Flight of the Dandelions: Why the Chinese support the Palestinian liberation struggle

For the Chinese, the images of Palestinians living in Gaza evoke a deep, visceral emotion. They are more than mere footage. They serve as painful reminders of a past that the Chinese have themselves endured.

When they look at these images, a connection across time is made — a haunting reminder of the atrocities their forebears faced during World War II: the darkness of "group tribes" in Northeast China.

The concept of "group tribes" is not alien to the collective Chinese consciousness.

Implemented during the terrifying reign of the Japanese militarists in Northeast China during the Second World War, this strategy bore eerie similarities to the quarantine areas in Palestine.

"The Chinese empathise with the Palestinian experience; they echo the trials of China's own past. This profound empathy, born from shared experiences of oppression and survival, has positioned the Chinese firmly alongside the ordinary Palestinians, their shared pains bridging continents and histories"

Historical echoes: The 'Group Tribes' of World War II

The "group tribes" spread from Kuandian in the south to Fuyuan in the north, enveloping lands and lives. Villagers, farmers, and ordinary citizens, irrespective of age or health, found themselves forcefully relocated to areas chosen by the Kwantung army.

These were often barren lands, unsuited for agriculture, offering nothing but weeds and thorns. With their homes and villages taken away, these Chinese people were left to fend for themselves, constructing shanties and holes in the ground, desperate for some semblance of shelter.

The conditions were abysmal. But more than the physical deprivation was the psychological torment. They were, for all intents and purposes, trapped, much like animals in a zoo, their every movement monitored, their freedoms curtailed.

This historic trauma finds a mirror in today's Gaza, with Palestinians living in restricted areas, their lives heavily regulated and controlled.

In hushed tones, stories still circulate in many Chinese households of how the Japanese militarists, in their cruelty, drove countless civilians into these concentration camps, not unlike the quarantine zones of Gaza.

There, bereft of even the basic amenities, many were left to die, thirsting for water and hungering for sustenance, victims of both nature and man's cruelty.

"Arbitrary killings, absence of essentials, and an environment of perpetual fear — a life that their ancestors knew all too well"

The whispers of grandparents and the old tales of family elders, passing down stories of the ruthless Japanese army, come alive as the Chinese witness the trials of the Palestinian people.

Arbitrary killings, absence of essentials, and an environment of perpetual fear — a life that their ancestors knew all too well.

As these memories and stories resurge, the Chinese find it impossible to remain detached observers. The Chinese empathise with the Palestinian experience; they echo the trials of China's own past.

This profound empathy, born from shared experiences of oppression and survival, has positioned the Chinese firmly alongside the ordinary Palestinians, their shared pains bridging continents and histories.

Cultural Perspectives: Valuing the Defiant Spirit

Amid the vast ocean of information available on the internet, the Chinese populace was captivated by the Palestinian resistance.

The paragliders were christened as "dandelions" by the Chinese. This term wasn't just a reflection of their mode of transportation, but a poignant metaphor — much like a dandelion drifting on the breeze, representing the hope and continuity of their people.

The overwhelming resonance of this imagery with the Chinese people became evident when a video, showing these paragliders flying over high walls to confront the Israeli army, went viral.

Platforms like Douyin (Chinese TikTok) were abuzz, with the video gathering billions of views in a short span. The simplistic, yet fervent appeal of the Gaza people to ensure the survival and continuation of their ethnicity stirred deep chords of empathy and respect within many.

The root of this admiration is embedded in China's cultural fabric.

The annals of Chinese history are rich with tales of individuals who, when faced with overwhelming adversity, chose resistance over surrender. There's a unique term reserved for such people in Chinese culture: "supporting the building when it is about to collapse, saving the people from fire and water."

This respect for defiant resilience is deeply rooted in Chinese historical narratives. Throughout various epochs, be it during the Qin Dynasty to the 21 St, individuals or groups who rose against overwhelming odds, to ensure the nation's survival, have been enshrined as heroes.

Their stories often passed down through generations, serve as a testament to the indomitable Chinese spirit.

An illustrious example of this spirit is Yang Jingyu. Born into a peasant family and enduring personal hardships, his life was a testament to resistance.

The legacy of his guerrilla warfare against Japanese invaders in Northeast China, leading a sizeable force despite facing significant challenges, showcases his strategic genius and unyielding determination.

His words, “If you bow your head before the invaders, you are not worthy of being Chinese,” encapsulate the essence of resistance and determination.

Yang’s enduring resilience and eventual sacrifice in 1940, fighting tenaciously till his last breath, represents the spirit of defiance that the Chinese revere.

Witnessing the Palestinian “dandelions” floating against formidable odds, the Chinese saw reflections of their own heroes from bygone eras.

A spirit, unbowed and undeterred, resonating across cultures and histories. It's a testament to humanity's ability to find common ground and shared values in tales of endurance and defiance.

The Dandelion Warriors' Allure

The digital age brought forth a new symbol of resilience to the screens of many in China: the paragliders. These fighters drew comparisons to the ethereal dandelion seeds, floating through the skies, dispersing and sowing life.

This "dandelion" metaphor not only alluded to their graceful airborne manoeuvres but also symbolized their precarious existence — daring to challenge formidable adversaries, knowing fully well that their lives might be extinguished, just as dandelions scatter in the wind.

Their airborne feats, disseminated on platforms like Douyin (Chinese TikTok), stirred a poetic fervour amongst the Chinese. In mere days, the internet teemed with verses, extolling the valiant "Dandelion" fighters and their sacrifices for the Palestinian cause.

From the multitude of heartfelt compositions, one particular poem, chosen by an overwhelming consensus (via likes), encapsulates the sentiment:

 

Mother, I've Become a Dandelion

In days of youth, in my mother's embrace,

She'd whisper of soaring, a boundless sky,

Over peaks and streams, like eagles we'd fly,

Yet, in her warmth, destiny flames had other polite.

 

As morning sun touched the waves' gentle sheen,

Beside the Mediterranean, our dreams were seen.

Mother, hear my final wish as I go,

In one last flight, let our spirit's brilliance flow.

 

Ascending with smoke, towards the heavens wide,

Beyond looming barriers, where our fates reside.

We, the gentle dandelions, to our homeland's fire rise,

Carrying dreams and love, under tearful skies.

 

Amidst the ruins, young souls grow and wise,

Witnessing loved ones become earth's solemn price.

Mother's gaze turns cold, our homeland keep unrest,

Yet, in this last ascent, our journey made Allāh’s pride.

 

Returning to the soil, from where we did sprout,

As dandelions drift, in a sky painted black.

Mother's eyes shut tight, to our birthplace, no back

For our homeland, in pain, we continue to fight,

Onward with the breeze, free dandelions fly.

This poem reflects the Chinese people’s sincere blessings for the Palestinian people to achieve lasting fairness and justice.

Dr Yanwenan Hu, a graduate of the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, is a Specially Invited Researcher at the Eastern Culture Group (Greater China). He specialises in West Asian and North African cultures, and Postcolonialism