Four Cornell College instructors injured in a stabbing attack at a popular Chinese tourist attraction raise fears of “extreme nationalism.”

By Lisa Peryman | Special to Probe International

In the wake of initial reports circulated online that four foreigners had been attacked and stabbed on June 10 in northeast China’s Beishan Park, a popular tourist attraction in the city of Jilin, another story quickly emerged.

Online posts shared by netizens accompanied by video footage of the injured victims (described as Western tourists), showed the victims on the ground appearing to bleed heavily surrounded by locals. Some netizens added explanations as to why no one seemed to be stepping in to help, pointing to the country’s notorious bystander effect: a subject of much debate over the years and one the implementation of China’s Good Samaritan law in 2017 sought to improve on.

The stabbing attack in Jilin’s Beishan Park ignited discussion online about the current state of public altruism. In relation to foreigners, the issue is complicated by what some suggest is the emergence of an “extreme nationalism” exacerbated by the CCP’s narrative of ‘institutional superiority’ over liberal-democratic rivals during the course of the pandemic. An initial report described the attacker as an “ultra nationalist.”

Wrote one netizen in a post since removed:

This is no longer the same civilized and inclusive country that hosted the Olympics in 2008, a time when you could hear the friendly song “Beijing Welcomes You” on every street corner in China. Over the past decade, the government’s intense indoctrination of extreme nationalism and patriotism has led to widespread xenophobia in society. After such attacks on foreign tourists, the Chinese government will undoubtedly immediately censor the news. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson will deny the incident, and the pro-government online commentators will be pushed to work harder on the external propaganda to “tell China’s story well.”

An early news report by Iowa Public Radio (IPR) identified the stabbing victims as four Cornell College staff members who were visiting China in relation to a long-standing partnership with Beihua University. The four are said to have been injured during a “daytime visit to a public park while accompanied by a faculty member of the partner institution.” According to IPR, the U.S. Embassy is working to ensure the victims receive care and leave China safely. All four survived the attack and are recovering. Two remain in critical condition.

South China Morning Post (SCMP) reports that a Chinese tourist “who tried to stop the attack” was also injured (a source of aid missed in updates circulated via social media). According to the SCMP, police said a suspect wanted in relation to the incident has been identified as Cui Dapeng, a 55-year-old local man. They report Cui “collided with a foreigner” in Beishan Park and “then stabbed the foreigner with a knife and three other foreigners who were with him.”

Despite the seriousness of the incident, the Chinese foreign ministry, through spokesman Lin Jian, emphasized the attack was an “isolated incident [that] would not affect the normal development of China-US cultural exchanges.”

Downplaying its seriousness comes at a sensitive time as the U.S. and China seek to de-escalate tensions through cultural exchanges. In November, President Xi Jinping announced his country’s readiness to invite 50,000 young Americans for educational exchanges and study in China over the next five years. These exchanges are seen as crucial for building bridges between the two nations in an effort to ease strained relations since the pandemic.

In her ongoing coverage of Monday’s incident, Chinese-born human rights activist and author, Jennifer Zeng, told her online followers:

“I have been reporting on similar violent cases in China due to ‘retaliation against society’ mentality. But this is the first time that I have seen attacks against Western tourists.”

Zeng claims an insider source indicated the stabbing was a “premeditated event”.

Police in China have since arrested Cui Dapeng.