Why do people often remind others to stay away from Chinese people abroad? Whether it’s for immigration, work, or travel, these people also especially love showing off their wealth, as if they’re very rich, and they have no sense of boundaries. Their mouths are full of all kinds of connections, but what they often end up digging holes for are their own acquaintances(, even within China). If it’s in a safe setting, they often sabotage local rules. But when it comes to standing up against strong authority, each and every one of them ends up behaving politely and properly, and very few people dare to come forward to challenge or question it.

Some say that it’s the system and culture that shape the Chinese people’s character—fear the weak and fawn on the strong, and have low self-identity (seeking recognition through external validation). After thousands of years, it still hasn’t changed. On the surface, they like grand narratives, but deep down they’re more about playing both sides and seizing opportunities—refined, but ruthlessly self-serving. They are always and repeatedly trying to undermine rules of goodwill.