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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Chinese anger at UK shoe-thrower | Chinese anger at UK shoe-thrower |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| China has reacted with indignation over an incident in which a shoe was thrown at its premier, Wen Jiabao. | China has reacted with indignation over an incident in which a shoe was thrown at its premier, Wen Jiabao. |
| Foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the man who disrupted a speech by the premier had exhibited "despicable behaviour". | Foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the man who disrupted a speech by the premier had exhibited "despicable behaviour". |
| China's reaction was far harsher than when two shoes were thrown at former US President George W Bush. | China's reaction was far harsher than when two shoes were thrown at former US President George W Bush. |
| A 27-year-old man has been charged with committing a public order offence following the incident in the UK. | A 27-year-old man has been charged with committing a public order offence following the incident in the UK. |
| British apology | British apology |
| The shoe was thrown at Premier Wen while he was giving a speech at Cambridge University on the global economy. | The shoe was thrown at Premier Wen while he was giving a speech at Cambridge University on the global economy. |
| It missed its intended target and barely disrupted the premier's speech, but that has not prevented China from issuing an angry statement. | It missed its intended target and barely disrupted the premier's speech, but that has not prevented China from issuing an angry statement. |
| "The Chinese side has expressed its strong feelings against the occurrence of the incident," spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement. | "The Chinese side has expressed its strong feelings against the occurrence of the incident," spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement. |
| Is this the quality of students at Cambridge, a university with 800 years of history? Chinese internet user | Is this the quality of students at Cambridge, a university with 800 years of history? Chinese internet user |
| She said the British government had already apologised for the protester's "despicable behaviour", an act that would not affect bilateral ties. | She said the British government had already apologised for the protester's "despicable behaviour", an act that would not affect bilateral ties. |
| Chinese internet users were less diplomatic when expressing their anger. | Chinese internet users were less diplomatic when expressing their anger. |
| "I think the guy was very stupid. He accused the premier of being a dictator. This to me has no logic," said one, who appeared to have had a ticket to the event. | "I think the guy was very stupid. He accused the premier of being a dictator. This to me has no logic," said one, who appeared to have had a ticket to the event. |
| "Is this the quality of students at Cambridge, a university with 800 years of history?" asked another. | "Is this the quality of students at Cambridge, a university with 800 years of history?" asked another. |
| The Chinese government's response stands in sharp contrast to the more humorous reaction to the incident involving George Bush in Iraq. | The Chinese government's response stands in sharp contrast to the more humorous reaction to the incident involving George Bush in Iraq. |
| So, Wen Jiabao survived his assault by flying shoe The BBC's James Reynolds Mr Bush was on a farewell trip when a local journalist threw two shoes at the then US president. Throwing shoes is an insult in the Middle East. | |
| When asked a question about the incident at a press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said state leaders should be respected. | When asked a question about the incident at a press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said state leaders should be respected. |
| But - to laughter - he added: "Next time I should watch out for not only [those] who are raising their hands, but also [those] who are untying their shoelaces." | But - to laughter - he added: "Next time I should watch out for not only [those] who are raising their hands, but also [those] who are untying their shoelaces." |
| Sole-searching | Sole-searching |
| The BBC asked spokeswoman Jiang Yu about the different responses. "Both our comments are proper," she replied. | The BBC asked spokeswoman Jiang Yu about the different responses. "Both our comments are proper," she replied. |
| China saw the funny side when shoes were thrown at Mr BushChina's media outlets also seem to think this incident, where a sports shoe was thrown, is less funny than the one Mr Bush had to deal with. | China saw the funny side when shoes were thrown at Mr BushChina's media outlets also seem to think this incident, where a sports shoe was thrown, is less funny than the one Mr Bush had to deal with. |
| When that happened, witty headlines such as, "Shoe attack leads to sole-searching" appeared in the Chinese press. | When that happened, witty headlines such as, "Shoe attack leads to sole-searching" appeared in the Chinese press. |
| But there was no humour in reports about Premier Wen's speech, which was the top story for China's main broadcaster, China Central Television (CCTV). | But there was no humour in reports about Premier Wen's speech, which was the top story for China's main broadcaster, China Central Television (CCTV). |
| The shoe-throwing incident initially received little comment - and was referred to simply as "a disturbance", although later news bulletins on CCTV carried a fuller report. | The shoe-throwing incident initially received little comment - and was referred to simply as "a disturbance", although later news bulletins on CCTV carried a fuller report. |
| Mr Wen also had to brave pro-Tibet supporters on his three-day visit to the UK. | Mr Wen also had to brave pro-Tibet supporters on his three-day visit to the UK. |
| The man charged in connection with the incident is due to appear before Cambridge magistrates next week. | The man charged in connection with the incident is due to appear before Cambridge magistrates next week. |