Asia-Pacific News
China summons CNN bosses over commentator's "goons, thugs" remarks
Apr 17, 2008, 5:42 GMT
Beijing - China's Foreign Ministry summoned CNN executives to lodge a protest as it seeks an apology from the US news network for statements made by a commentator.
CNN said Jack Cafferty was referring to China's leadership and not China's people on April 9 when he said, 'I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years.'
But the Chinese government did not accept that explanation. Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Cafferty's 'vile remarks' 'maliciously attacked the Chinese people and seriously violated the professional ethics of journalism,' according to a report Thursday in the state-run China Daily newspaper.
The criticism came as China has been accusing foreign media, and singling out CNN, for biased coverage on Tibet and last month's protests and unrest there.
'CNN's ulterior motive in targeting the Chinese government, continuing to mislead public opinion as well as deceiving the Chinese people will never succeed,' Liu said Wednesday in a written statement.
He called for 'a sincere apology to all Chinese people.'
CNN said Tuesday 'that it was not Mr Cafferty's, nor CNN's, intent to cause offence to the Chinese people, and [CNN] would apologize to anyone who has interpreted the comments in this way.'
It noted that it employs commentators 'who provide robust opinions that generate debate,' including Cafferty, who has been critical of a number of world governments in comments made on CNN, including the US administration.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
Funny to find Tibetan Buddhists that claim of racism against them by the Chinese Hans now support racism against Chinese by a redneck American from CNN, Jack Cafferty.
Simply put the apology by CNN was not sincere. Racism is against the law in the United States and is a vital part of Bill of rights/Constititution in clauses like 'free and equal'. Western media has supported an anti-Chinese slant since it's inception. Very much a part of the Chinese Exclusion act of 1882. //www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/chinex.htm
Remember how the Chinese in America lost all their rights, robbed of their possesions and not allowed to testify against White men/women when murdered/raped and pillaged. Chinese had to go, literally, underground in America. All this after being greeted with great fanfare at the docks in San Francisco by then governor of California, Lionel Stanford. After the railroads were built the Chinese were then disposable in favor of the privleged European.
Let's be real people. Cafferty's description of the Chinese government is accurate. They observe no right to free expression and when they see it in their own borders they put it down, often harshly. Now they want to use thier new found, (and somestimes stolen) economic clout to stamp out free expression here. Hell NO!
china can give it, but they sureky can't take it. criticism that is!!
Off course they are Goons and Thugs...
My hats off to the CNN commentator for calling it as it is, which is really hard to find these days in Western Media.
Let's say that XinHua news agency editor comments like this: American are just a bunch of war criminals and murderers killing tens of thousands of Iraqis without any remorse. United States is the most barbaric modern uncivilized nation in the world openly resorting to torturing innocent people. American redneck, please take it as a criticism.
CCP agents were everywhere.....
My GOD
Yes, as you said we Chinese are eating trash to grow stronger.
We are living very well.
We are not that silly to believe all the offfical news. Persons joined the Communism Party dont believe that too. Actually not all the prople in China are concerning the Tibet issue.
Stop saying we are brainwashed. I have my own thought.
Yes, we lack some freedom. But you and I, we don't know the toughness to run a 1.3 billion people country. If everywher there is demonstraction, the country will be a mess. If officials debate like Obama and Hilary, who work?
page: 1
Chagri LamaApr 17th, 2008 - 11:36:05
Oh, more of the same garbage. They have been swimming upstream for 50 years, and living in a (relatively) open world makes their life just miserable, their actions scrutinized minutely and their morals exposed in all their stinking glory. Like CNN, I have no quarrel with the people in China - they are simply victims of decades of beainwashing. There is however great evil lodged in their halls of government. The strength of China in the world is now acting to eviscerate their position of truth all while making the incredible achievements of the population stand out and shine.
To the Chinese people: Note that the truth you perceive - as blabbed by Xinhua and the other official Chinese goevernemt outlets - is not the truth. Of course, the truth as touted by the Western Media is very likely not quite true either. You will have to find the truth somewhere in the middle.
Meanwhile, the 'official' words of the official Chinese media is simply disgusting.
Chagri Lama
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