China Reacts Strongly to the Term 'Macaoin', Criticizes Chinese Celebrities Attending Concert
The group BLACKPINK, currently on their world tour, sparked a backlash in China after using the term “Macanese” during their Macau concert. Unusually, even Chinese state media covered the BLACKPINK controversy, raising speculation that the “Hanbanryeong (Korean Wave Restriction Order)” might be reinstated.
After their performances in Macau on the 20th and 21st of last month, BLACKPINK posted a message of thanks in English on their official social media accounts, saying, “We were deeply touched by our Macanese BLINKs this week.”
Chinese netizens immediately reacted to the word “Macanese,” interpreting it as a distinction between China and Macau. A comment on BLACKPINK’s official Weibo account saying “Macanese? Chinese!” received over 12,000 likes. Other comments such as “Macanese? If you don’t know how to spell Chinese, I’ll teach you,” and “Do you want to fight with Chinese people?” also garnered significant support.
Macau’s sovereignty was returned from Portugal to China in 1999.
As attacks from Chinese netizens continued, BLACKPINK revised the term on all their official social media accounts on the 29th of last month, changing it to the Macau place name “Macau BLINKs.”
Despite this action, on the 31st of last month, Chinese state media published an article stating, “The Korean K-pop girl group BLACKPINK stirred controversy by calling their Macau fans ‘Macanese.’”
The Chinese state-run Global Times pointed out, “Macanese refers to people of Portuguese descent born and raised in Macau,” adding that “it is an inappropriate term as it cannot represent ordinary Macau residents.”
It further noted, “Chinese media generally refer to people from Macau as ‘Macao residents’ or ‘Macao people,’” emphasizing that the use of the term “Macanese” is uncommon. The media’s criticism implies a refusal to acknowledge Macau as Chinese territory.
The outlet stated, “Some netizens reacted that BLACKPINK deliberately avoided using the word ‘Chinese’ and did not append ‘China’ after ‘Macau,’ considering this behavior disrespectful as it does not recognize Macau as part of China.” It added that “many people called for a boycott of BLACKPINK.”
Chinese netizens also targeted domestic celebrities who attended the concert. When it became known that Chinese top star Angela Baby watched the performance, some China-based netizens with anti-Korean sentiments flooded her with insults and malicious comments. Some extreme netizens even labeled her a ‘traitor.’
There were also threats to create a blacklist including celebrities who participated in the BLACKPINK concert and to boycott works featuring them.
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