Speaking of 'proper toilets' in China, US and Europe

Katie Zacharia, the shortest-serving White House press secretary, was recently challenged by the United States media regarding her qualifications as a lawyer. But her absurd remark that China lacks "proper toilets" went largely unchallenged.

In an interview with far-right podcaster Jack Posobiec on Oct 15, Zacharia, who worked in Beijing from 2011 to 2013, expressed disbelief at China's rise, stating, "How is China the next country on the horizon? They don't even have proper toilets." Her comments reflect a perception before the 2016 US presidential election, which is now outdated.

While Zacharia's observations might have held some truth about the China she visited 13 years ago, such claims are laughable today. Since 2015, China has undergone a transformative toilet revolution, investing heavily in building, renovating, and improving public restrooms across the country.

Having spent the past 14 months traveling across China from Yunnan, Xizang, Hainan, Guizhou, Sichuan and Xinjiang after 16 years as a foreign correspondent in the US and Europe, I can confidently say that finding a public toilet in China is much easier than in many Western countries.

In Chinese cities I visited, public toilets are within a five-minute walk, and they are generally clean and free.

A surprising development is the introduction of smart toilets in some public lavatories and many hotels, offering modern conveniences such as heated seats, hands-free automation, warm water washes and warm-air dryers.

That level of comfort is not commonly found in the US and Europe, where public toilets are not only hard to find, but often charge fees, especially in Europe. In Belgium, where I was based, using a public toilet costs 50 cents (56 US cents) to one euro, while in France, it ranges from one to two euros. It could be as high as 2.50 Swiss francs ($3.04) in Switzerland. Travelers with conditions such as an overactive bladder or diabetes could easily spend up to 10 euros a day on toilets.

I once joked with a European student that he could do research on how many people harm their health and bladders by holding their urine to avoid paying for toilets. My usual solution was to buy a coffee to use the restroom in the coffee shop. But it is not a good idea because caffeine intake only increases the need to use the toilet.

In contrast, in China, I don't have to worry about finding a public toilet, especially in my hometown, Shanghai. Public restrooms are conveniently located and accessible.

I am merely stating facts and have no intention to demean US or European cities, especially those which have hosted me and treated me well during my stays.

Zacharia's problem is that a perception about China that might have been true 10 or 20 years ago may no longer be correct today. That is why I travel so much these days to rediscover my own country that has changed so rapidly in the past decades.

Just a few decades ago, China did not have a proper expressway system, high-speed railways, a modern car industry and a clean energy sector. Today, it leads the world in those areas. For example, nine of the world's top 10 cities with the largest subway systems by total track length are in China, with Moscow the only exception at 10th place.

In its June report, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute revealed that China now leads in 69 of 74 critical technologies, something unimaginable 10 years ago.

In my view, it is the US and European cities that don't have proper public toilets. They badly need a toilet revolution and should learn from China's success.

The author is a China Daily columnist.

chenweihua@chinadaily.com.cn