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China raises pressure on CNN over “vicious remarks”
Comments by CNN commentator Jack Cafferty that China’s leaders were a “bunch of goons and thugs” and its exports to the United States were “junk with the lead paint on them” has touched off angry rebuttals from Chinese officials and citizens.
On Tuesday, Jiang Yu, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, called Cafferty’s statements - made last week on the political news program “The Situation Room” - “vicious remarks” and called on Cafferty and CNN to “apologize to the whole Chinese people.”
The China Daily, a mouthpiece newspaper of China’s government, ran a front-page story on Wednesday that among other things called Cafferty’s statements “racist and vitriolic”.
CNN issued a statement in response to Jiang Yu saying that the Cafferty’s comments represented his “strongly held opinion of the Chinese government, not the Chinese people” and that he had clarified that point on Monday.
The network added that “it was not Mr. Cafferty’s nor CNN’s intent to cause offense to the Chinese people” and CNN “would apologize to anyone who interpreted the comments in this way.”
Beijing’s denunciation of Cafferty’s statements echoed earlier criticisms of CNN and other western media organizations for what Chinese officials have called biased reporting of violent protests in Tibet last month.
A story in the China Daily last month said that “pictures from some media websites, including CNN and BBC, with untrue reports about the riots (in Tibet) have been posted to chatrooms, drawing criticism.”
Beijing has maintained that protests and violent riots in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, was carried out by a small group of people supported by the Dalai Lama’s government-in-exile. The Dalai Lama has denied any connection to the protests and has called for China to increase freedoms for Tibetans, who have lived under direct Chinese rule since the 1950s.
Beijing has banned foreign journalists from reporting freely in Tibetan areas, making it difficult for journalists to determine what happened during the recent riots and subsequent crackdown.
Some experts argue that Beijing is intentionally stoking nationalistic feelings among Chinese citizens ahead of the Olympics - when activists are likely to protest China’s human rights record, media restrictions and activities in Tibet, among other issues - to deflect domestic criticism of the government.
It was unclear on Wednesday whether Beijing would accept CNN’s statement and, if they did not, what actions they might take against the station. Officials at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not reply to questions faxed to them.
But Chinese citizens posting on the Internet called on Beijing to push the issue.
“We cannot accept CNN’s apology because it is insincere,” one post on a popular Web site read on Wednesday afternoon.
It is not clear how many Chinese were upset by Cafferty’s remarks. But many Chinese were angered by images of people in Paris, London and San Francisco protesting the Olympic torch relay.
Some experts believe that some Chinese will react negatively toward any group or company considered critical of China’s government ahead of the Games.
Comments
By Julie
April 16, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
Well, China, if the shoe fits………..
By Sven the Blog Catalyst
April 16, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
Or, translated to Chinese, “If the Foo Sh …” Oh, never mind.
By Timon
April 16, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
Why so outraged China? The truth hurt?
By Lynne
April 16, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this
If I were the Chinese, every box shipped over here would have “F-U Dumb Azz Americans” written right on them and not even care. In fact, this spokesperson could have plainly said “yeah our goods are sh!t, so what? kick rocks”. When the trade deficit with China can at least drop below $200 BILLION DOLLARS, maybe Cafferty will have a point, but until then, whatever. Everybody talking about “well China, if the shoe fits”, will be trekking to a Wally World SuperCenter buying up those same cheap Chinese goods. Drop the high and mighty act, as Cafferty should.
By dougmo
April 17, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
When will CNN apologize for impersonating a credable news source?
By Made In America
April 17, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
TO LYNNE:
What are you talking about? You are chinese, and your real name is LIN DUM SUC..
By Stephanie
April 24, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this
Face it. We are the United States of China. Where do you think the government is getting the money for our ‘rebate’ checks? It’s a loan from China. Then we can use their money to buy more of their imports.