My attempts to understand Chinese politics and perceptions of race are often fraught with difficulties; the understanding so far focuses on a pro-Han nationalist / anti-everyone international axis, since it’s the avenue most easily accessible / relevant to me (as it stands, I barely understand American politics). So a week or so ago Obama bowed to the Japanese Emperor – an African-American (viewed here as sort-of sub-American, since the “respectable foreigners are Caucasian”) kowtowing before the former titular ruler of the evil Japanese Imperial house – reactions to this should be thoughtful. The following opinion is not exactly representative (though the author is probably pro-U.S.), and comes from Tianya; it does capture the tone that these in which things are discussed:

美国总统奥巴马亚洲之行的日本之站，堂堂的泱泱大国的战胜国——美国的总统居然向战败国、而且还在受联合国监管的小日本的天皇弯身——躹躬！致敬！

American President Obama’s trip to Asia, when he was in Japan, [representing] a dignified and victorious nation – and then the American President unexpectedly, towards a defeated nation, faced the U.N.-watched-little Japanese Emperor – and bowed! He paid respect [to him]!

…

全世界的人都以为是在看动画片，但揉揉眼睛后才相信，这的确是真的！

我写到这里，也忍不住笑出声来。美国人真会选总统！

我在这里想提醒美国人一句活话：你们选出的总统——奥巴马恐怕也要将你们全美国人和美国也改了！是将富得流油的美国人改变成一穷二白的穷鬼美国人，还是将联邦制的美国改变成象前苏联解体后的独联体？或者两样都一齐改了？全世界人民都在拭目以待！！！

The whole world mistakenly thought they were watching cartoons, but after rubbing their eyes and looking again they realized that it was in fact reality!

I’ll end here, but cannot refrain from laughing. Americans really can choose a president!

Here I will remind Americans with a phrase: the President that you selected – Obama, [I'm] afraid he will change the entirety of America and all Americans! Prosperous America will toil and become poverty stricken Americans, or change the Federal America into the post-Soviet collapse Collective of Independent States? Or will this happen simultaneously? The whole world waits to see!!!

Mainland conservatives and liberal viewpoints do seem to be oriented on an Sinocentrist / pro-international dichotomy. Promotion of this is advantageous insofar as it allows the central government to direct attention away from domestic issues. Still, anti-American biases at present seem very broad: pro-American Chinese often express a very angry sense of betrayal as a result of some of the things our government has been up to in the last few years (typically mentioning the Iraq occupation, prisoner torture, never-ending bailouts). Some will even express it as regret that America’s inevitable retreat means being replaced by the CCP, which they (seem to) fear will have a much more negative impact on the world. The majority, however, appears more conservative / nationalist, and generally welcome any sign of American/Western weakness as a signal for what they see as China’s inevitable rise.

Much ado about nothing? Antidote: this picture has also been getting quite a bit of attention.