Awkward silence: China official temporarily speechless after question on protests

China's foreign ministry defended the country's zero tolerance response to Covid while protests have increased across the country.
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The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian took a long pause and shuffled papers before answering a Reuters reporter's question on the dissent by defending the government's policy.
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#China #BlankPaperRevolution #WhitePaperRevolution #Covid #News

[@seanmei3466]

For those who don't speak mandarin, the translator neglected the part "widespread of anger" "across China" and simply said "What does the Chinese government have to say about the recent dissatisfaction towards the covid policy in China". So yes, they have their translators trained to be a filter in a circumstance like this

[@OutOFBasS]

I think the guy himself does speak or at least know some english yeah?

[@Zero-cu7ec]

Imagine how badass it would be if the reporter asking the questions know mandarin as well, and just repeat translate his question so it has no filter.

[@sway2000]

@@Zero-cu7ec You're so right!

[@AliBaba-ds3cj]

she too scared to her life from Xi jinping😁

[@seanmei3466]

@@Zero-cu7ec Actually this happened before. An American journalist was asking questions about culture revolution. Then the translator used a less serious descriptive term which alters the nature in essence. It turned out that this journalist speaks perfect mandarin. He grabed the mic and started praising the translator doing a fantastic job. But he is very picky about the words. Then proceeding to translate for himself in mandarin.

[@shaukahodan2373]

This man’s life is on the line if he says the wrong thing.

[@Weed-sq3rt]

That was my interpretation

[@jullianbashir18]

Nah his entire family and friends too haha

[@jordansehn]

100%

[@Chad-bc9vi]

I don't ever want to be in that situation

[@betonkevero6823]

@@jullianbashir18 In the great People's Republic of China we don't punish anyone for speaking freely. We aim for a more creative, intelligent, and open minded society in China, therefore our glorious government encourages anyone.... Just joking, I'm not a chinese agent. They probably wouldn't take his friends tho.

[@Panda-cn5jk]

He was not silent, he was thinking about his choices in life.

[@wolfumz]

I work as a counselor. We're taught that in a counseling session, silence is when people are truly thinking and processing what they feel. You want to let people have the silence they need.

[@raymondkidwell7135]

He waited too long. He might disappear and reemerge six months later after his reeducation has been completed. And this is the same regime paying hunter Biden.

[@dannytran1587]

@@wolfumz Exactly this. People that do timed interviews usually don’t get to communicate what they’re truly thinking

[@illDefine1]

@@wolfumz True. Time feels awkwardly long when you're in silence waiting to tell a lie.

[@bdstudios6088]

Such a dramatic moment. The political theater is getting spicy now on both sides of US and China 😮

[@khtan2619]

His worst nightmare suddenly became a reality when he discovered that someone had replaced all the documents in his file with blank sheets of paper.

[@shaoronmd]

maybe he's low key joining the white paper revolution. 😉😆😆😆

[@illDefine1]

That's movie-type stuff. I like it!

[@Ixion-1337]

What would that imply may I ask?

[@xyeB]

TOTS

[@crumstopher]

This reads like a far side comic

[@VinnyOrzechowski]

As he sifts through the papers looking for a government approved response

[@calanjameshunt]

and thinking of the consequences of the slightest miss step...

[@keithhowell4138]

Exactly what I thought he was looking for..

[@jigga2473]

No he knew there was nothing there... he was just painfully looking for a way to 'hide' :(

[@dave9547]

Didn't western governments beat, imprison and close bank accounts of people protesting the same thing? The hypocrisy of our media and governments is disgusting.

[@ML-yu5ij]

People of your shallow calibre wouldn't get it.

[@abduvohidodiljonov9365]

His hesitation and thinking a lot before answering shows that the situation is quite serious in China.

[@ThomasTubeHD]

And if he says something that is not "government approved", he'll be out of the job

[@drozdforce8853]

@@ThomasTubeHD especially about such thing, and not out of the job, out of his life...

[@ciatangallaghe2485]

@@ThomasTubeHD he'll be in a labour camp more like.

[@ivangim1]

Agree. Most definitely so.

[@ivangim1]

@@ThomasTubeHD Absolutely right. No two ways about it. Job, perks and privileges of a CCP member.

