construction and safety standards — "Adhesive? This isn't a plastic model kit," "this is China through and through," and "doesn't this make the bridge itself look sketchy?"
  • A push back against sweeping China-bashing — A minority note that kanji, tofu, and much of Japan's culture came from China, arguing that those who can't respect it don't understand Japanese history either.

What Japanese Netizens Are Saying

The Chinese embassy in Thailand asks for "orderly" behavior

Reactions to the Chinese embassy in Thailand urging good manners after a run of incidents there.

Sources: Mainichi

Comments:

  • "Isn't it cruel to demand that of Chinese people?"
  • "Chinese-hating Japanese and net-rightists are everywhere these days, but kanji, soy sauce, tofu, and miso all came to Japan from China, and literature, architecture, calligraphy, ceramics, Tanabata, bushido, and even filial piety were originally Chinese ideas and culture that Japan adopted under enormous influence—that's undeniable historical fact. So the pseudo-conservative Japanese who can't respect China are, I think, discriminatory people with badly warped thinking who understand neither Japanese history nor Japanese culture."
  • "As if the Chinese Communist Party is in any position to say that."
  • "It's impossible, because the Communist Party runs brainwashing education that gives the people the wrong idea."
  • "There are 1.4 billion of them, so the world should just adapt to China, right."
  • "When the leadership itself can't be called civilized or rational, telling the people to follow the rules is a bit much."
  • "They can't even educate their own people?"
  • "Chinese people are so awful that even Thailand—which is under China's economic sway—gets treated like this. China isn't a developed country to begin with, has no proper education, and Chinese people have no such thing as order or manners. Just like people from any developing country, they're a bunch you have to explain from scratch why you mustn't steal others' things or barge into others' homes."
  • "Since they're going to become Asia's rulers from here on, I'd like them to become more orderly."

A bridge railing collapses, "fixed with adhesive"

Reactions to a bridge railing collapsing in strong wind and turning out to have no rebar, held together with glue.

Sources: Record China, 2ch

Comments:

  • "Adhesive? lol This isn't a plastic model kit."
  • "Wonder what'll break when the next typhoon makes landfall lol"
  • "It's in the state of a Drifters set." [Translator's note: The Drifters, a Japanese comedy troupe famous for stage sets rigged to fall apart.]
  • "No way you can ride in cars from a country like this."
  • "This is China through and through."
  • "Doesn't this make the bridge itself look sketchy too?"
  • "A while back there was a video of a railing that crumbled to bits when you gripped it with your hand."
  • "This killed any desire I had to buy an EV."
  • "Stuff like this is an everyday occurrence in China—so why is it even news?"
  • "A stone railing, huh—all about looks, ignoring strength."