Peter Kammerer

Shades Off | Patriotism gone awry: China’s fragile ‘little pinks’ are on a dangerous Trump-like warpath

Beijing’s online defenders appear wholly committed to the nation but are damaging China’s image, harming its interests and causing divisions

Their latest target is rapper Namewee and his viral hit ‘Fragile’, but the behaviour it lampoons should give them and officials pause to reflect, not rage

Reading Time:3 minutes

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Students wave the flags of China and the Communist Party of China before celebrations in Beijing on July 1, 2021, to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. Photo: AFP

Peter Kammerer

Published: 6:15am, 3 Nov 2021

Hong Kong used to want the best and brightest people for the city. Now, all we hear from Beijing and local officials is that it’s “patriots” above all else who are important.

There’s obviously nothing wrong with being proud and protective of your country. But as important, and perhaps more so for the sake of a stable, fair and inclusive society, is to also stress morality, integrity and honesty.

I am hopeful authorities have not been so remiss as to ignore these basics when deciding who is a patriot. I do know, though, that the behaviour of some people who claim to be patriotic is found wanting. Of particular note are those hordes of pro-Beijing online trolls colloquially known as “little pinks”.

In blindly supporting all that the government and officials say and do, they spit hatred around the world through their “us against them” posts. They appear to be wholly committed to the nation but are also damaging China’s image, harming its interests and causing divisions.

Beijing could easily silence them by pulling the plug on their online accounts, just as it does to anyone it disagrees with or considers a threat. From time to time, it does so when their antics get out of control.

02:42

Beijing’s liaison office chief Luo Huining stresses principle of ‘patriots governing Hong Kong’

But mostly it allows them to point fingers, threaten and harass. For those not considered at one with the agenda, such behaviour can be a crime; for patriots, it’s usually fine.