中國一小學組織活動抗議韓國部署薩德

The Chinese government’s campaign against a US and South Korean anti-missile system has attracted some unusual recruits: school children as young as seven who have joined impromptu rallies and boycotts across the country.

中國政府反對美韓反導系統的宣傳攻勢吸引來了一些不同尋常的新加入者——年齡低至七歲的小學生，他們也參與到全國性的即興集會和抵制活動中。

This month, the Century Star Elementary School in Yali township, part of Hebei province, organised a rally attended by about 400 Students and staff. In a video posted online, students no older than 12 pledged to boycott South Korean products and “resist” the deployment of a US-operated Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system, or Thaad.

本月，河北省牙裏鎮世紀星小學(Century Star Elementary School)組織了一次由大約400名師生參加的集會。在一段網絡視頻中，年齡不超過12歲的學生們發誓要抵制韓國貨，“抵制”美國運作的“末段高空區域防禦系統”（THAAD，中文簡稱：薩德）的部署。

At the rally, a school teacher painted a grim picture of the potential consequences of the Thaad deployment. “South Korea is our neighbour,” the teacher said. “In the event of war, the US will turn China into a slaughterhouse. For China, [Thaad] is a fatal threat.”

在這次集會上，一名學校教師描繪了有關部署薩德潛在影響的嚴峻圖景。“韓國是我國的鄰國。”這位教師表示，“一旦戰爭爆發，中國就將變成美國的屠宰場，這對中國將是一個致命的威脅。”

The teacher urged the students to boycott South Korean trips, television programmes, cosmetics and any products sold by Lotte, the South Korean retailer whose parent company relinquished some of the land needed for Thaad’s deployment.

這名教師敦促學生不去韓國旅遊、不看韓國電視節目、不買韓國化妝品和樂天(Lotte)出售的任何東西。樂天是一家韓國零售商，部署薩德所需的部分土地是由其母公司出讓的。

“Students, can we do this?” the teacher asks. “Can! Can! Can!” the students reply.

這名教師問道：“同學們，我們能不能做到？”學生們答道：“能！能！能！”

South Korean officials argue that Thaad is essential to their country’s defence, especially after North Korea’s recent ballistic missile tests. Last month’s assassination in Malaysia of the half-brother of North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un has added to their unease. Pyongyang’s agents are accused of using VX nerve agent, a banned chemical weapon, to assassinate Kim Jong Nam.

韓國官員聲稱，薩德對韓國防務十分必要——尤其是在朝鮮最近試射彈道導彈之後。上月，朝鮮統治者金正恩(Kim Jong Un)同父異母的哥哥金正男(Kim Jong Nam)在馬來西亞遇刺，令韓國官員愈發感到不安。平壤方面的特工被指使用被禁化學武器VX神經毒劑刺殺金正男。

China counters that the Thaad deployment could alter the regional balance of power. Analysts believe Beijing ultimately fears the anti-missile system could be the basis of a future trilateral defence alliance uniting the US, South Korea and Japan.

中國則駁斥稱，薩德的部署或改變地區力量平衡。分析人士認爲，中國政府歸根結底是擔心這一反導系統或成爲未來美韓日三方防務同盟的基礎。

Such complex arguments may be beyond the comprehension of most seven-year-olds but the principal of Century Star Elementary School believes he did the right thing in organising the rally. “Patriotic education should start when children are young,” Xing Xiaofeng told the Financial Times. “The students’ parents support me.”

如此複雜的爭論或許超出了多數七歲兒童的理解能力。不過，世紀星小學校長邢曉峯（音譯）卻認爲，他組織這次集會是正確的。“愛國教育應該從小抓起。”邢曉峯告訴英國《金融時報》，“學生家長很支持我。”

A spokesperson for the South Korean embassy in Beijing said: “It is regrettable that children have been mobilised in rallies and boycott movements. The Chinese government needs to take appropriate measures to promote mutual understanding.”

韓國駐北京大使館發言人表示：“動員兒童參加集會和抵制活動令人遺憾。中國政府應該採取適當措施，促進相互理解。”

The embassy added that it had sent a letter of protest to China’s education ministry, which said it had not encouraged schools to hold such rallies. The education ministry did not reply to requests for comment.

韓國大使館還表示，它已向中國教育部發出一封抗議信。中國教育部則表示，它未曾鼓勵學校舉行此類集會。中國教育部未迴應記者的置評請求。

Such rallies are also controversial within China. “Such thorough brainwashing,” said one online critic of Mr Xing’s school rally. Another added that “this is crazy — children should not be used as props to disseminate hatred”.

這種集會在中國國內引起的爭議也很大。網上一名批評世紀星小學集會活動的人士表示：“這是徹頭徹尾的洗腦。”另一名批評者則補充說：“這太瘋狂了——學生不應被當作傳播仇恨的道具。”

Qiao Mu, professor at Beijing University of Foreign Languages, said such rallies could backfire. “Schools should not organise activities to agitate students,” he said. “What are they going to tell those children if Sino-South Korean relations improve?”

北京外國語大學教授喬木表示，這種集會或適得其反。“學校不應組織活動煽動學生。”他說，“如果中韓關係改善，他們怎麼跟這些學生說？”

The campaign against Lotte and other South Korean companies is an example of how quickly political tides can shift in China. As of March 8, some 40 Lotte stores had been closed, often on spurious grounds such as alleged fire-code violations.

針對樂天及其他韓國企業的宣傳攻勢，體現了中國的政治風向轉變有多快。截至3月8日，大約40家樂天門店被關閉——往往是因涉嫌違反消防規定等站不住腳的理由。

As recently as November, Chinese state media ran articles that lauded the retailer for funding “hope schools” and poor students in impoverished regions.

而就在去年11月時，中國官媒還曾發表文章，稱讚這家韓國零售商資助中國貧困地區的“希望小學”和貧困學生。