A man yelled, 'Hey, Chinese!' at the lone Chinese international student before battering her several times in the face and stomach.
The Chinese teenager, who said she had been a victim of discriminatory abuse in the past, managed to break free from her attacker and run home.
But police are desperate for witnesses after she required hospital treatment for a badly bruised and swollen face. The Plymouth University student, who does not wish to be named, had been at a city nightclub with friends and was walking home alone through Armada Way when the attack happened.
She said she was speaking on her mobile phone when a man approached her aggressively, then physically assaulted her.
The young woman, a second-year biomedical science student, said: "I was walking along looking at the floor so I didn't really see much that was happening around me."
"Some guy just came up and said, 'Hey, Chinese!', then he punched me on the left side of my face. It was more than one punch. I actually blacked out for two seconds, and he punched my stomach right away...At that point I pushed him away and I ran to my place."
The young victim, who lives close to the scene of the attack, said she had been subjected to "a lot of discrimination" in the past, and had tried to ignore it.
But she added: "Afterwards, right away, I was really scared. I was freaked out.
"I'm lucky that he didn't break anything."
Is racism to Chinese students becoming more violent?
Full article here: http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/Teenage-girl-beaten-nasty-racist-attack-Plymouth/story-15280343-detail/story.html
Yes! Yes! it could have happened to anyone! After all we live in a multicultural paradise! It was just...an accident! I mean Chinese? What on earth does that have to do anything? Surely it was HER fault for walking alone at night! I mean , maybe he was trying to stretch his arms and she just...got in the way. These things happen, you see.
ReplyDeleteWhilst it is a terrible story that could happen to any of us that is Chinese (do not think that for one moment that you are BBC therefore don't encounter physical racial abuse), I think it does show the naivety of the FOB Chinese in choosing to study in a very white place like Plymouth, rather like the naive FOBs choosing to set up a takeaway business in a very run down white area and wondering why they get racially abused. She probably heard the "Englishmen are all gentleman," line back home in China and assumed it was true.
ReplyDeleteIt also shows how overly tolerant Chinese people are towards racial abuse and discrimination (turn a blind eye), judging by her previous encounters, I'm sure she had second thoughts before deciding to report it to the police.
The worst thing about anti-Chinese racism is the way it escalates from casual racism. Im sure it wasnt 'Hey Chinese' more like 'hey Chinky' and as you say she just puts up with it.
ReplyDeleteThats the thing that whites just dont get. And when you get whites treat Chinese racism as a joke or 'harmless' off the cuff comments and Chinese ( BBCS included) who are trained to 'take it' and just overwhelmingly embrace white culture, unquestioningly its no wonder that anti-Chinese racism is still rife in this day and age, despite British Chinese being the ethnic group here.
Its because we still dont have a way to deal with it. Mentally, politically, collectively. Its just one of those things that are ignored. This incident is just yet another example. If theres anything British Chinese need its Chinese -anti-racism support group. Because unlike other groups, we still have to deal with it on our own, with no help from other Chinese, government, or anyone else. Its a very lonely experience. Pretending it doesnt exist,obviously wont help, either. We need practical organisations, but before then we need to acknowledge it to do something about it.
You are so right, some of the racism is so subtle it might go undetected so there is a need for experienced Chinese -anti-racism support. Let me give an example. Some few years ago I attended a "UK citizenship" ceremony in Scotland for a Mainland Chinese friend. The ceremony was nicely dressed up of course but I noticed that my friend was obliged to take an English name. I believe I was the only person in the room to realize that besides being blatant discrimination quite frankly the requirement had no foundation in law. Under SCOTS LAW anyone can call themselves what ever name they choose to all themselves so long a it is not done with the intention to defraud or otherwise thwart due legal process. Lke I said , it is subtle .
DeleteWe should all learn a bit of self-defense just in case shit like this happens. Having said that, hit back a little too hard and you'll run the risk of a police caution at the least, a criminal record and bye bye to your medical career.
ReplyDeleteI think that racism is a problem in many countries. China included. But it is totally unacceptable. Yes, it does sound that this person was a victim of abuse that was not racist in it's motive, just by someone who had an issue and wanted to take their anger out on someone defenceless. And the only thing they could call out was by their apparent race. But even this action is unacceptable.
DeleteI am a caucasian who has integrated into my local chinese community and I would stand and defend anyone in my local chinese church if I ever found some white guy being racist towards them. I would defend them against any type of abuse as I find this completely unacceptable behaviour and totally non-christian (I go to my local Christian Chinese Church most sundays).
^is a perfect example of why white people will never understand Chinese perspectives and why i never discuss chinese issues with white people in real life. surprise surprise you're from dimsum.co.uk - a perfect example of whats wrong with the readership of that website, the defunct pearl awards, prince andrew and sir david tang, chinese christians, Inter racially married chinese etc etc.
