A Very Dark Day for the Chinese

Last night, I attended a forum organized by CBC Radio One about China. The panelists were generally positive about the future of this rising power. On the same day, the Chinese national soccer team defeated the team from Hong Kong in a stunning 7-0 victory, but China was still kept out of the next World Cup. While accusations against the HK team were flying, it was the behaviour of the Chinese soccer fans that saddened me.

Before and during the game, Chinese fans were urging HK to lose the game, so that China could enter the World Cup Final Weeks the 2nd time. How disgraceful? And how ironic when I was sitting in the forum listening to diplomats, academics and journalists who sympathetically expressed their relative optimism about this country? We all know what makes a great culture/civilization is not so much about economy, military might, or political influence; but it has everything to do with the quality of its people. This time, the Chinese soccer fans have proved their "nationalism" is of such a low level that they should be ashamed of themselves in the eyes of an international community. Just on the basis of their behaviour, I am grateful that they are shut out of the opportunity to go to Germany in 2006.

Granted, international soccer hooliganism is a much bigger phenomenon, and the behaviour of many soccer fans around the world makes the Chinese fans' behaviour seem plain and even harmless. Should we aspire to higher standards of behaviour, or should we be contend that we are better than the worst? I think the answer is too clear.