The rambunctious Mexican press
A shoving match broke out last Friday at the Great Hall of the People, right in front of President Hu Jintao and Mexican President Felipe Calderon.
By the time it was over, after the shouting died down, a security guard stood there with one sleeve missing from his jacket. And a female reporter sported a fat lip.
Unless you are an avid reader of Spanish-language media (click here and here), you haven’t read about this elsewhere. No mention of the incident was made in the Chinese press. But I venture to say such events can play a role in diplomatic affairs, at least at lower levels in the respective foreign ministries.
This is what happened: The traveling Mexican press corps was invited into the Great Hall of the People Friday for the beginning of a meeting between Hu and Calderon. As is customary before such encounters, the Chinese Foreign Ministry informed the Mexicans of the protocol. The press corps would be invited in only for the first five minutes or so of the meeting for what is vernacularly known as a “photo op,” then ushered out.
But Los Pinos, as the Mexican presidential palace is known, apparently didn’t tell the Mexican press corps that it wouldn’t be allowed to witness the whole meeting.
When Chinese security guards began trying to usher the 20 or so Mexican reporters, photographers and television cameramen out of the salon, they resisted – mightily. The two sides began grappling, pushing and even tussling in front of the leaders.
According to the Spanish language report from the EFE news service, “the altercation made President Hu arch his eyebrows in a clear gesture of disgust, while functionaries of the Chinese foreign ministry felt clear irritation at a type of behavior seen as ‘not very polite’ in this Asian nation.”
The security guards finally pushed and shoved the journalists out of the room, but not before a reporter tore the sleeve off one guard’s jacket. The injured Mexican reporter took a hit by a tape recorder on her mouth.
So I guess the hot-blooded Mexican journalists left their mark on China.
If as scripted a event as this one with accredited Mexican journalists got screwed up.... what does it say for the Olympics?
Something tells me Beijing have no idea what is about to hit them in 27 days.
Posted by: A B | July 13, 2008 at 03:49 AM
These Mexican revolutionaries are attempting to bring the right to bear arms to China.
Pancho Villa will be so proud of them.
While President Felipe Calderon just stood idly by.... I mean, he could have joined in beating up the Chinese security people!
Did you hear the one about the Mexican Press Attache that was caught stealing Blackberries from White House Staff at a briefing in the US?
When confronted as he was about to board a plane for Mexico, he claimed it was all a mistake, handed back the stolen pagers, and then claimed diplomatic immunity.
Viva! Viva!
Posted by: A B | July 13, 2008 at 06:23 AM
Chinese security guards better start watching out for low rider VWs cruising Beijing streets.
China apparently has little comprehension of machismo.
Posted by: nanheyangrouchuan | July 13, 2008 at 04:27 PM
It's just a misunderstanding. That's why noone touched this one.
Posted by: Netizen | July 15, 2008 at 07:30 AM
Crazed fenqing: "Mexico has always been an anti-China country, because they are close friends with the Americans and like handle-bar moustaches. 打死墨西哥鬼子!"
Posted by: FOARP | July 15, 2008 at 09:34 AM
FOARP,
What made you so cynical? China?
It's good for all parties that you left, I guess.
Posted by: Pffefer | July 15, 2008 at 05:29 PM
Judging from these racist comments, any chinese complaints about 'china bashing' are hollow and meaningless. Being smug, arrogant and insecure is no way to go through life. Anti-china? No, mexicans just dislike bullies.
Posted by: Wilbur Varela | July 18, 2008 at 04:11 PM
Wilbur, I don't think any of those racist comments are from the pro-China crowd. They're just poorly worded comments from people trying to take jabs at China but not really knowing what they're talking about because I really doubt they know anything about Mexico. They've spent too much time on China blogs you see.
They are sarcastic comments that made their posters sound like douches because 1) the comments are not articulate 2) stereotyping just makes you look like an idiot
Posted by: Dana | July 20, 2008 at 09:36 AM