Soon after the Charlie Hebdo tragedy shocked the world, another French satirical magazine Fluide Glacial generated a fresh round of controversy with its cover cartoon titled "Yellow Peril." In the image, while Chinese tourists sightsee on a French street, a local man pulls a rickshaw taken by a Chinese man with his arms around a smitten blonde. A French beggar holding a sign saying "I am hungry" in Chinese sits in front of a restaurant which caters to Chinese customers.
The scene is familiar to Chinese readers. Cartoons depicting concession districts in Chinese cities in late 19th and early 20th century have almost the same content, though with the roles reversed. In some of the old-style streets of Beijing's Qianmen area, such drawings can still be found today on restaurant walls, perhaps to give tourists a sense of history.
There are always grumpy people in any society who blame others for their own woes.
Last July in Australia, an Asian lady was yelled and bullied in a bus by a local Australian woman. But when comments repudiating a whole country are made by media outlets or media professionals, it indicates that the sentiment is somehow deeply rooted among the public. In 2008, CNN anchorman Jack Cafferty aroused an uproar by calling Chinese people "bunch of goons and thugs" in his show.
Now the Chinese public better understands French satire and they have pretty much dismissed the Fluide Glacial cartoon. After all, it could be much worse, plus the cartoon is about the rising consumption ability and influence of Chinese tourists. But the title "Yellow Peril" has an unfriendly tone that may make Chinese people uncomfortable.
Ideological differences may partly explain some unfavorable elements of French public opinion toward China.
However it puzzles the Chinese public that when they have the chance to interact with Europeans in person, the French included, they usually have the impression that Western people are well educated and well mannered.
Of course, a few could be arrogant, but the majority are easygoing and willing to help.
My 64-year-old aunt made her first trip to Europe in October last year. She was very impressed by the clean environment there, saying that "After 10 days, my soles have almost no dust!" The friendliness local people showed to her baby grandson also made her journey a memorable one. But xenophobic attitudes toward China can erupt in European countries from time to time.
It is difficult for the Chinese public to see Paris, known for its romance and cultural heritage, as a place that is biased against their country.
The incident of Olympic torch relay being disrupted in France in 2008 left a deep psychological scar that took a long time to heal. European countries also display strong disapproval of Chinese policies on issues such as Tibet and dissidents. Perhaps Fluide Glacial is ringing an alarm for French society in an artistic way.
After the terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo on January 7, the world expressed sympathy toward the country. The large scale post-attack rally, while showing solidarity against terror, should also be an opportunity for France to do some soul-searching.
However its steadfast view on freedom of speech, in particular the right to blaspheme, has cast doubt on future cultural integration within France.
The appeal of French culture lies in wide range of items including wine, perfume, Rive Gauche, in addition to satirical politics. But now the provocative view taken by Charlie Hebdo and Fluide Glacial has seemingly been hailed as representative of French culture.
Perhaps it takes wealth to keep one's nobility. Parties in various European countries shackled by a fiscal burden are increasingly resorting to populist stances to woo voters. The pursuit of freedom and equality are like exhibitions in a museum - something to be shown but not be practiced.
Lampooning someone else won't make things better or easier. Worse, it could bring trouble if it goes too far, as the rampage at Charlie Hebdo shows.
The author is a commentator with the Global Times. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn