How to deal with anti-Japanese riots in China? (China Herald)

China Herald: "How to deal with anti-Japanese riots in China?

“So much for Shanghai as an international city.” Some of the assessments of observers of the anti-Japanese riots in Shanghai last Saturday were pretty harsh. Many questions come up at foreign invested companies in China, also the ones that are not Japanese. A few answers. This is a unique moment to show some moral leadership in your company.

1. Do not underestimate the anti-Japanese feelings at your work place. Chinese have a longstanding tradition of hate against the Japanese. Although very few people have for example read the much-discussed Japanese history books and the rhetoric is often flimsy, you should take those anti-Japanese feelings serious. Especially when your people have to deal with Japanese customers or suppliers, it makes sense to discuss the issue. In some cases you might even have to reassign people.
2. Do not make the issue bigger than it is. Although the riot was racist in nature and became violent, the violence had a rather symbolic value, compared to the damage violent demonstrations sometime cause outside China."
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