A Koch Executive’s Harassment in China Adds to Fears Among Visitors

A Koch Executive’s Harassment in China Adds to Fears Among Visitors(nytimes.com)

40 points by bubmiw 6 years ago | 25 comments

bobjordan 6 years ago |

American living in China, here for 10 years now. Even before the current tensions, as an American visiting China, you'd be likely to feel like you've stepped into another planet on entering. China is just so utterly different, and if you are non-Asian, you attract a lot of Chinese eyeballs from everyone from young children to Grandpa's, as they are just generally curious about foreigners. Everyone openly refers to you as "foreigner", like "hey look at that foreigner over there". On top of that, they are security conscious here in China. In 10-years in China, I've never found myself in a place where I've felt unsafe. Frankly, having personally been in serious danger in America a few times and further, my little brother got robbed, shot and killed and died in the middle of a street. I can't say the security here in China is a bad thing. The society in China prefers to be secure and have cameras everywhere, and it seems to be working for them.

So, I think those factors I mentioned above can naturally magnify incidents which are probably just going to happen to a foreigner here in China regardless, especially if the foreigner is already a bit concerned about anti-American sentiment. As far as the anti-American sentiment. I can remember it happening a few times and this is probably the worst it's been for Americans. But, I can remember times where anti-sentiment for Japanese appeared much worse. Locally to where I live, some Chinese nationals vandalized a few Japanese cars and stores. I don't feel like it's come close to getting that bad for Americans, yet. And largely, I feel like the Anti-American sentiment from Huawei and trade tension stuff hit a spike a few months ago, and people have pretty much moved on now.

chantelles 6 years ago | |

I lived in Taipei for a while - I am a white blonde woman - and everywhere I went kids yelled HEY WHITE LADY. It was, as you describe out of shock as there were few other white women there. I saw none in my time there. I have never felt so safe as I did there, and, because I am a woman, having people stare or comment was nothing new. What was new was that most of the attention was positive and coming from women and children who wanted to come and look at me up close. It was very instructive for me, especially upon return to Toronto. The white men I know who have traveled to Asia all complained/were shocked by the attention because they are not used to it. In this context, alongside the current trade/media-war going both ways, I expect more and more stories like this to counteract the stories of Chinese folks in America being treated differently, tho I would argue they are nothing the same.

RickJWagner 6 years ago | |

Thanks for sharing your experiences and first-hand knowledge.

I work with some Chinese employees of my global company, I have only been impressed with them. I have high hopes for global relations as time goes on.

AFascistWorld 6 years ago | |

Reaction of the Huawei thing seems to be focused more on Canada. Canada is weaker, like Japan, Korea and to some extent Sweden on which the furor had found success.

rolltiide 6 years ago | |

It is hard for me to balance this reality with the general fear and paranoia Americans have about everything, especially in another country, especially when that other country is China.

I know your experience is the most likely, but telling people that they most likely wouldn't be subject to civil rights abuses that they think China is all about is almost akin to stepping on their ego.

reaperducer 6 years ago |

Two plainclothes officers asked him to go with them to answer questions. They asked him about his diplomatic status and whether he had diplomatic immunity, the people said. They demanded to see his passport, which he refused to show.

What is the best way to deal with something like this? Not that I'm going back to China any time soon. Just from a curiosity standpoint.

seanmcdirmid 6 years ago | |

comply? It isn’t weird to have to show identity to authorities in any country; having to provide a passport on demand is a given when traveling in China.

Strange that this guy attracted black Audi cop interest, I’ve only ever seen them when they were hauling away a North Korea student from a Haidian Starbucks.

NotSammyHagar 6 years ago | | |

What is the significance of an expensive car cop? Does it means they are from some top paid government agency?

MaupitiBlue 6 years ago | |

> What is the best way to deal with something like this? Not that I'm going back to China any time soon.

I think you answered your own question.

module0000 6 years ago | |

> What is the best way to deal with something like this?

Bribe them, it's business as usual there. When approached by officers, this is what they are likely expecting.

seieste 6 years ago | | |

Don’t do this if you’re an American—it’s illegal to bribe anywhere in the world.

peterkelly 6 years ago |

Like how the CFO of Huawei has been detained in Canada since December of last year?

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/12/05/tech/huawei-cfo-arrested-...

_iyig 6 years ago | |

She was credibly accused of a crime. The Koch executive wasn’t formally accused of anything, according to the article, not that such formalities matter in a system such as China’s.

freeflight 6 years ago | | |

> She was credibly accused of a crime.

The "crime" of breaking sanctions against Iran, which happened after the US left JCPOA to reinstate said sanctions against Iran.

Which was a very convenient way to manufacture the "formalities" to arrest the Huawei CFO.

sunstone 6 years ago |

This is very short sighted behaviour on the part of China. Clearly world business will avoid the country if they feel their personal security is at risk due to political interference in the judicial system. International supply chains will now seek to avoid China if at all possible.

contingencies 6 years ago |

Chances are this is only part of the story.

justasitsounds 6 years ago |

I'm no fan of authoritarian regimes, but given Koch Industries history of spreading FUD for profit I am reluctant to take this at face value.