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My Take | How should diplomats respond to random racist insults of their countries?
- Racism exists everywhere and unless it is ongoing and systematic, there is no need for diplomatic attention
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European football club Real Madrid recently addressed concerns by the Chinese embassy in Spain over a fan’s “racist insult” towards China.
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But this begs the question: should diplomats – Chinese or otherwise – react to random acts of racism?
Last week, the Chinese embassy in Spain lodged a stern protest against what it called “insulting” remarks against China made by a Real Madrid fan.
This happened after a video went viral of a Chinese blogger conducting a post-match interview on the street in Britain, with the fan celebrating Real Madrid’s victory in the Uefa Champions League final. Upon learning that the blogger was Chinese, the fan sang a Spanish song said to contain racial slurs and insults towards Chinese women.
Claiming that the lyrics had to do with “celebrating Real Madrid’s victory”, the fan asked the blogger, who did not understand Spanish, to sing along with him. The blogger later learned the meaning of the lyrics and posted the video online.
In response, the club said it opposed the fan’s inappropriate behaviour, and rejected and condemned any form of racism and xenophobia. It added that the isolated incident went against the values and principles of Real Madrid and did not represent the club or the vast majority of its fans.
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