Commenting on ethnic Chinese across the region often being met with suspicion and xenophobia, in some instances, extreme violence, SMU Assistant Professor of Humanities (Education) Charlotte Setijadi said, "Antipathy towards China almost always has a negative impact on ethnic Chinese communities." The coronavirus pandemic's origins in Wuhan have fuelled anti-Chinese sentiment, she added. Asst Prof Setijadi said, "Those who orient themselves towards China, they don't just do it for emotional reasons … they do it because of potential commercial gains."