Beijing restaurant criticized for refusal to serve Japanese, Vietnamese and Filipino customers

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Ida Torres in National with 54 Comments
Beijing restaurant criticized for refusal to serve Japanese, Vietnamese and Filipino customers

Vietnamese have voiced out their anger regarding a Beijing restaurant’s refusal to serve customers from countries locked in maritime territorial disputes with China. The restaurant has put up signs on its windows that said, “This shop does not welcome Japanese, Filipinos, and Vietnamese, and dogs,” according to a photo posted by a Chinese-American user on Facebook last week.

The restaurant’s actions has drawn strong criticism in Vietnam, where tensions over the Spratly and Paracel islands have sparked a series of anti-China protests over the past two years. Lawyer Le Hieu Dang said he thought Chinese authorities’ should have taken action against the restaurant owner. “They should have told the restaurant to take that note off and disciplined them because that insults other people in the world. It is racism. The Beijing government should have strong measures against that,” he added. He said the racism evident in the sign was similar to China’s “bullying” of its smaller neighbors in its foreign policy. “I think people around the world will have strong reactions against this extreme nationalism, which shows the hatred between nations and how big country bullies small countries,” he said.

Beijing restaurant criticized for refusal to serve Japanese, Vietnamese and Filipino customers

The owner of the restaurant in Beijing’s Houhai neighborhood, told BBC News this week that he didn’t care what others felt about the sign, and that he had put it up out of “patriotism.” He also said he has gotten support from his Chinese customers. George P. Jan, a U.S.-based former professor of Chinese politics, said that the views of one restaurant owner should not be taken as representative of all of China. “This sign does not represent the attitude of most Chinese people. I think it is unwise and emotional. Chinese people are not opposed to all Japanese, Filipinos, or Vietnamese indiscriminately,” he said. He said nationalism could cause people to get carried away with their views.

China is currently embroiled in territorial disputes with Japan over islands in the East China Sea, and with the Philippines and Vietnam over islands in the South China Sea. Tensions with Japan over the disputes boiled over into a wave of anti-Japanese protests in numerous Chinese cities last fall.

[ via Radio Free Asia ]
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  • Far East

    One more evidence for the International Court of Human Rights (on top of religious freedom oppression, freedom of speech, organ harvesting, etc), and one more incentive to remove China from its UN Security Council seat.

    • Banlas theway

      I am neutral on Vietnamese and Filipinos but to the Japanese, what are these Japanese bastards doing in China anyway.

    • Ben

      Oh of course there is absolutely no racism in the US. None what so ever.

      • Far East

        Racism is human so it exists everywhere, but you won’t see the U.S. government instigate people in hating Chinese or organizing riots against Chinese assets in the U.S. just to snap some islands.

        • -observer-

          Far East: fancy seeing you here! Firstly this behavior should not be tolerated, it’s absolutely disgusting. Secondly this shop owner is obviously trying to grab headline much like Donald Trump. And thirdly the Chinese government should realize that this will only incite hatred towards the Chinese people.

      • Whirled Peas

        Sure there is racism in the U.S. like everywhere But there are also mechanisms to challenge racism. it’s a dangerous precedent when a government sanctions or turns a blind eye to discrimination within its borders toward people from a country with which it is currently having a disagreement. What if we Americans got brainwashed by our gov’t to believe China was the sole cause of unemployment in America, and we decided to boycott Chinese products, and vandalize Chinese and Chinese-American restaurants and businesses. And what if non-Chinese restaurant owners put up signs saying “No Chinese Allowed.” Well, I and many people I know would be on the front lines protesting this kind of unfair and irrational behavior. I hope there are enlightened Chinese citizens in China who are doing the same.

        • Ben

          So let me get this straight… your insisting that the government instigated this? That’s based on what? Your assumption? I’m not even going to touch Romney’s campaign of labeling China a currency manipulator because that’s exactly what the GOP wants their constituents to believe in order to offer the solution of blaming it all on China. And the no Chinese Allowed. Are you saying that’s never happened in the US? I also remember Japanese internment, I also remember signs that said no Irish dogs allowed. Or perhaps the Chinese exclusion act, its something the government SIGNED INTO LAW. Sure its all in the past but that doesn’t change the fact that it happened under a Democratic Government. You’re also saying the protest in Vietnam against the Chinese of course couldn’t have involved the government right? But a similar reaction to the Japanese in China HAS to be government instigated right? And of course burning Chinese flags and vandalizing Chinese owned stores in the Philippines and the hostages being killed because of a corrupt Philippines police system and not owning any responsibility to it, well we’ll just ignore that. Both you, Whirled Pea AND Far East comments are full of contradictions. Also this fact is ONLY known because of a Chinese American posting it, or did you miss that? The government in the Philippines and Vietnam are just as if not more corrupt than in China. Please don’t get a high horse and pretend they are somehow better by using a isolated event such as this to label and entire country.

