Stage, screen and video star Zhao Wei, is fueling a mounting debate as she is slated to promote an anti-Japanese online game. The debate reflects the strained ties between the two Asian giants who have witnessed their relations hit the lowest point in decades, the CRIonline reported on August 11.

Stage, screen and video star Zhao Wei is shown wearing clothes printed with the Japanese flag in this undated photo. [File]

Zhao made her name by her tomboy performance style on the Huan Zhu Ge Ge, TV series adapted from the works of the popular Taiwanese romance novelist Chiung Yao. However, a photo taken for Fashion magazine in 2001 in which she is shown wearing clothes printed with the Japanese flag sparked nation wide criticism that painted Zhao as trumpeting Japanese militarism. Tensions eased after Zhao made a public apology stating in her letter of apology that she hadn't intended to cause offence and she would pay more attention to her behaviour and speech.  Her agent defended Zhao saying she is only a model and has no control over what she is asked to wear.

It has been almost six years since the Fashion magazine incident occurred but it does not seem to have been forgotten.

"She is not qualified to be the representative of a patriotic online game. Her behavior has posed great detriments to Chinese people's feelings," commented an anonymous netizen on CRIonline.com.

"Can you exempt a murder's actions though he always donated to society? Can she be forgiven for challenging Chinese people's feelings?" a netizen nicknamed duziyue1985 wrote. "The incident is not a simple mistake. It is related to principles."

Zhao's move has raised speculation that she wants to eliminate the impact of the incident and repair her reputation, but it seems that she has a long way to go.

Zhao Wei. [File]

"I would rather choose a prostitute than Zhao whose bold behavior chills people's feelings," netizen Du Diao Qian Nian Xue commented, adding that even though she was very popular, Zhao has no regard for national feelings. "She doesn't know about basic history."

"People who defend her position have less self-esteem than her."

The debate came just after of the sixtieth anniversary of China's War of Resistance of Japanese Aggression, which began on July 7, 1937. A slate of TV series and films have flooded the screen to mark the anniversary.

"It is no big deal for her to promote the online game whether she wants to whitewash her image or create a new one," commented a netizen named tuzi78999, adding that as a celebrity, she has the right to boost her image and her move is a contribution to China.

Previous reports say she was to promote a patriotic online game on the eve of the anniversary named Guo Wei.

To contact the writer of this story:
Guo Qiang in Beijing at guoqiang@chinadaily.com.cn