In recent news, mainland Chinese actor Wang Xing was recently kidnapped and taken to the fraudulent Maowadee theme park in Myanmar by a fake film crew. Although he has been rescued, he discovered that more than 50 Chinese individuals are still trapped, with estimates suggesting there are even more Chinese nationals at Maowadee. This incident has sparked widespread concern, with many netizens leaving messages on the account of “Wolf Warrior” Wu Jing’s wife, hoping that he can go and rescue the Chinese citizens. Wu Jing is known for his statement: “A Chinese passport can bring you back from anywhere.”
Recently, the fraudulent Maowadee theme park in Myanmar has been in the spotlight. Wang Xing’s presence there has brought attention to the shift of fraudulent activities from northern Myanmar to Maowadee.
Wang Xing’s successful rescue is largely credited to his girlfriend, “Jiajia.” After Wang Xing went missing on January 3, “Jiajia” sought help from the Shanghai police, the Chinese embassy in Thailand, and the consulate in Chiang Mai. However, due to not being a direct family member, her efforts were initially unsuccessful. It was only when Wang Xing’s brother rushed to Shanghai on January 4 that a case was filed, but it yielded little results. On the evening of January 5, she compiled Wang Xing’s chat logs, pre-disappearance location clues, information on his companions, and shared them online in a search effort. Additionally, she publicized the works Wang Xing had appeared in to broaden the influence, displaying clarity of thought and swift action.
Upon his rescue, Wang Xing cleverly revealed that there were 50 other Chinese individuals locked in the same building with him. The rescue team identified two captivity locations, with the first containing 10 Chinese people and the second 50. Wang Xing was rescued from the latter.
Following the abduction of Wang Xing to the fraudulent Maowadee theme park in Myanmar, within a support group for the families of 487 trapped individuals, the group administrators are documenting the information of the trapped individuals through online documents. When news of Wang Xing’s rescue reached the group, 174 families filled out the document, which was ultimately named “National Cooperation for the Rescue of 174 ‘Stars’ Trapped in Myanmar.”
Seeing more people trapped in Maowadee and feeling helpless, many netizens have urged Wu Jing’s wife, Xie Nan, to ask Wu Jing to go and save the people. Some have even called for the production of a movie like “Wolf Warrior 3: Escape from Maowadee,” leading to a flurry of comments. Wu Jing’s portrayal of “Cold Steel” in the film “Wolf Warrior 2” included the line: “A Chinese passport is the ticket to the safest place.”
In the eyes of many netizens, the reality does not match the optimism expressed in Wu Jing’s statement, questioning the effectiveness of a Chinese passport in such situations. Some even commented on the role of media personalities in influencing individuals to take risks under false pretenses.
Wu Jing’s self-directed films “Wolf Warrior” and “Wolf Warrior 2,” funded heavily by the Chinese military, have been patriotic action films, following the typical Hollywood action movie formula while promoting the narrative of “Chinese heroes saving the world.” The favoritism towards the Chinese government in these “Wolf Warrior” films, backed by administrative efforts, have continuously set box office records in the mainland Chinese cinema market.
One memorable line from “Wolf Warrior 2” featured a significant moment where a Chinese passport was prominently displayed, with the message on the back stating: “When you are in danger overseas, don’t give up! Remember, behind you, there is a powerful motherland!” Analysts criticize such movies for their fabrications, glorification of violence, blurring the lines between party and state, and creating a sense of repulsion.
At the premiere of “Wolf Warrior 2,” Wu Jing expressed his wish for the Chinese passport to become the most powerful globally. The statement portrayed the passport as not only a means of travel to various locations worldwide but also a guarantee of being brought back home from anywhere.
Wu Jing’s “Wolf Warrior” statements have inflated the emotions of many young people who have been indoctrinated with patriotic fervor, leading them to believe in a false sense of confidence in the Chinese government. Wu Jing himself has become a symbol of the “Wolf Warrior,” idolized by young people influenced by patriotic and nationalist sentiments.
In the wake of Wang Xing’s recent kidnapping incident, Hong Kong singer Eason Chan announced the cancellation of his concert in Bangkok, Thailand, originally scheduled for February 22. On January 11, a mainland netizen shared a text message indicating that Zhao Benshan, known as the “king of vulgar sketches,” also postponed his Bangkok tour, which was set for February 22.