The protesters are upset about a global tribunal opinion.
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Chinese news portal Sohu.com reported that residents from an estimated 11 Chinese cities launched a boycott movement against KFC on Monday.
Dong Liwan, a shipbuilding industry professor at Shanghai Maritime University, said market promotion of tailor-made services such as island tours, marine tourism, cruise vacations and island-themed honeymoons are certainly needed to develop the travel business in the South China Sea.
China insists that they have the historic and economic rights to the islands in the South China sea covered within their nine-dash line regardless whether the islands fall inside other country’s 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone. The protests have so far been peaceful, however, with no arrests, said Chinese internet company Sohu.
A prominent American lawyer has said the United States has no right lecture other countries on worldwide laws as it has “double standards” in dealing with global affairs due to its “empire mentality”.
Some KFC customers have responded by posting photos of themselves online with a bucket of chicken, axes or other weapons and signs reading, “patriotic hooligans, try harassing me and I’ll take you out”.
As tensions flared between Beijing and Tokyo over disputed islands in 2012, some consumers boycotted Japanese cars and protesters smashed vehicles in the street. Under Chinese law, organizers of public protest rallies need prior approval from the police, but it not clear whether police had given the go-ahead in this case.
There has been no evidence of such widespread anger in China this time, though some reports have surfaced of people in generally third tier cities holding up banners in front of USA fast food restaurants including Yum!
KFC’s owner, Yum Brands Inc., is preparing to spin off its China unit, which also includes Pizza Hut restaurants, as a separate company in October in hopes of improving its performance. In 1999, after North Atlantic Treaty Organisation jets bombed the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, protesters wrecked KFC restaurants.
Between 2010 and 2015, Chinas commodity exports to the Philippines totaled $124 billion against the Philippines $39 billion; needless to say, the balance of merchandise trading lopsidedly favored China by $85 billion or twice as much as the Philippines exports for the period.
Beijing has also said it wants to build Maldives-style resorts around the South China Sea. Apple was allowed to continue sales while it appeals.
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It did appear that Apple manage to find stable ground in China over the March quarter as a Neilsen Device Share report suggested that the iPhone maker only gained 0.94% market share, compared to more than 2% in the same period a year ago.
