We Must Not Offend Great Zeng Peiyan
From Stuff
An official ceremony at Parliament was temporarily shelved last night after the delegation of Chinese vice-premier Zeng Peiyan objected to journalists' presence at a function.
A Government spokesman said there had been a misunderstanding over whether two journalists working for the same organisation were allowed at an official meet and greet.
Journalist Nick Wang and cameraman/editor Tony Clark went to an office on the eighth floor of the Beehive to document Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen meeting the Chinese vice-premier.
The photo opportunity had been listed in a media advisory.
Clark said the two men were prevented from properly doing their job after a "local Chinese intelligence guy" told a member of the Diplomatic Protection Squad that Wang was "a problem".
While members of the Chinese media travelling with the delegation were allowed into the meeting room to observe the official handshake, Clark and Wang were escorted by a uniformed police officer to the office of Parliament's Speaker.
Clark said he had been given permission to film on the premises by the Speaker. Wang is an accredited member of the Press Gallery which means he has a pass to allow him access to Parliament's buildings.
Both men work for New Zealand Asia TV and Capital Chinese news, a New Zealand-based Chinese language newspaper. They produce a half-hour show on Triangle Television, reporting on Asian events in the Wellington region.
The chairwoman of Parliament's Press Gallery Marie McNicholas was called after the Chinese delegation protested at the journalist's presence.
The pair went to the Beehive venue where an official signing ceremony was to be held but the Chinese delegation refused to take part at the assigned time while Wong was there.
The official line was that the signing ceremony was held later because talks had gone on longer than expected.
The signing related to agreements on standards, technical documents that would have been agreed long in advance.
posted by Trevor Loudon at
3/27/2007 05:58:00 PM
7 Comments:
Hu Jintao is currently in Russia to where Putin is celebrating the "Year of China". I am certain they are planning some sort of military excerise for sure.
This latest media fiasco reminds me of another incident several years ago when a visiting chines delegation instructed Jenny Shipley to have protestors removed from outside their hotel in Auckland. In that instance as in this latest one our government used stormtroopers (little joke) to good effect.
Dirk.
I am the Founder & CEO of Triaqngle Television in Auckland - we broadcast to Auckland and Wellington - Nick Wang provides a programme on Asian affairs to our Wellington station. It is our policy not to have any form of editorial control on programme providers who purchase time to air their views - rather we rely on the requirements of Broadcast Standards to ensure that appropriate broadcast is achieved.
In Auckland we broadcast a paid programme supplied by the Falungong movement.
A few years ago, I was rung by the Chinese Consul in Auckland expressing concern that we broadcast Falun Dafa/Falun Gong programmes in Auckland saying that it wasn't "helpful" and was embarrassing to the Chinese people here, and therefore it might be a good idea and helpful (I am not quite sure who to) if we were not to screen these shows.
I explained that we operated a Govt owned frequency under a policy of open access with no editorial influence unless the programme might conflict with BSA etc., and that we would not censor programming - I also pointed out that the Chinese Govt was fully entitled to provide programming that countered any claims or were totally entitled to complain to BSA if they felt we were contravening the standard.
The Consul was far from happy with this - and we heard no more - but it was noticeable that the programming we screened by mainland Chinese people dried up, and even screening CCTV4 and CCTV 9 became difficult.
A check on websites that are banned and blocked in China will show that Triangle TV's Auckland website is one of these. I have no doubt that this is as a result of our broadcast of Falungong programming and I am sure we will shortly find TTV Wellington website blocked as well!!
I have no doubt that Nick is capable of pushing the boundaries, and good on him for doing that but I am equally sure, based on my own experience of the Chinese officials, that he would indeed have been targeted. I am not sure that Dr Cullen and others would be aware of the way they Officials work.
J W Blackman
I think Cullen and his ilk choose to turn a blind eye as they say.
Dirk.
Hey Trev have you ever noticed that in these kind of situations where NZ sucks up to the CPP (they seem to happen all the time these days) the only MPs who ever actually do anything to speak out are usually from the Greens. Often it is Keith Locke. Sometimes on this blog you've been quite critical of Locke's past. However, today he seems to be the NZ MP who most consistently sticks up for human rights for everyone.
Why doesn't ACT kick up a fuss too in these situations?
Cameron-Rodney has regularly spoken against China at Falun Gong rallies etc.
Ken Shirley was also very vocally pro Taiwan.
While Keith and the late Rod Donald often spoke against the Chinese, Keith has little credibility with me on the issue because of his prominent backing of the murderous Philippine Maoists.
Your friend Maire has much the same problem in my view.
Cameron-Rodney has regularly spoken against China at Falun Gong rallies etc.
Ken Shirley was also very vocally pro Taiwan.
While Keith and the late Rod Donald often spoke against the Chinese, Keith has little credibility with me on the issue because of his prominent backing of the murderous Philippine Maoists.
Your friend Maire has much the same problem in my view.
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