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Nectar Gan

The attacks on two mainland Chinese men at Hong Kong airport on Tuesday evening by anti-government protesters have set off a firestorm of criticism on the mainland.
The two men – Fu Guohao, who was later identified as a reporter from the state-owned Global Times tabloid, and Xu Jinyang – were mobbed and assaulted by Hong Kong protesters, who suspected they were undercover agents.
News of the attacks spread like wildfire on the mainland, where public sentiment towards Hong Kong has already hardened over the past weeks following a state-led propaganda campaign to discredit the protests.
Within hours of the attacks, state media started posting condemnations of the protesters and sought to rally support for the two victims.




Fu, who was rescued by Hong Kong police and later treated in hospital, was hailed by some internet users as a national hero and applauded for standing up to his attackers.
Many websites shared a video clip of the chaos on Tuesday night when Fu was surrounded by black-clad protesters who tied his hands.
Fu told the protesters in English that he was a tourist and also said in Mandarin: “I support Hong Kong police. You can beat me now.”
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He did not show any press credentials and was found with a T-shirt in his backpack featuring the phrase “I love HK police” – a major slogan from pro-government rallies in recent weeks.
Hu Xijin, Global Times’ editor-in-chief, on Wednesday condemned “the illegal detention and serious acts of violence”, adding that he saluted Fu for “not surrendering to the rioters” on behalf of the newspaper.
Beijing has made it clear that any deployment of military forces to Hong Kong to quell the unrest would be in accordance with the law
People’s Daily, the Communist Party’s mouthpiece, praised Fu for his “manliness”.
“Let’s remember Fu Guohao and his awe-inspiring righteousness while being held,” it said in a widely shared post on the microblogging site Weibo. “This is what a dignified and upright Chinese should be like.”
Hong Kong airport battles to return to normal after protest chaos
On Wednesday, Beijing’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong sent a deputy director to visit Fu in Shenzhen, relaying the message that “the attackers at the airport don’t represent Hong Kong people”.
In a report released by the Liaison office, Fu was quoted as saying: “I always love Hong Kong ... I am afraid that all these reports on television about what these extremists did to me would spread to the mainland, leading to confrontation between the mainland and Hong Kong.”

But some social media users, whose nationalist anger has been whipped up by an intensive propaganda campaign to discredit the pro-democracy movement, also expressed anger towards the central government for failing to resolve the crisis in Hong Kong and criticised its apparent reluctance to take tougher action.
“How many Chinese will have sleepless nights? Our state power should take action now!” read a Weibo comment.
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“If no further measures are taken, both the central and Hong Kong governments will lose people’s hearts! Too much restraint amounts to connivance,” said another.
Beijing has made it clear that any deployment of military forces to Hong Kong to quell the unrest would be in accordance with the law.
It has also flexed its muscles by staging large-scale anti-riot drills across the border in Shenzhen, but analysts have said that deploying the People’s Liberation Army remains an unlikely last resort, given the high political costs for Beijing.




In a sign of an attempt to pacify the boiling nationalist rage, the carefully curated Weibo comment sections for People’s Daily and state broadcaster CCTV were dominated by appeals for calm and – more importantly – for the public to have faith in the central government’s ability to handle the situation.
“Everyone please calm down and be rational. The central [government] must have its own plans that we may not know. We should keep cool and support the [government] resolutely,” read one such post. “Please don’t get emotional, and certainly not exert any pressure on the [government].”
But some remained unconvinced. “It is only because the central [government] has kept holding off from taking action that we have come to a situation like this today. How can one trust [the central government]?” a comment read.

Fang Kecheng, an assistant professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said nationalism has always been a double-edged sword for the party-state.
“In the pre-social media era, the angry nationalists would march in the streets to protest. Such movements are deemed very dangerous by the party-state and need to be suppressed,” said Fang, who has studied Chinese internet nationalism.
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“In the era of social media, angry netizens’ call for government intervention could also undermine the legitimacy of the party-state. It shows the limitations and risks of the nationalism campaign.”
Thousands of mostly young, masked protesters turned up the intensity of their previously peaceful sit-ins at Hong Kong airport this week to put pressure on the city government, which has so far refused to make any concessions.




Many were outraged by police officers’ increased use of force on Sunday, citing a serious eye injury suffered by a young woman and arrests made by undercover officers dressed as protesters.
While scuffles and loud arguments broke out as demonstrators blocked travellers – including mainlanders – from boarding their flights in the afternoon, it was the violent turn of events in the evening that ignited the uproar on the mainland.
Fu and Xu both were discharged from hospital on Wednesday.

“In Hong Kong, I complied with everything a citizen should do. I didn’t do anything unlawful or behave in a way that would stir up controversy,” Fu said as dozens of supporters gave him a hero’s welcome as he left hospital. “I think I should not be treated violently.”
The All-China Journalists’ Association, the mainland’s official journalists’ group, condemned the violence and called on the authorities to deal severely with the attackers.
Additional reporting by Elizabeth Cheung


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Hong Kong protests

Hong Kong airport attacks trigger nationalist frenzy in mainland China

Global Times reporter Fu Guohao was tied up by protesters at Hong Kong airport. Photo: Sam Tsang

Paramedics takes away reporter Fu Guohao's who is tied up by anti-government protestors, Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok. He was the second mainland Chinese man to have been tied up by protestors at the airport on Tuesday evening. The protestors have continued their demonstration for the second consecutive day, forcing check in services to be suspended and flights cancelled. 13AUG19 SCMP / Sam Tsang

Global Times reporter Fu Guohao's belongings (including a 'I Love Hong Kong Police' print-tee), Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok. He was the second mainland Chinese man to have been tied up by protestors at the airport on Tuesday evening. Anti-extradition bill protestors have continued their demonstration for the second consecutive day, forcing check in services to be suspended and flights cancelled. 13AUG19 SCMP / Felix Wong

