Zaobao logo and screenshot of editorial piece.

Responding to an open letter signed by academics and independent scholars who characterised Lianhe Zaobao’s characterisation of race relations in Singapore as “unproductive”, the Chinese daily asserted that it has consistently upheld equality among all races and advocated for mutual understanding across ethnic groups in the country.

Zaobao added that as the anchor Chinese newspaper, it has publicly and unequivocally condemned the recent incidents of racial discrimination and has defended racial harmony via editorials and feature articles.

In a statement on Monday (14 June), the publication said: “Singapore is a multiracial nation. We truly believe in the ideals expressed in the national pledge and cherish the hard-won racial harmony, but that does not mean that we believe that there are no tensions in racial relationships.”

Lianhe Zaobao has always taken a consistent stance on upholding equality among all races and advocating that there should be mutual understanding among ethnic groups. This is evident from our editorials, news reports and feature articles. In the midst of the pandemic, we have seen more racial tensions simmering, which is why we have published a total of seven editorials related to this issue in the past year and a half.”

Open letter to Lianhe Zaobao

The open letter which took issue with Zaobao’s article, titled “Expand public space to promote racial harmony (扩展公共空间促进种族和谐)” published on Wednesday, 9th June 2021, has been signed by over 200 academics and scholars so far.

The group said that the editorial “ignores the dynamics of structural racism and the longer history of racial stereotyping in Singapore” and was concerned about how it placed blame on the recent spate of racist incidents on the uncertainty of the pandemic, the sensationalism of social media and the import of “foreign” ideas such as Critical Race Theory (CRT).

The group expressed the belief that the pandemic and social media has “simply revealed long-standing fissures and the everyday discrimination experienced by racial minorities in Singapore”.

“This structural understanding of how racial inequality is perpetuated is something that Critical Race Theory (CRT) – among other perspectives elaborated by authors in Singapore and elsewhere – can offer,” the letter emphasised.

The letter went on to criticise Zaobao’s misrepresentation of the theory as “promoting hatred of white people” in the United States and by extension, Chinese people in Singapore. The group added that this argument is indefensible” and one that is made by far-right commentators in the US “who do not engage with the actual writings and concepts of CRT”.

Acknowledging that there is room for debate on how the concepts from CRT may apply in Singapore, the academics nonetheless assert that the framework is “useful” for understanding racism in Singapore as structural and historical.

The letter went on, “More worryingly, by arguing that Critical Race Theory is to be blamed for stoking racial tensions, the article promotes a narrative of Chinese victimisation that implicitly rationalises these acts of verbal and physical violence against minorities.”

It noted that those who discuss issues of racism critically, especially minorities, are painted as “aggressors” while those responsible for racists acts are cast as “victims seeking redress”

“Characterising critical conversations about racism as simply a case of imported ideology erases the lived experiences of racial minorities in Singapore,” the scholars noted, adding that assuming Chinese Privilege as a direct import of White Privilege is “not helpful” and distracts from creating the space necessary for meaningful and constructive conversation about racism in Singapore.

Zaobao responds

In its response, Zaobao expressed hope that its readers would consider its editorial in its entirely, noting that it tries to shed light on how all three of the aspects mentions have exacerbated racial tensions in Singapore.

It added that the CRT, which originated in the United States in the 19070s, was cited as an example of the influence of foreign ideas and has been used by scholars to analyse race relations in Singapore, thus criticising the Chinese daily downplaying the “systemic and structural racism” in Singapore.

It also noted the varying interpretations of CRT within academic circles, saying that the critique of the theory as a “far-right American perspective” should not be easily dismissed.

“We strongly believe that when discussing the issue of race in Singapore, we should not be applying foreign ideas and concepts without adapting them to local conditions,” added Zaobao.

It went on to argue that theories and concepts based on foreign situations may not always be applicable to Singapore and that it may complicate the understanding of the issue instead of deepening it.

“But we are also aware and accept that there are those who do not agree with such views and positions,” it conceded.

Zaobao added in its response, “Racial harmony is a common goal for all Singaporeans. We believe the scholars who signed the letter share the same philosophy and welcome rational and open discussion on the issue.”

Subscribe
Notify of
8 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

The government encourages automation but are Singapore’s people and businesses ready?

A video shared on Facebook shows a ‘Smart Tray Return’ robot in…

SPP’s Jose Raymond all set to face off against PAP’s Sitoh Yih Pin in Potong Pasir SMC

Singapore People’s Party (SPP) chairman Jose Raymond is all set to face…

指兀兰地铁站因武汉肺炎关闭消毒 交通部长对脸书贴文发更正指示

有脸书用户谣传兀兰地铁站因为武汉肺炎可疑病例,被迫关闭进行消毒,对此交通部长许文远透过防止网络假信息和网络操纵办事处,向脸书发出更正指示,更正有关假消息。 本月28日,脸书有贴文指兀兰地铁站,因为一起武汉肺炎可疑病例,被迫关闭进行消毒,还呼吁民众不要前往兀兰地铁站。 对此官方打假网站Factually驳斥有关消息,上述地铁站在28日根本没有关闭,反之如常运作。 文告也劝请民众勿散播未经证实的流言,并应以卫生部 (www.moh.gov.sg) 、政府官网Gov.sg (http://go.gov.sg/whatsapp) 等为准,或向有关当局求证。如有任何疑似假消息,亦可透过[email protected]举报。 本月27日,防假消息法办事处也向新加坡报业控股期刊旗下的HardwareZone论坛,发出更正指示,事缘有匿名账号散播假消息,指我国出现新型冠状病毒(武汉肺炎)的死亡病例。 对此卫生部长颜金勇,透过防假消息法办事处,给新加坡报业控股期刊发出“广泛性更正指示”,要求对有关消息发布更正指示。政府网站Factually亦驳斥有关说法,指截至当晚11时都未出现确诊病例死亡案例。