          • Whirled Peas

            Relax, I was responding to your sarcastic statement that “Oh of course there is absolutely no racism in the US. None what so ever” If you had said, “What’s happening with the restaurant owner is wrong, but it has parallels in other countries and times”, you would have gotten an entirely different response from me. I cannot much tolerate a person downplaying something that is wrong in one country by pointing to some other countries past or present injustices. You need not lecture me on the sordid history of discrimination against Asian Americans and other people of color, nor the history of American imperialism in Vietnam and elsewhere.

            I’m not saying the Chinese gov’t instigated this restaurant problem (not everything that happens comes straight from Beijing) but wouldn’t you agree it would be dangerous for the Chinese government to not nip this restaurant problem in the bud before the problem escalates? If it doesn’t then IMO it is tacit approval. It is precisely drawing from what I see can happen to ethnic groups in America when America has a conflict with those group’s countries of origin (whether it be the Japanese-Americans being interned in WWII or now people of the Middle East being profiled and bashed in the media) that concerns me when I see this sort of thing happening anywhere. Yes, I see parallels.And don’t worry, I’m not labeling an entire country. As I said, I hope there are enlightened citizens who will step forward. And hopefully the government will do some quick intervention too. WP

          • Ben

            I’m more responding to “(on top of religious freedom oppression, freedom of speech, organ harvesting, etc), and one more incentive to remove China from its UN Security Council seat.” It sounded like you’re in the same boat that’s why the flame. I think what this restaurant did is definitely wrong but its still an isolated case. However using this as a premise to put in your talking points to bash China and then getting the UN Security Council involved is rather ignorant of “Far East”. I’m glad you see parallels so then by that logic no one on the UN Security Council should have a seat if we’re holding this standard. It would be great if the government did do something, but since they are not omnipotent what makes you think they know this is happening? Even if something like this happened here, would the US government know immediately it happened or would it take the media to get the news out first before the government can act? How do you know they didn’t do something already? Do you know the date this was taken? No its all an assumption, but here at least it doesn’t take more than that for people to make conclusions. I condemn this act and I think its childish and racist, but I’m not going to use it to bash their government. I’m also not going to use events that has nothing to do with the government to bash it or the other billion or so people. There are tons of racists in this country, but its not really the fault of the government is it? I’m also aware that the Chinese government will crack down on some protest and just keep the peace on some other protests. Of course I oppose that ideology but this isn’t exactly a protest is it? Its a sign on a store window, does the Federal Government really need to get involved on this one? If I use a racial slur against someone, should the government be sending the FBI after me?

          • Whirled Peas

            Hey Ben: It would great if you would not conflate my posts with others. It’s just really confusing because then I’m not sure what to respond to: (a) what you are actually saying or (b) what you are thinking I said but didn’t, or (c) the extra stuff you attribute to me or extrapolate that I have no clue about. It gets unmanageable. But anyway, I agree that one shouldn’t blow an isolated incident out of proportion, and no a racial slur doesn’t warrant an FBI investigation. I am aware, however, that it doesn’t take much time for mass hysteria to take hold, fueled by suspicion of the Other. Regarding the JA internment, it starts with exclusion of JA’s from local restaurants, stores, and housing, then ordinary California farmers who want JA land whip up hysteria about JA’s being a security threat (“they plow their fields into arrows pointing to military installations” (absurd!), then the next thing you know the JA’s are being carted off to the desert by the US govt. Yes, the circumstances leading internment of JA’s was both from the bottom up and the top down. Anyway, you probably know all this if you’ve studied ASAM history. Best, WP

          • Soul

            Ben. Where are you? You still isn’t answer my question about your idea ” Vietnam against the Chinese of course could have involved the Vietnam government”. I need your final answer.

          • Ben

            Ok I can tell English is not your first language, either that or you’re using some kind of translation program. But usually when you quote someone you should usually do so actually. I said…

            “You’re also saying the protest in Vietnam against the Chinese of course couldn’t have involved the government right? But a similar reaction to the Japanese in China HAS to be government instigated right?”

