China’s ‘Little Pinks’ Clash With British Pianist in Viral Video

Pianist Brendan Kavanagh speaks to NTD, the sister media company of The Epoch Times, at St. Pancras International station, in London, on Jan. 26, 2024. Jane Werrell/NTD

In a Jan. 19 confrontation at London St. Pancras International railway station, a Chinese film crew clashed with British pianist Brendan Kavanagh in an incident that quickly went viral on social media and drew widespread media attention.

The dispute unfolded as Mr. Kavanagh played a public piano and live-streamed at the station. The Chinese group, wearing red scarves and carrying flags of the People’s Republic of China, warmly greeted the pianist at first, but soon requested not to be filmed, citing concerns about the infringement of their image rights. The request sparked a heated argument that escalated to the point where British police intervened.

At the heart of the disagreement was the Chinese crew’s assertion that they had a contractual agreement with a Chinese television station, stipulating that their images should not appear on other channels. They demanded the deletion of any video footage featuring them. Mr. Kavanagh countered, asserting that in a public place, individuals do not have image rights, and suggested that they could simply walk away if they didn’t want to be filmed.

The conflict intensified when the pianist emphasized his right to film in England, stating: “This is England. I can film wherever I want.” When a Chinese woman in the group claimed British nationality, Mr. Kavanagh pointed out the presence of the Chinese flag, prompting a male member of the group to shout repeatedly, “Don’t touch her!” The loud exchange compelled Mr. Kavanagh to step back, clarifying that he had only touched the flag.

Upon the arrival of British police, a police officer requested a private conversation with Mr. Kavanagh away from the live-streaming camera. The pianist insisted on maintaining the discussion in public, highlighting the transparency of the camera and noting the officer’s use of a body camera. Despite initial resistance, the officer conducted her investigation under the live-streaming camera.

In the aftermath, Mr. Kavanagh expressed to the policewoman that the issue stemmed from the aggressive approach of the Chinese group. He emphasized the UK’s freedoms and told the officer: “You’re not their private security agent.”

The incident, captured on Mr. Kavanagh’s YouTube channel, has garnered over nine million views. Widespread coverage by various media outlets, both independent and mainstream, reached countless viewers, further fueling the debate surrounding the clash at the railway station.

Controversial Tactics

Li Hongkuan, editor-in-chief of the online magazine “Da Cankao” (Big News), shared his insights on the incident on The Epoch Times’ sister media NTD’s “Pinnacle View” program. Mr. Li shed light on the actions of the “little pinks” who were involved in the clash with the British pianist. Describing their tactics as manipulative, he criticized the strategy of using accusations, particularly the use of a serious accusation like harassment, to sway public opinion.

The term “little pinks” describes young Chinese nationals who maintain an aggressively “patriotic” online presence. They tend to express jingoistic nationalist sentiments and blindly support the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In Western media, they have been likened to a modern version of the Red Guards, the Chinese students who helped Mao Zedong wage the Chinese Cultural Revolution.

The man called “shouty guy” by Mr. Kavanagh was identified by netizens as Newton Leng, a Chinese national. Mr. Leng graduated from China’s Dalian University of Foreign Languages and identifies himself in his online profiles as a consultant to the Financial Times.

Mr. Li suggested that Mr. Leng’s tactic of shouting “Don’t touch her” was an attempt to control the narrative, as shouting such a phrase in public, especially in the colloquial language—in this case, English—implies a woman is being harassed or assaulted. He noted that the imbalance in numbers, with close to ten people in the Chinese group, versus one or two individuals supporting the pianist, further complicated the situation for law enforcement.

The journalist criticized the tactic as a typical Chinese debating strategy, where individuals initiate mudslinging to gain control of public opinion. He highlighted the challenging situation for the police when faced with conflicting accusations and warned against the dangerous tactic of “seizing the initiative.”

Mr. Li mentioned that in a follow-up to the incident, Mengying Liu, the Chinese influencer who asked Mr. Kavanagh to delete footage of the group, later posted an explanatory video on Instagram. He described the language used by Ms. Liu in the video as legalistic and chilling. Ms. Liu insinuated that the British pianist was racist and acted inappropriately, framing the narrative toward a sexual assault allegation, Mr. Li said.