[@kabewar77]

The amount of fear that man had just from the possibility of sounding minutely unflattering towards China is insane… he was walking on a thin line

[@Rastalos]

I think they meant the spokesperson.

[@bigmonetrigga6703]

@@heeyy3 there’s 2 he’s

[@ThePartarar]

He looking effn terrified

[@Rivers198]

And that is precisely why China will fail in the long run…

[@QueenCoCoaMocha]

I can hear his heart pounding and racing 😩

[@saisatwik1576]

He took "silence speaks louder than words" to a whole new level.

[@namelesssnitchy]

windows on and off sounds

[@4_youtube_is_dead]

Game too easy

[@jackinquisitor9645]

他这个样子像极了马科长被采访的样子，但不得不说，马科长比他强多了lol

[@deanbarnett8538]

@@namelesssnitchy They have to have a little bit of patience with a new model AI. They still take a while to compute.

[@eddyvideostar]

@@deanbarnett8538 : Selassie: True. Correct.

[@elitepunch1498]

He was actually giving an open book exam he just couldn't find the answer in his notes 😂😂

[@ThemobileUnity]

Absolutely not, that your baby brain. Every Single word due for that he says actually can be alive or death. So yeah.

[@drgrey7026]

@@ThemobileUnity so it's just a very important exam

[@O_Cum_O_Cum_Emmanuel]

ahaha?

[@John-vz1wq]

his seniors forgot to write down the answers for these questions or possibly the answers were written in fine print

[@EnKrakozia]

I bet his PA will pay for this, he will find other mistake to cover up his shame, that's how the system work

[@jamiestewart4087]

I love his blank paper response!

[@sungyong34]

He cares about his career and paycheck rather than his honest answer.

[@joskethegreat4154]

And his 25 years in concentration camp

[@kiwuuspurr1927]

and the lives of his family members and relatives

[@michellemiao_]

Man’s life flashed before his eyes

[@dbzviper]

For real, he could't breath anymore as his Heart was pounding 😂😂😂😂

[@betterwithrum]

I wouldn’t have faulted him if he just passed out.

[@tunahxushi4669]

He could be first in line to donate all his organs "voluntarily" ...

[@garykelly4457]

Lol

[@tommingzuo]

Because one wrong word Xi will take his life.

[@kylecollins1045]

He's calculating every word as if his life depends on it

[@breakthroughxx]

Not as if, it is literally

[@calimio6]

Because it does

[@chrisb9143]

It does

[@meg2042]

Perhaps he should resign....

[@kingoftroll3511]

replace "as if" with "because"

[@achyutnepalise7829]

IF i' Zhao, the Foreign- ministry = I will just WALK- 0FF & WALK- OUT then Leave the ROOM (without a WORD) !!!!!

[@voofongting9083]

Well- said 👍

[@zikoraifenneli]

This is the most classic example of the saying"Silence speaks louder than words".

[@Seeker7257]

This perfectly sums up the quote: "Silence is not always empty, it is full of answers to those who listen."

[@annika8877]

I exactly thought the same. That´s similar to what the austrian-american philosopher Paul Watzlawick stated: One cannot not communicate

[@du-me-Utube-1975]

WHO REMEMBERED IN THE WEST (Canada, Australia, USA) when people protests and were denied, arrested, dehumanized, mocked by the media, bank accounts frozen…??? HYPOCRISY MUCH WESTERN MEDIA???

[@suikai2776]

I have to think about what the journalist meant people. The chinese public or those people who got paid to go out to protest. I would have to think about it too -A lot of people support the new modified flexible zero policy . Also he always pause b/f answer, unlike the talkative western ones.

[@1ACL]

He held up his own "blank white paper."

[@putinhhitler7775]

@@suikai2776 paid xi supporters😂😂

[@rogueagent0191]

When you get asked a question that's not on the script

[@russellbaston974]

And the “answer” isn’t on the script either.

[@sokratesowly2256]

cmon, that is the most expected question atm. Even the silence itself is in the script.

[@Mike-xo1se]

It's not that simple, his silence clearly says something.

[@renaldiroekanto789]

He only brought blank paper with him, he is also protesting...

[@asad-kc8zf]

😊he knew it was coming. Maybe he didn’t rehearsed the answer or there is no right answer.

