The Seige of Xi'an

by the evening, Chinese government had declared martial law in Xi'an, capital city of Shannxi Province.

The day of Sept 15, 2012 started as an organized protest, but ended as riot with the city burning in flames. A convey of Porsche carried crossed-out Japanese flags proud led the way. Patriotic activities has become a new badge for China's 2nd gen riches. Last month, two young drivers driving a BMW and an Audi forced the Japanese Ambassador's convey to stop, then broke the Japanese flag on his car.

So far the protest has been tolerated, if not encouraged by the government. An intellectual described how he sneaked in the mob who were chanting anti-Japanese slogans in front of the Japanese embassy. He described how police supplied water and make sure everyone had a fair turn to express their anger.

Soon the protest turned into chaos. Angry mob vandalized Japanese brand cars on the streets, in parking lots. Japanese supermarket were looted. Japanese restaurant destroyed.

There would always be comedies, although dark ones in this case. This young man was seen holding a sign which read, 'I will mail-order a wife from Japan, then hang her up and beat her every day.'

By the end of the day, nineteen cities had seen riots against Japanese business and properties. In Wangfujing, heart of business in Beijing, an Armani store was destroyed, because mobs found Japanese characters on its banner. When desperate employee cried we were not a Japanese firm, a mob replied, 'yeah right, but Italy was also a fascist country on Japan's side (in WWII).'

Next, Qingdao of Shangdong Province, the birth place of the boxer uprising which led to a declaration of war against eleven countries in 1900.

The Court of Qing Dynasty quickly changed its mind when it was clear that boxers had caused more trouble then they could handle. An order was issued and soon hundreds of thousands of boxers were rounded up and executed, to appease foreign delegates.

As it says, history tends to repeat itself, the first time a tragedy, the second round a comedy. Does the communist Party really believe they can manipulate people's hatred risk-free?

Japanese embassy published anti-Japanese gathering information in multiple cities one day before they took place, based on messages spread on Weibo, Chinese version of Twitter. There is no excuse Chinese police were not alerted. Furthermore, propaganda censorship officers deliberately deleted messages calling for calm. Reporter Li Miao of the PhoenixTV complained that Weibo deleted her tweets reporting all Chinese visitors were not attacked in Japan. It's clear that the communist government just can't wait to see violence on the streets.

Two days later it will be the anniversary of September 18, 1931. Imperial Japanese Army attacked Chinese troops in Shenyang of Liaoning Province. Had the current violence not curtailed, no-one can be sure what might happen. Now the government of China holds a big bargain power against the Chinese intellectuals for tighter control and elimination of civil liberty.

It's nothing about the dispute with Japan, but all about the ruling power of the Party.

Japanese Cemetery Vandalized by Pro-Government Organization

Five "Anti-Japanese Hero" traveled to Fangzheng County of Heilongjiang Province to vandalize a Japanese cemetery. They hammered the tombstone, than poured paint over it. When they returned to Beijing, they received a welcome party and were rewarded CNY 2000 ($300) each.

The act was organized by Sima Nan, a director at the China Central TV (CCTV, the exclusive ministry-level national propaganda mouth piece), a protege of Fang Shimin (aka Fang Zhouzi).

Many believed the act was designed to off-set the attention on the government corruption unsealed by the bulletin train accident.

Another 'grass-root' organization, Anti-rumor alliance, also traces to Fang Zhouzi, through his private lawyer Peng Jian. The Anti-Rumor Alliance was co-founded by Dou Hanzhang of Renmin Universityand Wu Danhong of China University of Political Science and Law. Curious netizens noticed the Anti-Rumor Alliance held official Internet Publishing Permit, which was against CCP's own law. It is also found that the Anti-Rumor Alliance shares the registration account with previous 'grass-root' movement such as Anti-CNN, etc.

Pointing fingers to neighbors, in particular Japan, has been an old strategy employed by the CCP government. It always works, due to the not long ago history when China was invaded by Japanese Imperial Army and tens of millions of Chinese were brutally killed and slaughtered. It is a period of history that no Chinese should forget. However, just because of it's so heavy and so much pain, this history should not be exploited as a political tool.

The cemetery in Fangzheng county is a quiet place where many Japanese were buried. There is nothing glorifying but names of diseased on the tombstone that was vandalized.

Professor Guo Quan of Nanjing Normal University was a formal anti-Japanese advocate. In 2005, Guo vandalized WangZhi, a Chinese pirate with close tie to Japanese's tomb in Anhui. CCTV applauded for his brave at the time. In 2008, Professor Guo commented on government's handling of the Sichuan Earthquake. He was immediately thrown into custody. Guo is serving a 10 years jail time.

The Fighter Pilot and the Beauty

Wang Hanxun (front second from left), Deputy Commander of Fifth Wing, was shot down one year before the victory of Anti-Japanese war above Guilin, Guangxi Province.


Wang's fiancee, Zheng Pingru, was arrested in Shanghai and executed after a failed attempt to assassinate a collaborator Ding Mocun in occupied Shanghai.

The assassination was adopted by a recent movie Lust, Caution (Wikipedia, IMDB).

We will remember you.

Statue of General Zhang Zizhong in Tianjin

General Zhang Zizhong (1891-1940) was the highest ranking Chinese officer died in the battlefield during the war defending homeland from Japan invasion.

General Zhang was born in Linqing, Shangdong. He entered Tianjin Law and Government School in 1911. He was the mayor of Tianjin from 1936 to 1937. General Zhang visited Japan during April 28 to May 23 in 1937. Although he was sent by his commending officer Song Zheyuan, many Chinese saw the visit a poor judgement. At the time, it seemed General Zhang attempted to avoid a full scale war between China and Japan. In one instance, he ordered Chinese troops not to return fire even after Japanese army had started attacked Peking. He also stayed behind as a civilian political leader after Chinese troops retreated. These controversial moves made him a public enemy at the time.

Seeing diplomatic maneuver no longer a feasible option, he left Tianjin soon after its fell to Japan, and reassumed military command. Although the central government cleared him of any wrong doings, he was not forgiven by many Chinese at the time, and probably not by himself. In a scene of a biography movie of General Zhang, when he arrived home after fled from Japanese occupied Tianjin, he was shut out by his wife, and spit upon by his children. It is believed that General had the death wish of dying for the country on the battlefield, before the war would be lost.

Between 1937 and 1940, his troops participated in the battle of Taierzhuang as well as other battles. Each time, he would encourage his soldiers to die in a good place for a good cause. His troops was among the most effective Chinese military forces and won many major battles, often with high cost.

In May 1940, as the commanding officer of the 33rd Army Group, he led 2000 soldiers to intercept a much stronger Japanese attacking force. Some historian think General Zhang was by and large pessimistic on the outcome of the war, and this move was particular suicidal. Before he set out, he took his formal attire and wrote a letter to his associate commander, in which he said he was going to die for the country. General Zhang was out numbered and out gunned. He fought as a soldier after wounded several times to his death on May 16, 1940 in Nanguadian, Hubei. His command and his soldiers all died with him.

Many Chinese cities named roads after his name. In Tianjin, Zhang Zizhong Road and Zhao Dengyu (another general died defending homeland against Japanese invasion) Road accompanied each side of Haihe River winding through the city. In May 2, 2006, a bronze statue of General Zhang was erected on the intersection of Zhang Zizhong Road and Taian Road. The statue is made by professor Jing yumin of Tianjin Art Institute.