air china magazine apologizes over ‘racist’ article
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

Air China magazine apologizes over ‘racist’ article

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Air China magazine apologizes over ‘racist’ article

An image of an article from onboard magazine "Wings of China" shows in Chinese and English that "precautions are needed" for visitors going to areas
Beijing - Arab Today

The publisher of Chinese national carrier Air China’s in-flight magazine apologized Thursday for allegedly “racist” travel advice offered to passengers visiting London, as mainland social media users rushed to defend the controversial tips.
The latest issue of “Wings of China” ran an article detailing safety tips to travelers based on the race and nationality of local residents.
“London is generally a safe place to travel, however precautions are needed when entering areas mainly populated by Indians, Pakistanis and black people,” the article said in English translation below a Chinese text, according to a photograph published by CNBC.
“We advise tourists not to go out alone at night, and females always to be accompanied by another person when traveling,” it added.
The Chinese version was worded slightly differently, stating that such neighborhoods were “comparatively more chaotic” — an adjective often used to describe dangerous areas.
The English translation prompted London MP Virendra Sharma, who emigrated from India to Britain in the 1960s, to complain to the Chinese government.
“I am shocked and appalled that even today some people would see it as acceptable to write such blatantly untrue and racist statements,” he said in an online statement.
“I have raised this issue with the Chinese ambassador, and requested that he ensures an apology is swiftly forthcoming from Air China, and the magazine is removed from circulation immediately,” Sharma said.
In a Chinese-language statement Thursday, the publisher attributed the “inappropriate descriptions” to editorial errors, stating that they were at odds with the “original intention to actively promote the beautiful scenery of London.”
It described itself as a third-party organization, although Air China’s own website describes the magazine as “an authoritative information resource of Air China Group and Air China.”
The publisher apologized that the text had “misled” a number of media outlets and readers and damaged Air China’s brand image.
But on Chinese social media, most commenters expressed bafflement at the backlash.
In a common refrain, one user of China’s Twitter-like Weibo platform asked: “This is just stating the truth — what is there to apologize about?“
Another queried: “There are more rapists and robbers there anyway — why is saying this discriminatory?”
Many said they felt the advice was valuable.
“We can’t satisfy everyone, but we certainly must put Chinese people’s safety first,” one user stated.
Discussion and public awareness of racism in China is notoriously low — often resulting in viral scandals that spark global outrage beyond the Great Firewall but cause nary a whimper of concern within the mainland.
In May, an ad by a Chinese detergent maker depicting a black man stuffed into a washing machine and transformed into a fair-skinned Asian stoked outcry abroad, initially dismissed by the company as overly sensitive.
China often portrays itself as the victim of discrimination at the hands of foreign media, and many on Weibo expressed indignation at what they saw as hypocritical finger-pointing from those in the West.
“We don’t owe black people, Indians or Pakistanis anything; we never trafficked slaves or colonized India and Pakistan,” wrote one user, adding: “So go die, all you politically correct people.”
The controversy comes during a period of tension between Beijing and London.
British Prime Minister Theresa May returned to London this week from the G20 summit hosted by China, where she defended her decision to delay giving the go-ahead to a nuclear power project in which Beijing has substantial investment.
China has a one-third stake in the plan to build Britain’s first nuclear plant in decades at Hinkley Point in southwest England, along with French company EDF.
May unexpectedly delayed the project in July after EDF gave it a green light, saying on Sunday she would make a decision this month.
China’s ambassador to Britain, Liu Xiaoming, warned last month relations were at a “crucial historical juncture” between the two countries.
One commenter on the Air China magazine incident had their own solution to the controversy, saying: “In the future, just don’t translate this stuff into English. It’s enough that we get the message among ourselves — foreigners wouldn’t understand.”

Source: Arab News

almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

air china magazine apologizes over ‘racist’ article air china magazine apologizes over ‘racist’ article

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

air china magazine apologizes over ‘racist’ article air china magazine apologizes over ‘racist’ article

 



Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017

GMT 09:22 2018 Monday ,22 January

Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way

GMT 11:03 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Modern colorful bedroom renovation

GMT 10:57 2017 Thursday ,21 December

Modern colorful bedroom renovation
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president

GMT 13:56 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Turkey detains dozens more

GMT 10:47 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

Turkey detains dozens more

GMT 16:39 2017 Monday ,08 May

Coal won't make a comeback

GMT 14:44 2014 Monday ,03 March

Hollywood stars shine

GMT 01:24 2017 Monday ,08 May

Painter quietly documented life under Daesh

GMT 18:01 2012 Friday ,09 March

Rugby: Wallabies twins re-sign with Reds

GMT 07:28 2017 Monday ,25 December

Mosul celebrates first post-IS Christmas

GMT 03:30 2017 Tuesday ,24 January

Mexico’s masked wrestling heroes train police

GMT 09:44 2017 Thursday ,14 December

Chinese auto giant to end petrol vehicle

GMT 14:36 2017 Saturday ,08 July

Rogina says “Kafer Delhab” moved her away

GMT 16:32 2017 Friday ,10 February

Mollusk’s Ancestor Discovered in Morocco

GMT 09:58 2017 Sunday ,15 October

Immobile brace ends Juventus run

GMT 08:54 2011 Tuesday ,06 September

Firas al-Khatib 7th best soccer player of world

GMT 22:28 2012 Thursday ,20 September

Karzai sacks key ally of the West

GMT 07:36 2017 Friday ,24 February

Mental conflict endures
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
 
 Almaghrib Today Facebook,almaghrib today facebook  Almaghrib Today Twitter,almaghrib today twitter Almaghrib Today Rss,almaghrib today rss  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

.almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday almaghribtoday almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday