NextSharkNextShark.com
Latest Newsletter🍵 Ming-Na Wen honoredRead

Article

Former Japan PM Shinzo Abe’s death celebrated by some Chinese netizens with champagne emojis

  • Screenshots from China’s social media platforms — WeChat and Weibo — revealed some Chinese netizens to be celebrating the assassination of Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe, even hailing the attacker as a “hero.”

  • In a Twitter thread, Chinese artist and activist Badiucao posted screenshots of the conversations to his page, exposing the posters.

  • “Abe is dead, it’s like, open champagne,” wrote one user.

  • “I hate my country’s government, but that doesn’t stop me from loving my country or celebrating Abe’s death. Good to die! Pop champagne! well done,” commented another.

  • Chinese nationalists, however, were not the only ones unafraid to point out Abe’s controversial legacy.

  • One user, under the account “Scissorbooks,” described Abe as a “fascist and revisionist” who refused to acknowledge war crimes against China and Korea during World War II, referring to the Nanking Massacre and Korean comfort women.

Asian America Daily - in under 5 minutes

Get our collection of Asian America's most essential stories, to your inbox daily, for free!

Unsure? Check out our Newsletter Archive

Screenshots from China’s social media platforms — WeChat and Weibo — reveal some Chinese netizens to be celebrating the assassination of Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe, even hailing the attacker as a “hero.” 

While several world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, offered their condolences to the archipelago nation for the death of its former leader, Chinese nationalists took to Weibo and WeChat to celebrate the event with champagne emojis.

In a Twitter thread, Chinese artist and activist Badiucao posted screenshots of the conversations onto his page, exposing the posters.

“Abe is dead, it’s like, open champagne,” wrote one user. 

“I hate my country’s government, but that doesn’t stop me from loving my country or celebrating Abe’s death. Good to die! Pop champagne! well done,” commented another netizen. 

Chinese nationalists, however, were not the only ones unafraid to point out Abe’s controversial legacy. 

One user, under the account “Scissorbooks,” described Abe as a “fascist and revisionist” who refused to acknowledge war crimes against China and Korea during World War II, referring to the Nanking Massacre and Korean comfort women.  

NPR also deleted a heavily criticized tweet from Friday labeling Abe as “a divisive, arch-conservative.”

The full post read: “Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a divisive arch-conservative and one of his nation’s most powerful and influential figures, has died after being shot during a campaign speech Friday in western Japan, hospital officials said.”

Some right-wing Twitter users described the label as “awful,” citing “the only way” to get respect from the left is to be an “austere religious scholar.”

Abe, 67, died on Friday at a local Japanese hospital after suffering from two gunshot wounds to the neck by 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, who was reportedly dissatisfied with the former leader.

 

Featured Image via ABC News; Tipsy Bartender

Support our Journalism with a Contribution

Many people might not know this, but despite our large and loyal following which we are immensely grateful for, NextShark is still a small bootstrapped startup that runs on no outside funding or loans.

Everything you see today is built on the backs of warriors who have sacrificed opportunities to help give Asians all over the world a bigger voice.

However, we still face many trials and tribulations in our industry, from figuring out the most sustainable business model for independent media companies to facing the current COVID-19 pandemic decimating advertising revenues across the board.

We hope you consider making a contribution so we can continue to provide you with quality content that informs, educates and inspires the Asian community. Even a $1 contribution goes a long way.  Thank you for everyone's support. We love you all and can't appreciate you guys enough.

Support NextShark

Mastercard, Visa, Amex, Discover, Paypal