            My point is that I know the government is behind those protests in Vietnam. There are rarely any protests but the government allowed this one. Only an idiot would argue those are genuine protests that the government had nothing to do with and then turn around and bash the Chinese government for allowing these anti Japanese protests.

            And yes I have been to Vietnam, I’d share a copy of my Visa if I could share pics. But it says Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nhia Vietnam on a blue band across the top. Cap Tai Hoa Ky on the right. And get this I put $20 US dollars in my passport as i was crossing customs to make my process easier, or so I was told. So I don’t need a lesson in how corrupt that country really is. I’ve been to Japan, Philippines and China. Japan and Philippines you don’t need a VISA. China however, if you try to pass $20 in favors through customs you are out of your f’ing mind and will get into serious trouble. So I know the standards held in each country too. You can argue its unfair for the Chinese to claim these islands, to which I agree, but not that they are claiming them because the Chinese government more corrupt.

          • Guest

            Hahaha, the way you wrote I could say you are a Chinese-Vietnamese and then left VN to live in a Western country. I thought Chinese-Vietnamese should appreciate VN to shelter and allowed them to run any business in VN when they ran away from CN. Be fair to where you came from or borned.
            When was your trip to VN? I went there last August, yep I did exactly liked what you said and I was almost in trouble. The young Vietnamese custom girl was nicely asking me to take back $20 and then gave me a warning something likes “bribery is against the laws”. Is it because I am not Vietnsmese or the laws has been changed by VN Gov or you were talking crap?
            What you said about the protest in VN is quite true and so in CN. Without the support from the local police in CN the owner of this restaurant would never dare to put up that such stupid sign.
            By criticising Eng of the other guy would make you look smater and make yourself a whiteman? Lol
            What is the point to enter an Asian forum for bitching Eng? I read your writing and then my son, who was born in an Eng speaking country, year 10 Essay writing, it is clearly your writing is as suck as many non Eng speaking background (grammatical errors).

          • Whirled Peas

            Thinking about this a bit more, the restaurant owner should NOT BE FORCED to serve Vietnamese, Pilipinos, Japanese, and dogs. This will probably make things worse. People tend to dig their heels in when forced and feel like they’re the victim. People should try to reason with the owner and over time he might change. Government intervention might be in the form of making some kind of statement to the public that “though we have disputes with the governments of x, y, and z countries we must strive to honor people to people relations, and remember that we have many hard-working community members who immigrated from these countries and are now part of our country.” At least that is what an organization I’ve worked with has urged of the US gov’t and media vis a vis middle eastern people.

          • Soul

            I am very sorry, but ” the protest in Vietnam against the Chinese of course could have involved the government”??? Have you ever go to Vietnam??? They government banned and imprison anyone trying making some demonstration against China’s movement in South China Sea, they say that ” anyone who against China’s government is Vietnamese’s rebellion, betrayed, and received money from terrorism. During last week, while Chinese going to worship their 1979 war even, Vietnam government banned anyone trying to worship their Vietnamese soldiers had died in that war. They don’t let anyone sent even flowers to 1979 war victim’s cemetery. They destroy any of Memorial building about 1979 event, even Vietnam citizen trying to protect these bulding. If you still talk that they Vietnam goverment trying to made Vietnamese against Chinese’s idea, can you say what they have to do more????? We need made temple for any of Chinese civilian and call them are god?

          • http://profile.yahoo.com/TAYLHMWTPKUI6ULKRNJWYQ4EOA socali177

            Obviously you are a 50 cent troll. If you are not i feel sorry for you because even the 50 cent army does not believe what they are saying. You are basing most of these examples on things that happened in the early 20th century. That is the problem. This is a NEW world. China is acting like its still ok to invade other countries and treat foreigners like subhumans. There are protests in Vietnam and the Philippines because of Chinese aggression. It is YOU that needs to get off your high horse. If you beat up someone do you expect them to hug you afterwards? China is committing the crime, and the Chinese people have the nerve to treat the victims as subhumans by denying them a place to eat? That in itself is a crime. BTW Filipinos feel terrible about the hostage taking. Clearly you need to educate yourself on the nuances of other cultures. The president smiled when asked about the hostage taking because he felt uncomfortable. It wasn’t to come of as being non-chalant about it. You are ridiculous. If the Chinese government did not instigate this situation I feel even sorrier for you Chinese. Being brainwashed by state run TV to do something so stupid.

  • hellokittydemonaiser

    Reminds me of my time in Japan. In Hokkaido they had more then few bars and restaurants that wouldn’t serve Gaijins. They even had signs up, No service for Gaijins.

