读卖新闻 中国网络妖怪露出牙齿

每次游览完北京故宫（一个代表清代光荣的联合国教科文组织世界遗产），我总习惯走进里面的星巴克。在探索巨大的历史遗址后，对筋疲力尽的我来说，能在这个拥挤的世界旅游目的地的一家咖啡馆享用熟悉的香味真是太好了。

　　但我7月来访时，星巴克已经没了。

　　一些自封的爱国者视故宫星巴克为西方对中国文化的入侵。也有人说这是民族主义、仇外偏见，于是网上打响一次激烈的辩论。这个问题甚至得到全国人大的讨论。

　　然而，大多数中国人试图置身政治之外。因此管理故宫的组织做出折衷，允许星巴克留下，但说它不再获准独立管理。作为回应，星巴克决定关了这家店，认定保护它的品牌比拯救一家特定的店要重要得多。

　　鼓励星巴克自愿关店，从而回避任何政治后果，在中国，这是一个人人期许且普通的解决方案。

　　在星巴克故宫店关闭以后，那位首先引爆这场论战的年轻电视播音员表示“我很高兴”，但他看起来并不高兴。他曾在自己的博客上敦促星巴克关掉故宫店。他认为中国应该保护它的文化资产，就像日本在京都所做的那样。但投身论战的人们有自己的目的。许多人只是来享受一个公开指责美国的机会。

　　这位新闻播音员成为英雄，但他也遭到严厉的批评，说他是一个偏狭的民族主义者。鉴于这个问题激起民族主义风暴的方式，我个人怀疑星巴克故宫店的关闭会令他感到快乐。这位新闻广播员自己一直遭到网上怒潮的打击。

　　一名中国知识分子把关于这个事件的网上论战所体现仇外和民族主义称为“无头妖怪”。这个妖怪由情绪和本能的洪水所推动。有时候，它不仅影响网络，而且影响真实世界。星巴克事件和2005年的反日示威就是这个妖怪影响互联网之外的世界的例子。

　　中国政府密切留意这些可能引起社会经济不稳定的运动，但无意限制任何把中国描绘成受害者的爱国主义推广，北京愿意通过制造对外国敌人的恐惧鼓励国内的爱国主义。对于最近缅甸的亲民主示威，一些中国网站已经暗示这场运动是由美国策划的。

　　同时，在国庆七日假期里，故宫满是游客。在这个季节开始之前，星巴克原址上有一家新的咖啡馆开张了。咖啡再次香飘四邻。但新咖啡馆内部的一条标签说这家店卖传统的中国咖啡。以来自云南省的材料煮成，而且骄傲地列在菜单顶部——排在意大利浓咖啡之上。我问新咖啡馆和星巴克店有什么区别，一位店员不自在地笑了笑，“我们这里用中国的方式做事。”（作者 Hiroyuki Sugiyama）


China's Web 'monster' bares its teeth

Hiroyuki Sugiyama / Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent

Whenever visiting Beijing's Forbidden City--a UNESCO World Heritage site that represents the glory of the Qing dynasty--I always used to end by popping into the Starbucks that lay within the city's walls.

After tiring myself out exploring the huge historic site, it was nice to enjoy some familiar flavors in the coffee shop that stood in a busy part of the world tourist destination.

But when I visited in July, the Starbucks had gone.

Some self-proclaimed patriots regarded the Starbucks shop in the Forbidden City as a Western invasion of Chinese culture. Others said this was nationalistic, xenophobic prejudice, and a vigorous debate on the question raged over the Internet. The issue was even discussed by the National People's Congress.

Most Chinese try to stay out of politics, however, as they know well how dangerous it can get in this country. So the body managing the Forbidden City compromised by allowing the Starbucks to stay, but saying it was no longer allowed to be independently managed. In response, Starbucks decided to close the branch, deciding that protecting its brand identity was more important than saving that particular store.

Encouraging Starbucks to voluntarily shut down the shop and thus avoiding any political fallout was an expected and normal solution in China.

"I'm happy," said the young TV newscaster who first ignited the debate over the Starbucks shop after the outlet was closed down. But he did not look happy.

He had urged Starbucks to close the coffee shop in the Forbidden City on his blog in January. He felt that China should protect its cultural properties just as Japan has done in Kyoto.

But people jumped on the battle between the body managing the Forbidden City and Starbucks for their own reasons. Many just enjoyed a chance to denounce the United States.

The newscaster was set up as a hero, but he was also heavily criticized as an intolerant nationalist.

Personally, I doubt that closure of the Starbucks outlet has now made him happy, given the way the issue has whipped up a nationalistic storm. The newsreader himself has been buffeted by the angry waves rocking the Internet.

A Chinese intellectual described the xenophobia and nationalism observed in Internet debates on the issue as a "headless monster."

The monster is driven by a flood of emotion and instinct. Sometimes it can affect the real world, not just the Internet.

The Starbucks issue and the anti-Japan rallies in 2005 are among the examples of the monster's influence on the world outside the Internet.

The Chinese communist government pays close attention to movements that can cause socioeconomic instability, such as unauthorized demonstrations and the boycotting of foreign products.

But the government shows little desire to restrict anything that promotes patriotism by portraying China as a victim. Like all authoritarian regimes, Beijing likes to foster patriotism at home by creating a fear of foreign enemies. Concerning the recent pro-democracy demonstrations in Myanmar, some Chinese Web sites have suggested the movement was masterminded by the United States.

Meanwhile, the Forbidden City was filled with tourists throughout the seven consecutive holidays beginning Oct. 1, National Day. Before the season began, a new cafe opened on the site that had been occupied by Starbucks. The aroma of coffee once again wafted through the neighborhood.

But a sign inside the new cafe says the shop sells traditional Chinese coffee. This is brewed with beans from Yunnan Province, and takes pride of place at the top of the menu--above the Italian espresso.

When I asked about difference between the new cafe and the Starbucks shop, a cafe employee, who I believe knew all about the fuss, said with an uneasy smile, "We do things the Chinese way here."