[@kimberlyedwards75]

As I listen to this for only two minutes or less, my tear is rolling down my eyes you know the people want their freedom and new president they have spoken clearly please don’t give up

[@globalnomad450]

It never fails to shock me at how controlled people can actually be.

[@pawelnotts]

Because you don't know history. People have been controlled for the vast majority of time. 20th century was an anomaly.

[@johnwattdotca]

@@pawelnotts I'm sorry to see you have such a self-defeating concept of human life. You're wrong.

[@johnwattdotca]

Can you describe this shock you feel? Is it only in English, or do you watch Chinese news in Chinese?

[@puffystrike]

This is what happens when someone is living in China. The government can order for you/your families' organs life-harvested. I am not joking .

[@davidmacumu3559]

Mayb u r controlled too. Many are jst blind to admit it.

[@kramnrib4888]

I think his whole life just flashed into his eyes knowing that answering the question may lead to his demise.

[@tomowenpianochannel]

Seriously... end this pretence and join the world again, China. We need you, you need us.

[@ceciliac2225]

If this isn’t a reality of China, your comment is very funny.

[@TuneyDarko]

@@ceciliac2225 you’re funny

[@wenyuhe8949]

@@ceciliac2225 help us please, our people have already been tired of this ***hole"s shameless words.Our nation" reputation has been damaged becuuse of him

[@crumstopher]

Bars

[@leesteal4458]

I am sorry for him. That was such a long pause, and twice. He looked like he was about to start crying.

[@tunahxushi4669]

Feel 'sorry' for malicious monster representing the largest mafia on earth? hmmm... no...

[@gabriellim1343]

Based on the video, it seems much more the *Reporter* is a CIA/ FBI paid to ask such Quest) to Zhao!

[@voofongting9083]

I like you💌🏩

[@jacobwong14]

top comment

[@Kriv]

Silence is deafening.

[@JohnSmith-vn8dm]

He is afraid if he gives the wrong answer and embarrasses the CCP he will end up in camp.

[@Monster-21.21]

@@JohnSmith-vn8dm 😂😂😂

[@cripplingdepression3061]

@@JohnSmith-vn8dm true, I was the electric chair that torture his family 🪑⚡

[@suikai2776]

Don't you see they always do that unlike the west and indians talk nonsense. They know and we know what's going on about this little colorful revolusion and no big deal. A show is a show

[@mohammedsaad4731]

Verily the allegory behind silence is that the protest has been intensified and the state of authority is lurching towards disarray like Iran, again the protest is instigated by the event of building get lting burned in urmuqi where 10-12 uigher lost their lives again this is astonishing.

[@111bryson]

His name is Zhao Lijian, and he is able to speak and understand English for anybody wondering. There was no mistranslation going on here.

[@soothing1244]

😂😂

[@leemankei]

nobody really cares as the china foreign ministry carries no weight and bs most of the time. none take it seriously

[@kant.68]

Than why is he using a translator?

[@stacytacycy]

@@kant.68 To steal some time to think? A lot of amazingly linguistically capable hire-ups still hire interpretors (whose language level is sometimes not as impressive as their own) for negotiations and such. To buy time. To divert attention. To observe. To disctract.

[@forgettmenot]

@@kant.68 I also know many countries’ representatives do this purely because of patriotism, etc. For example Putin is fluent in German and many leaders are fluent in English, but will still want to hear in their native language and reply in their native language.

[@dwaynegalvin8799]

He's getting instructions through his earpiece!

[@winyonzentrada]

When you take something that has been in the darkness into the light, you can't cover it anymore. Just like now, no matter how you try to cover it, it is before the very eyes of the world.

[@pierrec8563]

He’s not speechless, it’s a special communication operation.

[@du-me-Utube-1975]

WHO REMEMBERED IN THE WEST (Canada, Australia, USA) when people protests and were denied, arrested, dehumanized, mocked by the media, bank accounts frozen…??? HYPOCRISY MUCH WESTERN MEDIA???

[@harun776]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@yaiburanakul8505]

You have to read between the lines. He is saying that he cannot tell the truth because he himself is oppressed.

[@eattherich9215]

The relay from Beijing is particularly slow.

[@KKPR533]

🤣🤣🤣

[@NoName-ky2sb]

He doesn't talk as an expression of oppression of speech. He's oppressed from above.

[@NazriB]

Lies again? RP Education

[@turtlex4866]

All politicians do the same thing avoid the tough questions and dodge it. In politics, admitting the fault is like career suicide.

[@coryliu4960]

👎

[@Chichi23178]

People just found out this guy’s wife actually lives in Germany and enjoyed all the freedom there.

[@Yashvant5569]

😂

[@achyutnepalise7829]

IF I'm Zhao, the Foreign- ministry = I'll just WALK- 0FF, WALK- OUT and Leave!!! the Room without a WORD = Can't WAIT!! To see WHAT are they going to- do, NEXT !

[@voofongting9083]

Exactly!!! I would do the SAME too.

[@bryanjason9057]

I would do the same too

[@achyutnepalise7829]

​ @aviatorsound914 D0ESN'T even make Sense!!

[@achyutnepalise7829]

​ @aviatorsound914 D0ESN'T even make Sense!!

[@achyutnepalise7829]

​ @aviatorsound914 D0ESN'T even make Senses!!

[@crimsonsbarvwin3393]

IF I'm the China's foreign ministry! I will just WALK- OFF like........... DONALD TRUMP!!!! (without any Xplanation)

[@voofongting9083]

Well- said😁😅🤣😂😂😂😇

[@paulosinigaglia1]

Credits to the journalist who crafted the question. He anchored the question on the reports of protests which puts the minister in a position that he needs to be very carefull if acknowledging the protests

[@NicasiusDeVries]

Yes and to consider having a president that is well known to get rid of people easily just like Israel Mossad.

[@evolrouy]

Agreed. D question was carefully and intellectually crafted.. d diplomat took a long pause. U cant really burry d truth.

[@tadhgcronin175]

Was this journalist silent during the lockdowns in the west.

[@msamogh96]

It's called a loaded question. And dude was not prepared for it

[@gosteiefavoritei1]

@@tadhgcronin175 Idk about this specific jornalist, but there was plenty of media coverage on lockdowns in the west, everyone knew it was happening, and there were plenty of jornalists asking their governments about their plans all the time. It was the only thing people talked about. But also lockdowns in western countries were super chill compared to the zero covid policy on China.

[@ChineseHistorian2022]

If you speak Mandarin Chinese, you know the translator left out part of the question like the widespread anger across the country. My mom and sister could not leave their home for 73 days during the omicron lockdown. CCP is facing a turning point in history.

[@alfredeinstein1742]

How did you get food then

[@boratbagatov9728]

@@alfredeinstein1742 government delivers food instead.

[@manwithblackdog254]

You have my deepest sympathy. I wish you all life, health, freedom. That means nothing yet. One day soon we shall be free. We have to fight for that freedom or we will All either be dead or live with a boot on our heads for eternity. Long live the people of this planet

[@JemmyDelva]

They deliver paltry supplies and expect people to be ok with being prisoners in their own home. Please link your video.

[@eriol_h]

Where's the video? We want to see it.

[@vincentnguyen8569]

This is when action speaks louder than words

[@taijisyxom6888]

same for blank paper

[@bryanjason9057]

the China's official wen speechlesss because the Reporter asking speechless QUEST) !!!!

[@voofongting9083]

FINALLY, finally someone here who knows and speak OUT the TRUTH👍👍👍

[@aranchi20]

China needs to hire better propagandists cause you two ain’t cutting it 😂

[@golinlim2221]

@@aranchi20 WHATEVA get you SL😴😴P through the NIGHT😅🤣🤣😂

[@voofongting9083]

@@aranchi20 your LAUGHABLE😅🤣🤣🤣🤣😂..... like the PAID CIA/ FBI's Reporter.....😅🤣🤣🤣🤣😂

[@voofongting9083]

@@aranchi20 *i Can't Breathe* like George FLoyd from CHOKE_ LAUGHING your FACE😅🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂 ...UR very LAUGHABLE like the paid CIA/ FBI's Reporter.!!!

[@DanielKwan]

I was surprised there wasn’t an answer prepared in rehearsal for exactly the way the question was phrased. But probably nobody wanted to be the one adding this question to the list.

