‘Fresh air’ speech and Cannes red-flag frock fire up Chinese nationalist backlash

A graduate from Yunnan who praised the fresh air and freedom of the United States and a Chinese actress who wore a “flag” dress to the Cannes Film Festival have found themselves at the centre of a nationalist backlash.

Yang Shuping, who studied at the University of Maryland, apologised via social media after saying in her graduation speech over the weekend that she had been drawn to study in the US by its good air and democracy.

She was accused of belittling her country by angry Chinese internet users who saw a video of the speech.