Commentary: Is China using tourists to extend its overseas influence?

TOKYO: Decades of astonishing economic growth have given China new tools for extending its influence abroad and achieving its political goals.

The Chinese government has a degree of leverage over its tourists that other governments do not enjoy. Many Chinese tourists are new to international tourism and have limited international language abilities.Tourists pose with props for pictures at a photo booth near Erhai Lake in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province, China June 15, 2019.

Foreign countries struggle to retaliate. Often, there are far more Chinese tourists going to their country than the other way around, a significant change in recent years. Turkey became the first victim of China’s use of tourist sanctions in 2000 when it refused to allow a Soviet-built Ukrainian ship that China had purchased to be the basis of its first aircraft carrier to pass through the Bosphorus. China restricted outbound tourists to the country, pressuring Turkey to relent..But the utilisation of tourism for geopolitical goals has had varying levels of success.

Chinese tourists look at a map detailing the route of a boat tour on the Yalu River, which separates North Korea and China, at a ticket office in Dandong, Liaoning province, China June 7, 2018. REUTERS/Brenda GohTourist sanctions can also be harmful to China’s tourist industry. Sudden changes to travel plans for reasons people do not understand or appreciate present difficulties in squaring such government controls with emerging middle-class attitudes.

As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I’ve done before!).

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Hong Kong protests: China newspaper criticises Apple for app used to track policeHONG KONG: The Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper, the People's Daily, lashed out on Tuesday (Oct 8) at Apple for allowing an app on its ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Hong Kong protest: China newspaper criticises Apple for app used to track policeHONG KONG: The Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper, the People's Daily, lashed out on Tuesday (Oct 8) at Apple for allowing an app on its ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Commentary: Removing toiletries from hotel rooms won’t save the environmentInterContinental Hotels Group plans to switch miniature toiletries for bulk products, but it isn't likely to do as much for the environment as ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Mega bourse mergers less of a threat as exchanges and markets have morphedLAST month, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd (HKEx) made a surprise US$39 billion bid for 300-year-old London Stock Exchange (LSE). Read more at The Business Times.
Source: BusinessTimes - 🏆 15. / 51 Read more »

Paris thief steals tourist's $1.2m watch after asking him for cigarette: 5 ruses crooks use to rob touristsA Japanese tourist fell for one of the oldest tricks in the world when a thief pretended to ask for a cigarette and snatch his expensive watch off his wrist.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

Taiwan expels Chinese tourist for damaging 'Lennon Wall'TAIPEI: Taiwan has expelled a Chinese tourist for damaging a 'Lennon Wall' that was put up in support of Hong Kong's protests, a move likely to ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »