More than 30 years of reform and opening-up in China have created many development miracles. Of course, rapid development has brought about a series of problems, some of which are very serious, including corruption and unfair distribution of income. But the strangest thing is that some people feel guilty about patriotism and are proud of wanting to lead foreign countries to invade our motherland.

This is a time when such quotations as "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel" and "Patriotism is a pernicious, psychopathic form of idiocy" are common. Some people have even created a more simple and easy-to-spread term: "patriotic thief."

Recently a famous scholar was sentenced for espionage and a group of people shouted excitedly "Look! This is a 'patriotic thief.'" I happened to have met the scholar and never heard him voicing any extreme speeches about "patriotism."

At the very least, even if he loves to mouth high-sounding words, it doesn't mean that other patriotic people are thieves.

There are also embezzlers among the people who use high-flown democratic rhetoric. But we can't say that those people supporting freedom of democracy must be embezzlers, nor could we deny the sincerity of other democratic activists.

Some Chinese intellectuals always draw over-confident conclusions. A famous scholar posted an entry on his microblog: "I'm sure that if China and the US opened their doors for emigrants without any limitations, first, Chinese people would flow to the US like a tidal wave, while no Americans would come to China.

Second, those "50-centers" (wumao dang, a reference to the 5 mao reportedly paid by local authorities for each pro-government post) who criticize the US every day would be at the front of the tide of emigration."

I suggest he persuade the US to open its doors first. If the "50-centers" don't go first, can we describe his words as slander?

The book Unhappy China, co-written by me and several other writers, is deemed to be by "patriotic thieves" and some people spread rumors every day that we have permanent residence cards for the US. Even if we did, it wouldn't be any of their business. But we don't.

But refuting the rumors didn't work. A famous media figure even claimed that it was reasonable to start rumors on his microblog: "The rumor is not truth but it's more true than the truth itself. It cannot bear close analysis but it's always more convincing than truth."

Not all the people mouthing high-sounding words of patriotism are good. Some of them might be crooks and some do bad things with good intentions. But from my point of view, even if they are all patriotic thieves, they aren't the main threats to China. 

Many people shout loudly for foreign countries to invade, and even offer to lead the way for them. Some people claim that if they're going to die, they would prefer to be killed by a US guided missile. Some university professors claim that they would prefer to be reincarnated as Japanese citizens.

A Japanese writer visited China and wrote a book named Patriotic Thieves in Chinese. He was astonished after having to queue with an uncultured crowd. He suggested the Ministry of Railways establish special windows for foreigners in the high-traffic railway stations. It is strange for such a person to be built up into a star for criticizing China.

If the patriotic thieves are really so many that make people concerned, how could such people achieve high status in China. I think these people warning of the harm done by patriotic thieves is just intended to forestall their own enemies.

The author is a famous Beijing-based scholar. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn

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