JAKARTA/HANOI (Reuters) - The coronavirus outbreak has stoked a wave of anti-China sentiment around the globe, from shops barring entry to Chinese tourists, online vitriol mocking the country's exotic meat trade and surprise health checks on foreign workers. The virus, which originated in China,
JAKARTA/HANOI - The coronavirus outbreak has stoked a wave of anti-China sentiment around the globe, from shops barring entry to Chinese tourists, online vitriol mocking the country's exotic meat trade and surprise health checks on foreign workers.
"Orientalist assumptions plus political distrust plus health concerns are a pretty powerful combination," said Charlotte Setijadi, and anthropologist who teaches at Singapore Management University. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a faxed request for comment. China has said the virus outbreak should not be politicised.
But this is not enough for hundreds of thousands of people in South Korea and Malaysia who have signed online petitions urging authorities to ban Chinese from visiting their countries. But earlier this week, a group of Chinese tourists in Padang, in Indonesia's West Sumatra, were met by locals holding a banner that read:"We, the West Sumatran Communities, reject the visit of Chinese tourists."
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Wuhan coronavirus: Apple, Google, others close China offices, halt flights - Business InsiderWuhan coronavirus leads Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft to close China locations and suspend employee travel unless 'business critical'
Read more »
Here's how FedEx is responding to the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, ChinaFedEx is taking measures to keep employees in China healthy in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
Read more »
China virus evacuations begin as death toll risesThe death toll in China's Hubei province, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, has risen to 170, the state media reported.
Read more »
Airlines suspend, scale back direct flights to China amid virus fearsGlobal airlines on Wednesday suspended or scaled back more direct flights to Chi...
Read more »
Google temporarily shutting down all China officesAlphabet Inc's Google said on Wednesday it is temporarily shutting down all...
Read more »
Google closing China offices amid coronavirus outbreakThe company is temporarily shutting down its four China offices and
Read more »