Original article: [Chinese]

Chinese are infuriated that our highly-respected premier, Wen Jiabao, was interrupted while delivering a speech at Cambridge University.

While the West was still combating the dire financial crisis, Premier Wen visited Europe to bolster confidence. In doing so, Wen diverted from Chinese leaders' long-held low-key style and frankly expressed China's willingness to do her utmost to help other countries get through the hard times, despite that they are a result of the US.

This is not only how a big nation should act but also beneficial to the global economy's long-term development. Such a country and its leaders deserve the world's applause, not protest.

Former US president George Bush met with similar protest in Iraq, but that incident had its grounds. The US's invasion brought Iraqi into the maelstrom of war and killed countless civilians, and many Iraqis have thus bitterly resented the US president. But such kind of protests are still denounced and denied by the larger public.

What did China do to Britain? Britain didn't return Hong Kong to China until after occupying it for 99 years by means of land leasing, let alone that it had invaded China with powerful gunboats and poisoned our people with opium.

Nevertheless, China has never held a grudge against Britain. Chinese have traditionally advocated treating people with respect and burying the hatchet. Moreover, in terms of our foreign policy, the Chinese government has maintained neutrality, pushed for mutual-trust and respect, and noninterference in other countries' internal affairs.

How, when a Chinese leader appeared at Cambridge University, such a respected icon of freedom, democracy, and rational discourse, could such an incident occur? It is indeed incomprehensible.

Despite that globalization is accelerating, the West and East are still vastly different. Because some western media and political forces have deliberately distorted China's rise, many westerners still think China is a backward and closed country.

The above two forces usually harp upon Western standards of freedom and democracy to make unwarranted charges against China's human rights and the media environment. Even more, some reckless people have tried to deliberately hurt Chinese's feelings at every possible public occasion.

Look at this British guy, whistling in his T-shirt. Judging from his vulgar acts, he was no less than a miscreant. It's incredible that such trash could enroll in Cambridge University. Premier Wen said it best: "Such despicable acts won't impede the Sino-British friendship." His lenience and magnanimity reflect the grace of our great nation. Meanwhile, the audience denounced him with a chorus of "shame on you". It was a clear repudiation by most of the teachers and students there against such a despicable act.

Despite that this was only one small unhappy episode during the trip, we still sternly denounce the miscreant that tried to hurt China, and urge the British police to bring him to justice.

The incident stirred a heat discussion among Chinese netizens. The following translated comments are from the original Chinese article, posted February 3 2009 on our Chinese edition website:

1. So this is the so-called freedom the western has been advocating! They don't know even the most basic etiquette! And to our surprise, such behavior occurred at the long-famed Cambridge University! I am totally speechless! It seems that our impression of Cambridge University is a lot different than reality.

2. Compared with our premier's demeanor, some British have really shown how "civilized" they are!

3. This shows that westerners' quality is not higher than ours.

4. It seems that the European security is just so so. That guy is a shame of all British people! I wish he was not British!

5. Maybe, throwing shoes is a fad. But the world will become more beautiful and promising because of our persistence and dedication.

6. China has human rights, democracy, and media freedom? Don't deceive yourself!

7. He just wants to draw attention to himself, so it's different from the Iraq incident.

8. Well, two shoes were thrown at Bush. He must be twice as good as good as Wen.