After the arrest of Hong Kong activists on the disputed Diaoyu (Senkaku) Islands, Photoshopped images are not the only thing rankling netizens today. People have also called foul on a Global Times editorial titled “Coordination Needed to Succeed in Diaoyu.” Besides the expected claims to Chinese sovereignty over the uninhabited islands, the paper sternly lectures:
Chinese society needs to understand that grass-roots activists for Diaoyu are being backed by the State. While there is no open official support of the activists landing on Diaoyu, that does not mean these activists are acting on their own. Their safe trip to Diaoyu, and eventual safe return, are both the result of China’s national strength.
…Meanwhile, Chinese need to be clear that China cannot retrieve the Islands now. This would mean a large-scale war, which is not in China’s interests.
Plenty of netizens are not buying this argument, but they are quickly being shushed. Sina Weibo has disabled the commenting function on some posts linking to this article, including, ironically, on @SinaComment (新浪新闻). (Since the screenshot below was posted, five bland comments have appeared.) NetEase and other portals have also limited discussion.
The comment function (lower left) was disabled on this Weibo post.
CDT Chinese has gathered a few of the more interesting comments on the subject:
BlueNetizen: At the time of maintaining stability dominants everything elses, where do you get the strength to protect the Diaoyu Islands? When the underclass is looking down the barrel of a gun, how can they start a “war?” The subjects of the Celestial Empire need to be clear on this point: this country doesn’t belong to you, it belongs to the “representatives.” “Protecting Diaoyu” just causes trouble for the representatives! I bet as soon as the spotlight moves these protesters will be arrested.
蓝色的网民：稳定压倒一切的时刻，哪儿有精力保钓？！枪口炮口对着贱民，又怎么会发动”战争“？！兲朝人要搞清楚一个事实：这个国家不是你们的，是”代表“们的。你们的所谓”保钓“，是给代表们添乱啊！！我去，风头一过，明儿就抓起来。
LonelyParasolTree: F**k that, it’s not in the interests of a certain Party. Their wives and kids and assets are all in the U.S. Because the U.S. and Japan are on friendly terms, if we go to war with Japan the U.S. will confiscate or freeze all of their assets and take their families hostage.
寂寞梧桐锁清邱：擦，不符合某党的利益吧。老婆孩子资产都在美国呢。因为美日有安保协定，一旦和日本开战了，全被美国充公冻结当人质了。
HelpaBrotherMakeBooze: Reading this article is like swallowing a fly. The whole thing is for a domestic audience. If it isn’t blaming the outsiders it’s making hardline negotiations, like a little shrew of a woman.
赵兄托你帮我整点酒：看了这篇文章像吞了一只苍蝇一般。通篇都是对内的解释，对外不是抗议就是严正交涉，跟个小娘们一般
FaroffQingpingBay: Medvedev can make a show of his visit Kunashir Island. Lee Myung-bak can pay a very public call on Dokdo. Instead of a bunch of ordinary people “backed by the State,” it would be better to send our esteemed Chairman HU to walk around Diaoyu himself and enjoy the sea breeze.
我的遥远的清平湾：梅德韦杰夫可以强势登陆国后岛，李明博亦可以强势访问独岛，与其把几个民间人士登钓鱼岛说成是综合国力的体现，不如让我们敬爱的HU主席亲自到钓鱼岛上走一走吹吹海风。
weiweizi_hw: Oh yeah, all their investment has gone into stability maintenance. There’s nothing left for retrieving the Islands.
weiweizi_hw：嗯，是啊，都投入到维稳当中了，哪还有人去夺岛。
TotalPossession: I demand the chengguan go to Diaoyu. Lend me 3000 chengguan and return the might of China!
左宜右有兮：强烈要求城管登上钓鱼岛，借我三千城管，复我浩荡中华
Via CDT Chinese.
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