Reflecting on the behavior of the “little pinks,” Mr. Li drew parallels to recent incidents involving Chinese individuals with explosive tempers. He cited the Jan. 16 arrest of 27-year-old Silicon Valley engineer Liren Chen for allegedly beating his soon-to-be ex-wife to death, and the 2022 stabbing of a New York lawyer by 26-year-old Zhang Xiaoning. Mr. Li expressed concerns about the behavior exhibited in the incidents, in which a previously calm and amiable person suddenly becomes aggressive and violent.

CCP Indoctrinates Hatred; Disrupts Traditional Values

On the “Pinnacle View” program, independent TV producer Li Jun shed light on the behavior of “shouty guy,” linking it to a broader phenomenon in China where individuals harbor intense resentment, often resorting to extreme measures to resolve conflicts. Li Jun argued that this pervasive atmosphere of violence is closely tied to CCP indoctrination and promotion of a culture of hatred.

According to Li Jun, the CCP has systematically encouraged resentment towards Westerners, Americans, and Japanese, fostering a perpetual sense of animosity. Moreover, he said, the CCP’s extreme approach to managing issues, refusing to admit mistakes and employing highly coercive methods, contributes to the prevailing mindset in the country.

Li Jun attributed Mr. Leng’s angrily shouting behavior to a mindset of suppression and control that is instilled by the CCP. Rather than fostering dialogue, it aims to silence dissenting voices, as seen in the clash with the British pianist. Li Jun noted that the phenomenon is not isolated but represents a significant societal issue. Reflecting on his own experience, he said that the mindset even poses a challenge for Chinese who have left China for the West, due to formation that begins at an early age and becomes deeply engrained.

Reflecting on the historical transformation of the Chinese people, Li Jun noted that they were originally characterized by qualities such as courtesy, integrity, gentleness, kindness, respect, frugality, and modesty. However, after the CCP took power in 1949, there was a gradual disconnect from these traditional values, leading to the current state of heightened resentment and aggression.

Li Jun emphasized that true representatives of Chinese culture should be rooted in the country’s traditional values. Those who exhibit extreme behaviors are more aligned with the CCP’s influence than with authentic Chinese cultural heritage, he said.

‘We’re in a Free Country, Mate’

Guo Jun, editor-in-chief of the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times, voiced concerns on “Pinnacle View” about the behavior exhibited by the Chinese individuals at the British train station, citing it as a manifestation of an unhealthy mentality that extends beyond China.

This behavior is characterized by exaggeration and escalation of minor issues into a major accusation, Ms. Guo said. In the viral video, the Chinese “little pink” became furious when Mr. Kavanagh emphasized the UK’s freedoms compared to a communist society.

When Mr. Kavanagh commented “We’re in a free country, mate. We’re not in communist China now, you know,” Mr. Leng responded: “I’m sorry, this is racist now.”

The label of racial discrimination would seem unrelated to communism, Ms. Guo said, prompting questions about the understanding and internalization of communist ideology among the Chinese nationals involved in the altercation. She noted that they were wearing red scarves and holding Chinese communist flags, yet showed anger when communism was mentioned, raising doubts about the alignment between their professed beliefs and their actions.

She cited the repeated shouting of “don’t touch her” as a tactic commonly seen in CCP propaganda-style arguments. It is an attempt to control public opinion, she said, even if the alleged incident did not occur.

Ms. Guo emphasized that such behavior by Chinese individuals abroad inevitably shapes the international community’s perception of China, its civilization, and its culture. While acknowledging that the actions of a few individuals do not represent the entire Chinese population, she underscored the need for self-discipline and self-awareness, quoting Confucius to highlight the importance of prudence, self-confidence, and self-restraint, especially for those abroad.

“Pinnacle View,” launched by New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV) and The Epoch Times, focuses on current affairs related to China. It brings together great minds from around the world to share their professional views, insights, and in-depth analysis of China with viewers in the United States and worldwide.