China’s Pink Contingent
China surprises everyone. Those who expect to find brotherhood in the motherland have been surprised. Those who expected to see widespread poverty and starvation under the big, bad communists have been surprised. Those who thought that every Chinese man on the street carries a rich cultural and historical baggage have been surprised. Western democracy advocates who thought that the Red Guards are still in charge have been surprised.
It’s been 60 years since the communist chased the KMT out of the mainland. Chinese nationals all over the world are celebrating, though I can never be sure what they are actually celebrating. I’m not sure about our table tennis players who are technically not Chinese nationals, but there are many Chinese nationals who definitely not in the mood to celebrate. For these “rebels” (who would have been quickly put to death in the days of emperors), they saw it as 60 years of oppression, propaganda and show of might at the expense of basic welfare, justice and opportunities for the common people.
With 1.3 billion people, it’s not surprising that there should be more than one opinion or sentiment when it comes to national pride. With so many creative minds around, it will also only be a matter of time that someone comes up with the idea of a female contingent in pink dresses, white boots and rifles. Who says the Japanese rule in this area?
And with the continued colonisation by this “pink army” (which won’t need to serve NS in Singapore), it’s probably only a matter of time that we see China flags hanging out of HDB flats.