    • Far East

      Really? Give me the names and I’ll go check it out, since I go to Hokkaido often. So far, I have never seen what you claim. Never seen any of that anywhere in Japan actually.

    • byebyekitty

      I am Gaijin and living in Hokkaido. Could you show me that restaurant???

      • -observer-

        unfortunately racism is everywhere and people profit from it. You can find the places with no Gaijins allowed purely by a youtube search “no Gaijins allowed”. The places are usually controlled by the Yakuzza. Had a friend with an Asian fetish try to find an escort service. He go threatened but he was stupid.

    • Tran-VN

      Hahahah, he had posted this type of crap in GT CN last year, but could not name the restaurant…

  • Tacoma

    That is another example of results of Chinese education system and traditional culture . As long as people over there doesn’t want accept civilization culture and change their education system completely, they will stay that way till god make change. No matter how many universities they have, how much money they make, how many iPhone they have, Chinese still totally disconnected with civilization.

  • eyedrd

    The rise of Chinese racist nationalism due to maritime disputes.

    http://eyedrd.org/2013/02/the-rise-of-chinese-racist-nationalism-due-to-maritime-disputes.html

  • thebinh

    The Chinese are rude and aggressive

    • irony

      Haha… Funny thing is my Chinese coworker says the same thing :s

    • Kevin Zhong

      Throughout Chinese history, they always invaded other their neighbor country. But when Japan and some Europe country attack them – they feel injured and still hate Japanese until now even a half of century passed

    • よしかず 木村

      you r right.

  • JeetKuneDo

    the sign is also a reference to a scene in the Bruce Lee film ‘Fist of Fury’.

    • Guest

      we all copy from each others. CN has recently been seen as the King of Copier. However, copy that such disgusting sign is too far from copy business which no Chinese should ever do.

  • -observer-

    I asked my Chinese friend and he was appalled by the actions of the restaurant owner. Funny that there is even a term for these people in China. The direct translation is “Loving your Country Thief” It literally means that one is loving their own country and robbing it at the same time. As stated previously, its a shame that people profit from racism. Punishment to the restaurant owner should be serve. Please keep following this story.

  • Brian

    Their true face and character is now exposed world wide for what they really are.

  • Kathy

    The funniest thing is this degrading behavior is coming from the people who eats human fetuses for the joy of eating. They are really the lowest live form on earth.

  • Nguyen

    Forbidding all foreigners means different from forbidding a certain race

    • youserious

      So long as you are racist against all it’s ok but not once you single out one race?

  • Jerry_SeinfeId

    Chinese support racist rants against those who oppose Communist China. For all we know, could the Chinese government instigated hanging the poster? Not impossible with the way China brazenly behaves.

  • cynthia rogacion

    if this case will be in America sure enough civil right will raise up..what come next are too much ruckus from media, liberal’s, minorities …what’s the use of United Nation human right council .are this group afraid of China?

  • Jusra

    Good job!

  • よしかず 木村

    i am a chinese. i dislike most of chinese,they are not polite.

  • ZW

    I know this is a bad thing. But after reading your comments, I think you guys missed one thing. You see, Americans know racism very well and fully understand its danger. But to be honest, this is still quite new to Chinese, especially for most people living in the countryside. It’ll take some time for Chinese to understand what does it mean. Before that , I think Chinese can become very racist, more than this.

  • China Take Over

    Hahaha! What can you do about that? Only Chinese are human, all others are dogs. It is Chinese time. We are going to kill all Vietnamese, Japaneses, Philippines..The world is belong to Chinese now. We are everywhere in the world.

    • chink is chink

      kill your bitchy mama dick head papa and then dreaming about killing Vietnamese, Japaneses, Philippines,

    • lululul

      You must be related to that shop owner.

  • Cook

    Long live china f**k the japs,fillies and Vietnamese give them back ther islands you Robbin b@@@@@ds

  • Victor

    People can get upset or mad just for a little misunderstanding due to different culture.
    American will be happy if you tell them: ” We love you just like you love your dog.”
    Chinese will not be happy if you tell them: ” We love you just like you love your dog”

  • Victor

    We will serve everyone even Chinese and Dog.

  • Hoang Lang

    For Japanese, the Vietnamese, the Philippines, i think everyone known why they dont receive, because the territorial disputes. But for the dog, why? i dont know what is the disputes? Shit? name?..

  • frankfeng250

    Chink’s are truly idiot’s who care’s they serve fetus and contaminated food’s i think only chink’s are the customer’s.

