I want to tell of an incident that happened a few years back, in Malaysia. A local politician had been fostering a wave of anti-Chinese sentiments, culminating into a promise to create havoc in a local Chinatown. The previous week he and his group of thugs had already been gathering outside of Chinatown, spewing hatred and promising to return the next week "to get the job done". All this while the police was at the scene to "monitor" them, but nothing much else. This raised tensions to a height rarely seen in decades, and there was a real sense of hopelessness among the local community.
The shops of Chinatown were already thinking of shuttering down for the weekend, when in the middle of the week, the Chinese ambassador and an entourage took a walk down Chinatown. This was happening during the Mid Autumn Festival, and they eventually stopped at a local restaurant to sample their mooncakes, and the Ambassador commented on how lovely the atmosphere and celebration of the festival are locally. He then went on to say that it would be a pity then if this would be brought to an end by any irresponsible behaviors. He then added that China values the friendship she has with Malaysia, and would not stand idly by to allowed any individual to sabotage that relationahip, nor to allow China's citizens to come to harm (but did not specifically refer to the local Chinese diaspora).
The Ambassador's actions and speech was all over the press, and the next day, that same local politician that was threatening Chinatown was apprehended by the police, locked up and questioned over his threats.
Tensions pretty much died down there and then.