With the growing influx, it was also inevitable that some issues would arise. For example, less respectful visitors take advantage of low labor costs, some have different attitudes towards sex, and some have a relationship with alcohol which contrasts with tradition-bound Chinese.
Misbehavior from a few, in particular, can easily spark nationalistic sentiments as China continues to grow as the world’s second largest economy. Since incidents relating to foreigners are considered diplomatically difficult to handle, authorities would tend to play down their wrongdoings.
In addition, foreign employees in Chinese-owned companies are often offered higher-than-average living and working conditions, such as rent-free apartments and higher salaries, which often inspire envy among their Chinese workmates. In addition, non-Chinese visitors often receive special treatment not usually offered to locals.
In February 2012, a Japanese tourist lost his bicycle in Central China's city of Wuhan. Police retrieved it four days later with the help of local people. But such lucky stories are a point of frustration for many Chinese people, as they say it is almost impossible to count on the police.
Internet users used the juxtaposition of favoritism and inability to fuel a debate over whether foreign people deserve special benefits, while a great majority of users expressed their support for the campaign.
User 小光仁光王道只爱Mike wrote: “#Authorities to Crack Down on Foreigners Living Illegally in Beijing# The move is somewhat belated; Beijing is not an asylum for anyone.”
User austin-zhang wrote：“#Authorities to Crack Down on Foreigners Living Illegally in Beijing# Not every foreigner is a good man.”
User 幸运Typhoon wrote：“#Authorities to Crack Down on Foreigners Living Illegally in Beijing# I suggest all parts of China to join force and make it a long-term task. We cannot crack down on foreigner-related crimes when they already happened."
By Xu Xinlei
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