Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's scolding of a Canadian reporter for daring to ask a question about human rights in China has made headlines around the world. The unexpected rant reflects China's attempt to export its own values, especially censorship, to the West.
Instead of a spontaneous display of anger, the performance was clearly staged. Chinese officials are asked about human rights everywhere they go, and so the question itself should not have been surprising. What was odd was that while the question was directed at Canada's foreign affairs minister, Stephane Dion, the Chinese minister stepped in to respond.
Despite its loudly proclaimed principle of opposing interference in other countries' internal affairs, in practice, it seems, China practices such interference, preventing a Canadian reporter from asking a Canadian official about Canada's policy on China. If this type of behavior is accepted, it is tantamount to giving China the right to censor what is said and written about China around the world