School to discipline student for online post

A postgraduate student is facing disciplinary action from a university in Fujian province after she used a word in a social media post that is considered offensive because of its link with the Japanese invasions of China in the 20th century.

Tian Jialiang, who posts on Sina Weibo under the name Jiejieliang, commented on someone else’s post showing a large amount of rubbish on the ground after a Marvel Studios fan event in Shanghai on Thursday, writing “disgusting Shina”.

Her comment quickly went viral, with many Chinese outraged at her use of “Shina”, a Japanese name for China that was neutral before the invasions but acquired highly negative connotations since the early 20th century, especially during and after the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).

The word was widely used as a slur by the Japanese and reminds many Chinese today of war crimes. The Chinese government demanded Japan stop using it in 1946.

Xiamen University issued a statement on Saturday night confirming that the comment was posted by a postgraduate student and said an inquiry had been launched.

Tian, a member of the Communist Party of China, will receive strict disciplinary action from the university and its Party Committee for her inappropriate comment, the university said.

Some netizens expressed disapproval through online comments or private messages, but Tian, who has since deleted her Sina Weibo account, did not admit she had done anything wrong.

In her final post, she wrote: “It doesn’t mean I feel guilty about my post by deleting my account. You can argue that my wording is inappropriate, but I have the right to argue back when people start to insult me. All I want to do is show my disapproval of those who were not civic-minded at the event.”

The Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China said the public was disappointed in the use of the term — and by the fact that such a comment was made by a Party member.

The incident shows that some students join the Party just to get a good job, it said, and that some Party organizations focus on grades and fail to thoroughly assess individuals when recruiting them.