Chinese Consulate Fire Suspect Arrested, Depriving Angry China of Propaganda Value

Since my previous post on this incident was submitted, a suspect has been arrested in the New Year’s Day arson attack on the Chinese consulate in San Francisco. The suspect, who turned himself in to authorities and made a full confession of guilt, is a Chinese national who claims to have set the fire because “voices” in his head told him to do so. The United States has also offered to pay for damage repairs at the consulate. China clearly wants a fight, however, and isn’t satisfied with mere facts or American goodwill.

No one was harmed in the attack, and damage to the consulate was not extensive enough to prevent normal operations resuming immediately. The attack was apparently not in any way terror-related or politically-motivated, but an isolated attack by a single disturbed individual as the nature of the attack itself immediately suggested.  It seems appropriate therefore, to focus on the implications of the attack and its outcome for U.S.-China relations rather than the attack itself. From this angle it is the U.S. that has come out looking like a true world leader and China like a rank amateur.

Beijing was quick to jump on the attack for its anti-U.S. propaganda value and as an opportunity to be seen flexing its muscles internationally in China’s defense. Chinese state-run media pointed fingers of blame at the United States, calling the incident a “U.S. security failure” and evidence of anti-China attitudes in the United States. Pro-government Chinese netizens, meanwhile, called the attack an act of American racism, terrorism, and imperialism against China. Now we learn that the suspect is a Chinese national residing in the United States who carried out the attack because of mental problems he likely brought with him from China. This effectively deprives China of any anti-U.S. propaganda value from the incident. Has this changed China’s tone on the matter? Of course not.

Rather, it appears that China wishes to remain on an adversarial footing with the United States. A short statement by the consulate following the arrest included no expression of gratitude either for the quick action by U.S. authorities or for the U.S. offer to pay for repairs. In fact, there was no mention whatsoever of the U.S. offer to pay for repairs or of the suspect’s Chinese citizenship. Instead, the statement tersely demanded “that the perpetrator be brought to justice” and lectured the U.S. “to learn lessons from this incident, take effective measures to ensure the safety, security and dignity of Chinese diplomatic and consulate missions and staff in the U.S. and prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.” A country better-prepared for the position of world leadership China seeks would obviously be a tad more gracious and more forthcoming with pertinent details. China, however, just wants to play the tough guy.

Angry netroots nationalists in China, meanwhile, have reacted predictably to news of the arrest. Undeterred by simple reality, many are now accusing the United States of a cover-up and of protecting terrorists. “The American devils are deliberately concealing the truth and covering up the crime” (美国鬼子在刻意掩盖事实真相，包庇犯罪), said one commenter. Said another: “Looking forward to the end of the United States and the demise of this trash” (期待美国这个垃圾的末日和灭亡). Such warped thinking is the result of a lifetime of educational brainwashing and media propaganda from the Chinese government.

Throughout this affair, the United States has behaved toward China as a responsible and mature diplomatic partner. China, on the other hand, has behaved like a petulant child. As a presumed world leader, China has demonstrated once more that it is not ready for prime time.