torsdag 19. august 2021

Taliban Takeover Wins Mixed Reviews, Backlash on China's Internet

The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan has prompted mixed reactions on and offline in China, with some deploring attempts by online commentators to play down the Taliban's attitude to women, as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) tried to present the victorious armed movement as a potential ally for Beijing.

An anonymous post -- since deleted -- on the Twitter-like platform Sina Weibo described "very good feelings" about the Taliban, "although I know, I know ... that tens of millions of women and girls will now be deprived of the right to education."

Comments hit out at the post, with one user remarking sarcastically "I know they're inhumane, but I still support them," and another saying the poster was "full of infinite wishful thinking about the Taliban." User @Aoki_momo said the post was likely the result of the government's recent cancelation of out-of-school tutoring. "It's done so much damage, not allowing catch-up classes during the summer vacation," the user said, while @Nuitinacheve4 advised "Just turn on the TV and watch the news."