A diary written by a Wuhan-based author has kicked off a contentious debate within Richmond’s Chinese community – and the Chinese diaspora at large.
Fang Fang, who wrote an online journal about her experience living through the lockdown of Wuhan City, has now become the subject of a polarizing debate as her work, Wuhan Diary, is set to be published in both English and German later this month by Harper Collins Publishing.
Supporters say the 65-year-old writer is a “truth-teller.” Critics, however, view her as a “traitor” who has “handed a knife to Western countries to attack China,” as numerous online posts say.
“It's a pity for writers who care about society to be labelled as bad guys and receive so much criticism online,” William Chan, president of the Chinese Canadian Writers' Association, said in translation.
“It's totally fine if you don't agree with a writer's opinions, but it's nonsense to say she is working with western powers.”
Chan refers to a famous quote by the Taiwanese essayist and cultural critic, Lung Ying-tai: “Please use civilization to convince us.”
People who hold different opinions from writers are welcome to use logic and rationality to discuss their concerns with a writer but shouldn’t resort to attacking or blaming them, Chan adds.
Grant Hsu, a local YouTuber who made an online video on the diary, told the Richmond News he supports the book’s publication, but said the timing is off. The author should have at least waited until the global pandemic is over, according to Hsu.
"Fang Fang chose to publish her book amid COVID-19, which means the book might be used by someone else as a political tool. As a writer, I believe she doesn’t want to see this happen," said Hsu, in translation.
Hsu, who studied literature in Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan, said the current situation with Fang Fang's diary reminds him of a quote from British philosopher Bertrand Russell, who famously wrote, “Hitler is an outcome of Rousseau; Roosevelt and Churchill, of Locke.”
Russell claimed Nazism and fascism are outgrowths of romanticism, which originated with Rousseau. It may not have been Rousseau’s intention, explained Hsu, but his work and philosophy served as a weapon for political extremists. The dairy is the same, Hsu added.
"Trump's supporters want China to pay the price for the global pandemic. If the book is used as a political weapon, it will cause devastating consequences for China and bring a surge in anti-Chinese sentiment abroad," said Hsu.
HarperCollins plans to release the 208-page diary on May 26.
On its website, the publisher writes, "(Fang Fang) reminds us that, in the face of the new virus, the plight of the citizens of Wuhan is also that of citizens everywhere.”
The site also quotes Fang Fang as saying, “The virus is the common enemy of humankind; that is a lesson for all humanity. The only way we can conquer this virus and free ourselves from its grip is for all members of humankind to work together."
