Arrow: Who is China White?

One of the best things about Arrow’s use of flashbacks has been the way they connect seemingly […]

September 5, 2017, 8:40pm

One of the best things about Arrow‘s use of flashbacks has been the way they connect seemingly disparate events throughout the show’s decade of story. And with the fifth season of flashbacks chronicling Oliver Queen‘s (Stephen Amell) final year ‘in hell’, viewers have watched the show’s protagonist become an apprentice of Talia Al Ghul.

And thanks to a reference in the flashbacks of tonight’s episode, Bratva, we’ve started to see the flashbacks connect back to the events of Arrow‘s first season – and to one particular villain.

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China White, a.k.a. Chien Na Wei, has been a frequent adversary of Team Arrow – and of Oliver in particular. She appeared in several episodes of season one as the an assassin and eventual leader of the Chinese Triad. Her escapades brought her into contact with several of the show’s early characters besides Oliver, including Helena Bertinelli/Huntress and Malcolm Merlyn.

The character (played by Kelly Hu) briefly appeared in the season two episode ‘Identity’, in which she and her new partner Ben Turner/Bronze Tiger robbed a series of medical delivery trucks. The episode ends with China being arrested by the Starling City police.

Aside from that, she appeared throughout season three’s flashbacks, in which she went to great lengths to obtain the Omega virus – which ultimately became a plot point in the season three finale.

In addition, China appeared in two issues of Arrow’s tie-in comic series. One issue was even entitled ‘China White’ and provided details about her backstory.

Given the fact that China is an assassin for the Triad at the beginning of Arrow’s first season, it makes sense that she will be involved with the tail end of the flashbacks, especially when they involve Talia and Oliver taking down Starling City drug kingpins.

Additionally, China is expected to appear in Arrow‘s present-day timeline in a unique way. In the upcoming episode entitled ‘The Sin-Eater‘, China will be part of girl gang of Team Arrow’s former foes. Her teammates will include Carrie Cutter/Cupid (Amy Gumenick) and Liza Warner/Lady Cop (Rutina Wesley). According to the episode’s synopsis, the trio will break out of Iron Heights to get revenge on Oliver.

‘The Sin-Eater’ will air on February 22nd, 2017.

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