'I'm Not Chinese' T-shirt Slogan Sparks 'Anger' Among Chinese Netizens...Racial Discrimination Controversy Ensues

"Accused of Inciting Racism and Separatist Behavior" Criticism

A T-shirt with the phrase "I am not Chinese" has appeared on Twitter, sparking controversy over racial discrimination. Photo by Global Times capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spreads worldwide, T-shirts bearing the phrase "I am not Chinese" have appeared in some regions such as Europe, sparking controversy over racial discrimination. This is because anti-China sentiment has been growing in some Western countries due to the impact of COVID-19.

On the 7th, China's state-run Global Times reported that several photos of T-shirts were posted on Twitter recently with the caption "Clothing for Asians to protect themselves."

The T-shirts shown in the photos have phrases such as "I am not Chinese," "I am not Chinese but Taiwanese," and "I am Asian but not Chinese."

In particular, these T-shirts were known to have been sold at an overseas clothing online store before the COVID-19 outbreak. It is also reported that they have recently spread online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As this content spread online, Chinese netizens criticized it, saying it "could encourage racial discrimination and separatist behavior amid the COVID-19 crisis."

The Global Times pointed out, "With the global spread of COVID-19, Chinese people living abroad are suffering from the double burden of infection concerns and racial discrimination," adding, "Such tweets pour fuel on the fire of racial discrimination."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.