I came across this rather worrying article about an ethnic Chinese Malaysian man having been subjected to racist abuse in central Dunedin, and thought I’d try and find the equivalent article in the Otago Daily Times. I found it, and thought, wow, that People’s Daily article is really just a direct translation. What’s missing, though, apart from the names of their mother and the police officer as well as the job title of the police officer (Southern District Maori Pacific ethnic response adviser – quite relevant to the story, I think. Could they just not parse it well enough in time for publication?), is this:
He said high-profile cases such as the Crafar farm sales, and even the proposed Dunedin hotel, appeared to have resulted in a recent backlash against Chinese in New Zealand.
Which is an interesting ommission. Surely its inclusion in People’s Daily’s translation would’ve made for a juicier story? So why leave it out? Why not pursue this further or link it to other more high profile cases of Chinese companies and people being excluded or subjected to extra scrutiny because of their Chinese origins? Why not seek comment from more members of the diaspora on how China’s economic expansion is impacting their lives – negatively or positively?
Those are indeed great questions to ask.
Out of curiosity, I searched and found what appears to be the “original Chinese translation”, which does have the Crafar and Dunedin hotel part in, but no mention of the officer’s title, Southern District Maori Pacific ethnic response adviser, which I also think is relevant.
It is rather curious that the People’s Daily version chose to leave that out, on purpose, I have to assume.
http://www.singtao.com.au/AUSTRALIAnews/public/article_v.cfm?articleid=160537&intcatid=1
Browsing through Sing Tao’s Australian site, it is rather depressing to note that 80% people of Chinese origin in Tasmania were target of racial
discrimination and robbery, according to this news story. That’s a short piece and perhaps things were lost in translation, but Hobart authority’s response to the community’s concern was rude, to say the least, if not thumbing their nose at the community.
http://www.singtao.com.au/AUSTRALIAnews/public/article_v.cfm?articleid=160632&intcatid=1
And why do “journalist/editor” not provide links to the source where they got their information from?
I absolutely can not open those Sing Tao links, but I’m not surprised by 80% of Chinese in Tasmania being the targes of racial discrimination and robbery, and even less surprised by the police response. Aussie police don’t have a very good reputation.