Chinese drinks giant Nongfu Spring and Nobel Prize-winning author Mo Yan have both run afoul of Chinese nationalists in recent weeks. SINGAPORE: What do a Chinese drinks giant and a Nobel Prize-winning author have in common? They’ve both run afoul of vocal Chinese nationalists in recent weeks.
“They gain attention and followers, and in turn, opportunities to make money from their new-found fame,” added Associate Professor Yew Chiew Ping from the Singapore University of Social Sciences .The Nongfu Spring case surfaced last month. It was initially centred on founder Zhong Shanshan after the death of a key competitor Zong Qinghou - the founder of rival Hangzhou Wahaha Group and a former partner - cast the spotlight on their rivalry.
The company's troubles did not stop there. Days after, claims surfaced online that Nongfu Spring had allegedly used Japanese religious motifs on the packaging of its green tea products. Wu is seeking 1.5 billion yuan in damages - one yuan for each Chinese person. He also wants Mo Yan to apologise and for the offending books to be removed from circulation.Even as Nongfu Spring and Mo Yan come under fire from nationalistic voices, Chinese netizens have also come to their defence, with analysts pointing out support being expressed by public figures who are also identified as nationalists.
Mr Hu added that while Chinese citizens may not like the change, to criticise the Zhongs as well as"boycott and punish" a private enterprise would be irrational and cause damage to the Chinese legal system.Assoc Prof Yew from SUSS noted that the backlash does not reflect all of Chinese society. While acknowledging the pushback to the nationalistic attacks, she added that most dissenters in China are unlikely to openly air their views and have “no safe platforms” to do so.
Professor Daniel Vukovich from the University of Hong Kong pointed out how Mo Yan, instead of being criticised for not being a dissident, is now being criticised online for being too much like one. According to the report, Mr Wu had also opened his own Weibo store and started bringing in goods. Besides these, the blogger had also opened a"blogger's special" subscription on several platforms, including paid columns.
In the case of Nongfu Spring, while framing it as an expression of “intense nationalism”, Prof Vukovich argued that it “refers as much to populism … as to nationalism”.
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