Expat Daimler Employee Blamed for Baby's Facial Disfigurement as Public Anger Grows

For the second time in three years, a foreign national working for German luxury car maker Daimler has incurred the wrath of the Chinese public after an out-of-control aerial drone crashed into a baby at a Beijing park.

Qi Liying (a pseudonym) said she has not received any compensation nor even an apology after the May 9 crash at Xiaotaihou River Park left her baby Maomao (a pseudonym) with a 9-centimeter-long gash on his face.

A Daimler-Benz engineer named "Daniel" has been identified as the parental guardian of a 14-year-old German expat who fled the scene after he lost control of the VR-piloted drone he was flying.

READ: Expat Teenager Flees Scene Upon Injuring Baby with Out-of-Control Aerial Drone

Qi said Daniel has rejected her claims for compensation because he is "too poor," a claim Qi rejects owing to the fact that Daniel's family of five reside at a luxury hotel at a cost of RMB 30,000 a month. Further flummoxing Qi's request for compensation is Daniel's belief that he bears no responsibility for the incident, said to claim that it is "his son's problem."

However, the German expats aren't the only ones slow to act. Local police have been mostly quiet about the 3-week-old drone accident. According to Tianjin Daily, Beijing police have not responded to any media questions as of Monday, May 28.

Meanwhile, the German carmaker has also yet to weigh in. A Daimler spokesperson said she was unfamiliar with the incident, but said the company would launch an investigation. The spokesperson asserted that all foreign employees coming to China receive training in local laws and regulations.

READ: Forbidden City, Forbidden Fruit: Beijing Drone Photography in a (Mostly) Drone-Free City

Since the beginning of 2017, Beijing has banned the use of low-flying aerial drones from five districts including Shunyi and Chaoyang, where the crash occurred. However, Beijing residents interviewed by Tianjin Daily say Daniel has been seen flying the drone with his son on at least three occasions.

A new law proposed by the national transport ministry would punish illegal drone operators with maximum fines of RMB 200,000.

Chinese netizens have been expressing outrage and hostility towards the expat worker over the victimization of a baby.

One top comment said, "Pay the compensation, and then get the hell out of China!" Another person asked: "How much does a drone cost? How much do VR goggles cost? These foreign dogs really do not have any shame." Yet another person wondered: "How can (Daimler-)Benz have such an underhanded employee?"

READ: Drunken Teddy Bear Theft by Beijing Expats Draws Chinese Condemnation

Rainer Gartner was deposed as head of Daimler's truck and bus division in China after he was accused of going on a racist tirade in a Beijing road rage incident in 2016. Chinese news reports quoted Gartner as saying during the incident: "I've been in China for a year already, and the first thing I learned is that all Chinese are bastards."

More stories from this author here.

E-Mail: charlesliu1 (at) qq (dot) com
Twitter: @Sinopath

Images: The Observer