Chinese Internet Users Troll Denmark’s Coronavirus Cartoon By ‘Fixing’ Its Flag
Image via Shutterstock
A coronavirus-themed cartoon by Danish daily newspaper Jyllands-Posten made its rounds across the world, sparking a response by the Chinese embassy itself.
The controversial illustration depicts the Chinese flag with its stars being replaced with coronavirus particles. China demanded an apology for the “insulting” portrayal, but the Danish publication expressed no remorse for publishing the artwork.
Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen also defended the illustration by explaining that the country had “freedom of expression.”
The outbreak of the coronavirus has spurred a wave of racist stereotypes and xenophobia. Victoria, Australia-based The Herald Sun labeled the virus as a “Chinese Virus,” driving thousands to sign a petition seeking an apology. UC Berkeley also assured students in an Instagram post that xenophobia was a “common reaction” to the pandemic.
As detailed by Tim Soutphommasane, a professor at the University of Sydney and former race-discrimination commissioner, while the coronavirus started in China, “viral diseases don’t have ethnic, racial or national characteristics,” he told the New York Times.
In response to Denmark’s non-apology, Chinese netizens on social network Weibo have decided to give the country a taste of its medicine by replacing the cross in its flag with contentious symbols.
The Danish flag was edited to feature visuals like the Swastika, a bloodied sanitary pad and the phrase “four hours,” referencing Denmark’s prompt surrender to Germany during World War II.
#丹麦 pic.twitter.com/u1VcWihRf0
— 妖魔鬼怪快离开 (@bZMgnLs55gYvmL2) January 30, 2020
#Denmark #丹麦 Freedom of expression pic.twitter.com/yJt0wlTia4
— Doraemon (@Doraemo96253398) January 30, 2020
According to Article 110 of the Danish Criminal Law: Anyone who publicly insults a foreign flag, or other recognized flag, will be fined or imprisoned for up to two years. Serious double-labeled Danish dog! Look at your own criminal law #Denmark pic.twitter.com/e5eZV5AKmw
— 一粒废米 (@Z2I7w) January 30, 2020
Some Chinese netizens are calling to boycott Danish brands after the country refused to give an apology over the cartoon flag published in @jyllandsposten , depicted a Chinese flag with the yellow stars exchanged for drawings of the new #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/WUnutCu0mi
— Keith Zhai (@QiZHAI) January 30, 2020
[via Wang Feng, images via various sources]
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