  • frankfeng250

    The chinese are very very well known for their unsafe and poisonous food’s they serve.,now they are showing to the world how idiot’s they are.They must be exterminated in this world

  • ted

    On November 16, 2002, an outbreak of what is believed to be severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), began in the Guangdong province of China, which borders on Hong Kong. The first case of infection was speculated to be a farmer in Foshan County. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about this outbreak on February 10, reporting 305 cases (including 105 health-care workers) and 5 deaths;[1] it was later reported that the outbreak in Guangdong had peaked in mid-February, but that appears to be false, as later 806 infections and 34 deaths were reported[2]

    Early in the epidemic, the PRC discouraged its press from reporting on SARS and lagged in reporting the situation to the World Health Organization, delaying the initial report. Initially, it did not provide information for Chinese provinces other than Guangdong, the province where the disease is believed to have originated.[3] For example, a WHO team that travelled to Beijing was not allowed to visit the Guangdong province for several weeks.

    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  • ted

    The 2008 Chinese milk scandal was a food safety incident in the People’s Republic of China, involving milk and infant formula, and other food materials and components, adulterated with melamine.

    By November 2008, China reported an estimated 300,000 victims,[1] with six infants dying from kidney stones and other kidney damage, and an estimated 54,000 babies being hospitalised.[2][3] The chemical appeared to have been added to milk to cause it to appear to have a higher protein content. In a separate incident four years before, watered-down milk had resulted in 13 infant deaths from malnutrition.[4]

    The scandal broke on 16 July, after sixteen infants in Gansu Province, who had been fed on milk powder produced by Shijiazhuang-based Sanlu Group, were diagnosed with kidney stones.[cm 1] After the initial focus on Sanlu—market leader in the budget segment—government inspections revealed the problem existed to a lesser degree in products from 21 other companies, including Mengniu, Yili, and Yashili.[5]

    The issue raised concerns about food safety and political corruption in China, and damaged the reputation of China’s food exports, with at least 11 countries stopping all imports of Chinese dairy products.On 17 September 2008, Health Minister Chen Zhu stated tainted milk formula had “sickened more than 6,200 children, and that more than 1,300 others, mostly newborns, remain hospitalised with 158 suffering from acute kidney failure”.[25] By 23 September, about 54,000 children were reported to be sick and four had died.[26] An additional 10,000 cases were reported from the provinces by 26 September.[27] A World Health Organisation official said 82% of the children made ill were 2 years of age or below.[28] The Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety said that 99% of the victims were aged under 3 years.[29] Ten Hong Kong children were diagnosed with kidney problems,[30] at least four cases were detected in Macau,[31] and six in Taiwan.[32] Non-human casualties included a lion cub and two baby orangutans which had been fed Sanlu milk powder at Hangzhou Zoo.[33]

    The government said on 8 October it would no longer issue updated figures “because it is not an infectious disease, so it’s not absolutely necessary for us to announce it to the public.”[34] Reuters compiled figures reported by local media across the country, and said the toll stood at nearly 94,000 at the end of September, excluding municipalities. Notably, 13,459 children had been affected in Gansu, Reuters quoted Xinhua saying. Henan had reported over 30,000 cases, and Hebei also had nearly 16,000 cases.[35]

    In late October, the government announced health officials had surveyed 300,000 Beijing families with children of less than 3 years of age. It disclosed approximately 74,000 families had a child who had been fed melamine-tainted milk, but did not reveal how many of those children had fallen ill as a result.[36]

    Due to the many months before the scandal was exposed, the media suggest the official figures are likely to be understated. Kidney stones in infants started being reported in several parts of China in the past two years. A number of yet to be officially acknowledged cases were reported on by the media. However, those deaths without an official verdict may be denied compensation.[37] On 1 December, Xinhua reported that the Ministry of Health revised the number of victims to more than 290,000 and 51,900 hospitalised; authorities acknowledged receiving reports of 11 suspected deaths from melamine contaminated milk powder from provinces, but officially confirmed 3 deaths.[38]

    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  • tuan

    “This shop does not receive the
    Japanese, the Vietnamese, the Philippines and dogs!” Everyone knows that
    China have disputes with Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam on the
    islands. That is the reason why Chinese hate them, but I can not
    understand what is disputes between Chinese and dogs? I know dogs can
    eat shit, is this the reason ?

    • Guest

      You are going too far in discussion…:-)

  • よしかず 木村

    fuck Chinese！kill all the Chinese.

  • Honigiriman

    Ignorant stinky stealing cheating copying lying bastards those Chinese lawmakers !!