He speaks out of line, and that appeals to me, Lai Quanzhong, 47, a Trump Fan Club follower from Fujian Province, said in a telephone interview. He said that this was the first time he had paid close attention to an American election but that even for those who dont understand American elections, they just cant avoid listening to what he says.
His flamboyance is part of his attraction to Chinese who normally are indifferent to American politics, said Jin Canrong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University. Thats why they pay attention to Trump, who is quite entertaining, he said.
But Mr. Trump also appeals to a practical streak in many Chinese, he said. He makes lots of money, Mr. Jin said. Chinese people like to be friends with pragmatists.
Mr. Ding, the fan club founder, who has been posting news and videos about Mr. Trump since November, said, I admire his outspokenness and personal charisma. The fan club, he said, is a way to inform Chinese about a man who could become the next American president.
