Photo taken on Jan. 22, 2020 shows Zhou Qiong, a doctor of department of respiratory medicine at Union Hospital affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)
"Epidemic outbreaks must not be used as an excuse for discrimination and xenophobia, and press freedom must not become a reason for creating a racist opinion in German society," said the Chinese embassy in Germany in a statement.
BERLIN, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese embassy in Germany on Wednesday slammed reports by a German magazine over the outbreak of novel coronavirus in China, saying they are racist and xenophobic.
In the past few days, people from all over the world have expressed their sympathy and solidarity with China and support to China in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak, said the Chinese embassy in Germany in a statement.
"However, we have also seen that there are individual media in Germany that are self-claimed to objectivity and rationality, are not afraid of publishing racist remarks, instigating and inciting xenophobic ideas, especially the discrimination against China," according to the statement.
"In this regard, we express our strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition," said the Chinese embassy.
"Epidemic outbreaks must not be used as an excuse for discrimination and xenophobia, and press freedom must not become a reason for creating a racist opinion in German society," said the statement.
Screenshot of German magazine Der Spiegel which ran a front-page report in issue 6/2020 (February 1st, 2020) featuring a man wearing red protective clothing, goggles and earphones, with the headline "Made in China". (Photo Credit: Der Spiegel)
The Chinese embassy's statement came after German magazine Der Spiegel ran a front-page report over the weekend featuring a man wearing red protective clothing, goggles and earphones, with the headline "Made in China."
The Spiegel Online went further on Monday, publishing a commentary by Stefan Kuzmany, head Der Spiegel's opinion and debate section, in which he described China and the Chinese people using discriminative language, saying that "a little racism is fine."
However, the reports have been heavily criticized by a number of German readers.
"Really disrespectful of you Spiegel team. What you want to tell us is racism," a reader commented on Kuzmany's report on the website.
"Racism has finally officially landed in Germany... I am ashamed to live in such a country," a reader commented on Der Spiegel's frontpage report on the website.
"China calls on the German public not to close its eyes to such developments, and also hopes that the media or media representatives involved will show a well-considered attitude in the future and become aware of their responsibilities instead of continuing to stir up and spread panic," according to the statement from the Chinese embassy. ■