DeleteIt's true. Those in the majority ie the whites do not have an inkling how prevalent racism is. I experience it 10 times a day. You never stop being aware of it, and no im not oversensitive..Everyone loves a scapegoat and the Chinese are the biggest of them all..
Delete10 times a day! Do you work in a National Front pub?
DeleteExactly where is made in china Gokwan and his fat bruv?
ReplyDeleteThey don't get racism do they?
GOK! We cant wait to see your new China documentary where you get to add 1 billion Chinese to your twitter and call them chinky too! Quelle fantastique!
DeleteIf this sort of thing happened at my previous Uni which is not down alienated south, then most BBCs and chinese students would of rallied round and offer her support, others may of used this for their can't-do-maths high horse sociology thesis, my regret is we didn't stay in touch once we got our city jobs. having said that I remember for a brief period when i very young and didn't know many chinese, used hang around with a group of tough immature triad wannabe chinese types, once someone called us chinks and the whole gang (not me) kicked his head in, needless to say i avoid them soon, went to uni and lost contact.
ReplyDeleteNot to condon that the immature triad gang kicked the racists head in but if they did a good job, like the guy who did a job on the Plymouth student in the photo above, hopefully he learnt his lesson well not to be racist against another Chinese ever again.
DeleteViolence is never the answer... yet it seems to be the only thing that gets results. Would whites be as cautionary regarding insults and lack of violence (assaults on blacks tend to be from other blacks) if the black population were not perceived to be violent???
DeleteWhenever I hear of racially motivated crimes against Chinese people, I always wonder how the general public would have reacted had these crimes been directed against blacks or Asians. Would these crimes have received more publicity and generated more awareness? I hope they catch the perpetrators and charge them with a hate crime, which is what they deserve.
ReplyDeleteThey wont catch the culprits, they never do. And when they do, its never considered serious enough. Chinese in Britain dont care about our own due to our family-only based values, Police dont care. Public react only if they knew the victims personally. Same cycle over and over - should be mandatory for Chinese to care for other Chinese in Britain.
DeleteI think I will call it an open letter to Lord Nat Wei.
Because before we can talk about a 'Chinese Dream' we need a Samaritans Line for ethnic Chinese. If Chinese want to save face and not tell others out of fear of embarrassment the least we can have a phone number to offer help and encouragement.
If we are so geographically dispersed we need a communication network that empowers us in emergencies like this.
I wonder if she'll be marry a white guy so she can be "safe".
ReplyDeleteOh, the irony!
Delete@anon
DeleteOh man, in fits of laughter, thats a prawn kracker!
(still learning stand up)
LOL
DeleteThis is really sad to hear, thanks for posting this and keeping us aware of what's happening around the country. We Asians need to stick together and offer each other support not beat each other down.
ReplyDeleteAsians should stick to large towns and cities, its the small rundown areas that are full of sutpid self-hating idiots that take out their frustrations and inadequacies on others.
Also what a bastard and a bully he was to atttack a lone Chinese girl. If I saw him I would kick the shit out of him.
Okay so we are on the same page. Chinese female? Not speaking against white racism? Remember your last comment? British Chinese are geographically dispersed and displaced, thats just the way it is. When FOBS visit the UK its not like they say 'oh ill choose this place to go to because theres lots of Chinese' Manchester Birminham London etc, what if they have to go an obscure uni where theres no Chinese , just because?
DeleteThats why yes we need to offer support and also appeal for some kind of emergency line for these kind of incidents.
Re sticking together and not beat each other down. Its not beating others down. If you read this blog enough its called 'waking others up' . And if thats taliban, then excuse me, my online spelling game is calling.
ok, I am Asian, Sikh. I have just one question: Would BBChinese see me as enemy?. Just curious.......I wait with baited (curry) breath. Sorry, I'm allowed anyway....innit bro. But seriously I am asian/indian/sikh/british/alien.
ReplyDeleteDepends, do you see us as the enemy? As British? Be good to others, treat each other with respect and all is good. Have the same sort of attitude towards ethnic Chinese as the aggressors above...well what do you think?
DeleteI have seen Sikhs get fanatical about something - they hunt in packs, Maybe that is something we should do.
Sikhs...people who don't cut their hair. I was in Tokyo once and came across a bunch of Japanese Sikhs (complete with long hair, beards, and swords...)...wait...maybe they were the Samurai! I don't know...I have never seen a Chinese Sikh though....although I have seen Sikh men married to a Chinese women.
Delete"although I have seen Sikh men married to a Chinese women."
DeleteBut of course you have ! Chinese women marry anything... and unlike other races, the Chinese men do nothing.
Imagine the outrage in the Sikh community if a Chinese (or indeed any non Sikh) married a Sikh woman. That is why Chinese women are considered so easy, and even the most shy men have the confidence to chat up Chinese women - because the men do nothing in response.