Mixed online reaction to Chinese students attacked in France

An attack on six oenology students from China studying in the south of France has sparked mixed reactions from Chinese users on social media today.

Chinese tourists in France AFP/Pierre Andrieu

The students, likely the children of wealthy officials in China who can afford to send them to study abroad, were described by France’s interior minister as the victims of xenophobia.

On the internet, many Chinese who caught wind of the incident denounced the victims who they said belonged to wealthy government officials. “Those who can afford to study abroad are either the children of government officials or rich families”, said one user. “They’re not worthy of sympathy” another user responded.

The students were attacked in the early hours of Saturday, in Hostens near Bordeaux, one of France’s main wine-producing regions. Two of the three alleged attackers were detained and now in police custody. One of the females attacked was seriously hurt after having a wine bottle thrown at her.

The topic of politicians sending their children abroad to study sparks much resentment across China, but it is rarely discussed by the country’s controlled press, which is rarely allowed to discuss the family life of senior officials.

The fact that these students were probably coming from wealthy or official families was a main idea circulating among Chinese internet users.

However, other comments were also in heavy rotation, mainly that of France no longer being a welcoming country to visitors from China. “This is too far for the French people. My impression of the France used to be quite good, but now it’s damaged” said one user.

Speaking today just before the grand opening of the large wine fair in Bordeaux, Vinexpo, the minister of Agriculture Stéphane Le Foll spoke out against the attack, calling it a shameful and xenophobic act that tarnishes the “image of France” and should be dealt with immediately by the law.