Why the Japanese can easily recognise the Chinese

Recent social media posts have sparked heated debates among netizens over stereotypes associated with nationalities from countries in East and Southeast Asia. The comments, which were originally shared on Chinese platforms, have garnered both supportive and critical reactions.

One post, in particular, has gained significant attention. It reads: "I don't open my mouth without being noticed, but as soon as I open my mouth, it's obvious that I'm Chinese! Why wouldn't you think I'm Vietnamese, Korean or something like that, and how my Chinese identity is recognised!"

This statement has led to a range of opinions from Weibo users. Some have defended the notion, claiming that there are distinct differences in physical appearance and personality traits among people from different East Asian countries. They argue that it's natural for others to identify these differences based on appearances alone.

However, other netizens have criticized the comments as xenophobic and offensive. They point out that generalizing an entire nation's characteristics based on appearance is both unfair and inaccurate. Furthermore, they say such remarks perpetuate harmful stereotypes and promote discrimination.

The conversation has also delved into discussions about Japan and its people. One user wrote, "Japan is a country full of lies, and the Japanese are a people who are good at whitewashing themselves. A warning sign on the streets of Japan clearly states, 'Unlawful dumping of rubbish will face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 10 million yen.' Although the harsh government is fiercer than a tiger, ironically, there is still a huge pile of rubbish dumped at the sign."

This remark sparked further controversy among netizens. Some agreed that Japan has a history of being deceptive and dishonest, while others argued that it's unfair to generalize an entire nation based on one country's actions.

Moreover, some users took offense at the statement about Japanese people being whitewashers, pointing out that this comment paints all Japanese individuals as deceitful and untrustworthy.