People's Daily social media flier with the beaten up Global Times correspondent Fu Guohao's quote at HK airport "I support Hong Kong police. You may beat me now. Photo: Weibo

Hong Kong airport struggles to pick up pieces after 1,000 flights grounded as security tightened after court order secured to clear protesters

The full impact of the airport protests only became clear on Wednesday when the number of flights affected was revealed. Photo: Dickson Lee

Riot police use pepper spray to disperse anti-extradition bill protesters during a mass demonstration after a woman was shot in the eye, at the Hong Kong international airport, in Hong Kong.  13AUG19 SCMP / Sam Tsang

The Airport Authority has obtained a court injunction to confine protesters to two corners of the arrival hall (the two As marked yellow).  14AUG19 HANDOUT PHOTO

A flight departure information board displays cancelled journeys and estimated flight times during a protest at the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, China, on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019. Protests forced Hong Kong's airport to suspend check-ins for departing flights -- its second straight day of major service disruptions -- as embattled local leader Carrie Lam warned that the city risked sliding into an "abyss." Photographer: Kyle Lam/Bloomberg

epa07758645 Xu Luying, spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council, holds a press conference in Beijing, China, 06 August 2019. China's top office for handling Hong Kong affairs has had its second press briefing on Hong Kong unrest in two weeks. EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Reporter Fu Guohao's who is tied up by anti-government protestors, Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok. He was the second mainland Chinese man to have been tied up by protestors at the airport on Tuesday evening. The protestors have continued their demonstration for the second consecutive day, forcing check in services to be suspended and flights cancelled. 13AUG19 SCMP / Sam Tsang

Anti-government protestors denied entry into the Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok - as a result of anti-government protestors occupying the airport for the last two days, forcing flights to be cancelled and leaving travellers stranded. Last night's peaceful demonstration descended into chaos as protestors clashed with riot police and tied up two mainland Chinese men. 14AUG19 SCMP / Dickson Lee

Hong Kong protesters apologise for disruption at airport, plan to suspend demonstrations

Protesters place a placard in the airport apologising for the trouble on Tuesday. Photo: Kimmy Chung

Over than 5,000 demonstraters are returning to the Hong Kong International Airport on Lantau Island on Monday with anger triggered by a female protester who was shot and feared losing her eye a day before amid protests.  12AUG19. SCMP/ Felix Wong

Spencer Ho, the men in right hand side, was distributing water and food to tourists being affected, and more importantly, taking the chance to apologise for the clashes happened on Tuesday night. Photo:SCMP/Kimmy Chung

Paramedics takes care of the tied up mainland Chinese man whom was suspected of being an undercover agent sent from mainland, Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok. The protestors have continued their demonstration for the second consecutive day, forcing check in services to be suspended and flights cancelled. 13AUG19 SCMP / Felix Wong

Mrs Lau are making paper flowers with words of âWe are so sorryâ on it, hoping to spread the messages to tourists and residents.  Photo:SCMP/Kimmy Chung

Anti-government protesters fill the arrive hall at the Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok. This massive demonstration is sparked by the attack on a female protester who could possibly lose the eyesight of her right eye as a result of police violence. 13AUG19 SCMP/ Sam Tsang

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US President Donald Trump says he hopes the crisis in Hong Kong will be settled without casualties. Photo: AFP

epa07772211 A handout satellite image made available by Maxar Technologies shows military and security vehicles parked in the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center, in Shenzhen, China, 12 August 2019 (issued 14 August 2019). According to media reports, military and security vehicles from the People's Armed Police have gathered in Shenzhen, a city in southeastern China which borders Hong Kong. The special administrative region of Hong Kong has been gripped for weeks by mass protests, which began in June 2019 over a now-suspended extradition bill and have developed into an anti-government movement. EPA-EFE/SATELLITE IMAGE ©2019 MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES / HANDOUT MANDATORY CREDIT: SATELLITE IMAGE ©2019 MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES - The watermark may not be removed/cropped HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

Global Times journalist beaten by Hong Kong protesters given hero’s welcome after being discharged from hospital

Fu Guohao is surrounded by protesters after having his hands tied together at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: Reuters

Global Times reporter Fu Guohao talks to the media at Princess Margaret Hospital in Hong Kong. 14AUG19 SCMP/Elizabeth Cheung

Court issues injunction order to remove protesters from Hong Kong airport terminal after they clash with riot police

Anti-government protesters at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: Felix Wong

A woman cries out as she attempts to navigate through the crowd of anti-government protestors at the departure hall of the Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok, as they attempt to paralyse one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs for a second consecutive day. 13AUG19 SCMP / Sam Tsang

Anti-extradition bill protester in Tai Wai - the protesters pressed on with the march despite the police ban on several protest marches that were scheduled for this weekend, in Wong Tai Sin, Tai Po, Sham Shui Po and east Hong Kong Island. 10AUG19 SCMP / Sam Tsang

A lady gets emotional as he attempts to navigate through the crowd of anti-government protestors at the Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok, as they attempt to paralyse one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs for a second consecutive day. 13AUG19 SCMP / Sam Tsang

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, arrives to meet the media before reconvening the Executive Council, Central Government Offices, Tamar. 13AUG19 SCMP / Nora Tam

A police officer (right) draws and points his gun at the airport. Photo: Felix Wong

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Tuesday night’s attacks prompt widespread outrage on social media
State media praises the two injured men, but some commentators criticise the central government over its perceived failure to take tougher action



State media praises the two injured men, but some commentators criticise the central government over its perceived failure to take tougher action.
