A fan meeting of CHUANG 2021 is held in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, on April 17, 2021. Photo: CFP

A foreign media has reported that Chinese fans are becoming more sensitive to issues concerning China's national interests, such as the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and are requesting more from idols on these issues. 

While the report portrayed this behavior in a negative light, this trend is actually a healthy part of fan culture that should be supported and praised.

It should be noted that Chinese fans have great respect for the different advantages that international stars bring to the table and are attracted by the charm of different cultures, but there are some lines that cannot be violated. 

The magazine The Diplomat published a report on Saturday that said Chinese fans are "enforcing Chinese nationalism on the world." The report took Chinese competition show CHUANG 2021 as an example.

The show invited trainees from a variety of countries, including Japan, the US and Russia to show off their talent and skills in music and dancing. The finalists formed a new 11-member boy band that includes seven foreign members.

The report said that Chinese fans asked these trainees to "speak Chinese" as "it is basic respect" and that the show had many "Chinese elements" such as trainees dressing in traditional Chinese clothing and performing on stages decorated with traditional Chinese paintings and calligraphy.

It is odd that the report singled this out as it is normal for reality competition shows in other countries to do the same. For example, when young Chinese trainees appeared on South Korean show Produce 101, they also needed to learn some Korean beforehand. In fact, any Chinese star who has succeeded in South Korea, such as Kris Wu and Jackson Wang, have been able to speak Korean well.

It is only natural for foreign stars to learn Chinese, just like Chinese stars learn other languages, which is a type of cultural communication.

The report also said "Chinese fans are quick to call out idols for crossing political red lines," which is actually something that should be supported and complimented. Issues concerning a country's national interests, including its sovereignty and territorial integrity, are red lines for any patriotic person, not just idols and fans.

The report also listed examples of Chinese fans calling for boycotts of foreign bands and celebrities who they feel have harmed China's national interests through their actions or speech.

However, boycotts like these are not tools aimed at only overseas entertainment figures. Whenever Chinese stars or entertainment industry insiders make such mistakes, Chinese netizens have also called for boycotts of them. 

When episode 39 of TV drama Go Go Squid featured a map of China that did not include Hainan Province, the island of Taiwan, the southern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region and Aksai Chin - a region that spans across parts of Tibet and Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region - fans showed their disapproval for the mistake by calling for a boycott of the show. 

Although the drama's viewership numbers reached into the billions, the production was strongly condemned by netizens and the problematic episode was suspended.

Chinese fans' observation of such mistakes that harm China's national interests and subsequent boycotts actually help regulate the Chinese entertainment industry as this helps authorities crack down on these harmful cases that happen in the industry.

However, for those who respect China's national interests and Chinese culture, Chinese people are more than willing to maintain an open attitude toward them and often even become fans of them. 

"Ever since Mika [Hashizume] sang the song 'So Sick' in English on CHUANG 2021, I have been his fan. His handsome appearance and soft voice attracted me so much," a fan of US competitor Mika Hashizume, a finalist who became a part of the new boy band INTO1, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

The fan noted that she finds Mika's "exotic charm" his most attractive part and appreciates that, as a Japanese-American, he is willing to embrace Chinese culture.