To get the economy back on track, China is trying to champion its domestic companies and reassure entrepreneurs that it’s ready for business.
Its efforts are running into a problem: an online army of Chinese nationalists who have taken it upon themselves to punish perceived insults to the country — including from some of China’s leading business figures.
When fellow tycoons defended him, they were attacked as well, by users whose profiles featured photos of the Chinese flag.
As the fervor spread, social media users also hounded Huawei, the crown jewel of China’s tech industry, accusing it of secretly admiring Japan.
Others accused a prestigious university of being too cozy with the United States, and demanded the works of a Nobel-winning Chinese author be removed from circulation for purportedly smearing national heroes.
Persons:
unpatriotic, tycoons
Organizations:
Huawei
Locations:
China, United States, Japan