Embassy apologizes for comparing Chinese students to dogs,but...

Review: Embassy visa office compares Chinese students to dogs?

The US embassy in Beijing apologized in response to a post comparing Chinese students visiting the US with dogs, a Hong Kong-based media reported on Thursday. However, Chinese netizens refused to accept the apology for being insincere and unofficial, saying that the US embassy should behave and offer an open apology. 

The controversial post was published on Wednesday by the embassy's visa office on Sina Weibo. The post, published before the announcement of the reopening of visa applications said that "as spring blossoms, are you the same as the puppy, eager to go out and play?" 

The post shows a video of a dog struggling to jump over a fence from a tiny balcony and trying to get out, which soon ignited the anger of Chinese netizens as many feel the US embassy compared Chinese students with dogs. 

In the Chinese context, comparing people with dogs is insulting. A large number of Chinese netizens expressed their anger at the post with some even accusing it of "blatant racism."

Some netizens pointed out that there are cultural differences between China and the US, and that in American culture, comparing a human being to a dog is not insulting. However, many more pointed out that they should be aware of cultural differences as diplomatic representatives.

The embassy said the post was meant to be lighthearted and humorous but it was taken down immediately when they saw it had not been received in that spirit, Hong Kong-based media outlet, South China Morning Post (SCMP), reported on Thursday.

"We have the utmost respect for all Chinese people, certainly including Chinese students. We apologize if anyone was offended. That was certainly not our intention," a spokesperson from the embassy said according to the SCMP. 

But Chinese netizens were not satisfied with the apology and demanded that the US embassy publicly provide an explanation and an apology on Sina Weibo, rather than responding only to media outside the Chinese mainland.

Source:globaltimes

Editor: Crystal H

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