[@mikeshoults4155]

No no no. This man knows exactly what he is doing. He is terrified because what he is doing is... A white paper protest. Recently during the protests people have been holding up blank peices of A4 paper because they cannot say anything. Can you see the anger on his face. The fear, turning into determination... He knows that the CCP will know exactly what he is saying with his silence and he will disappear in a black bag, but he his doing it anyways. This guy is a martyr

[@francoislechanceux5818]

Certainly there is, but the Reuters journalist is really smart. He rephrased the question differently, hence the confusion in the speaker's mind.

[@dostagirl9551]

Based on his response and assuming he went with the one that closest matched the question he was asked, it seemed China expected the reporters to specifically mention the inhumane treatment and so were at a loss how to respond to a simple phrasing of whether or not they would continue with zero Covid policies.

[@charliekowittmusic]

Somebody who genuinely understands the drawback of an authoritarian government to their own goals! “Nobody wanted to be the one” (discussing this with the party officials) is probably exactly what happened lol

[@kaixiang5390]

yes, because that would require admitting discontent

[@sausbaus4897]

Shows how scary the government can be, man's fearing for his life answering that

[@justayoutuber1906]

Trump had many with the same look

[@user-nq7lr8fy8p]

@@justayoutuber1906no he didn’t lol Trump was always confident

[@vanchaithao537]

I agree, this man is fighting for his own safety life, the president China is watching his actions and his speech, I can feel his fear and his life. I totally understand he know the answer to the question, but he know someone is watching on him.

[@chenchen6027]

Your country is scary,your government is rubbish

[@vanchaithao537]

@@chenchen6027 That is not true. The country of itself is not very scary or being fear by the government, they are not powerful to scare you. The scary part that everyone fear the most even government is themselves. You can't have power if no one don't believe you, support your ideology, or loyalty to your trust. That is the scary thing in China. It can cost rebels, conflict, or revolution. That is China biggest fear of all.

[@jonathangabryle7930]

the Reporter is the ONE who asking such Unprofessional Quest) !!! I will just LEAVE without ANY Explanation to such LwLife's !!!!

[@bryanjason9057]

Any foreign officials will do the same too.

[@bryanjason9057]

No doubt, any foreign officials will do the same too.

[@crimsonsbarvwin3393]

IF I'm the China's Foreign ministry, I will just WALK- OFF & WALK- OUT like.......... *Donald Trump* (without an Xplanation & ANSWER) to the FACE REPORTER😅🤣😂😂😂

[@voofongting9083]

IF this is not the comment of the year, I don't Know WHAT IT IS!!!

[@calvindevries]

Bot

[@jasonho6024]

The reporter is the one who being Un professionals & Out of his Line!!! I will just JAILED him & Imprisonment 4 LIFE !!! ~ Can't WAIT to see WHAT is he going to do, NEXT!!!

[@TCTerribleDog]

For a man who's never at lost with words; it SHOCKS me to see him stumble for a 2ND time in a week. I think there's a paradigm shift within him.

[@marjhuncantago9476]

he been following scripts

[@randomoneforstuff3696]

@@marjhuncantago9476 And for once his script didn't include the answers to these pressing questions.

[@kelmac1618]

Did you see the message about the translator leaving out critical words?

[@austin426512]

Doesn’t he know that is the only question that will be asked??

[@thomasisking]

His Guardian subscription didn't go through.

[@ydcjydcj1724]

Every single word he says can literally be life or death

[@yesyes9698]

I think the modern situation is more like social and political death. Kind of like you literally stop existing if you are on their bad side.

[@MaxineM]

That is true.

[@icekingforyou]

He is dead.

[@lmfdjtiko2]

shiet dude

[@CherishedChristianLife]

did you saw that dry swallow 😬

[@WhoWho569]

He got emotional, had to find composure. Something about all this has made him grow a conscience. The man is human again. I’m happy for him, I’m happy for anyone that regains their humanity.

[@pmg2120]

Hopefully you’re right. But my fear is he’s trying figure out a way to answer the question that doesn’t get him killed.

[@starjadiancloneinvestigato1772]

did you read some fanfiction about him or something because what you said did not happen LOL

[@gabbyn.3049]

@@starjadiancloneinvestigato1772 Someone write this man a fanfic!

[@Blisterdude123]

Are you kidding? He was probably trying to frantically restrain the natural inclination to have a journalist escorted into the happy van.

[@claytonbuck5416]

Looks like SOMEONE'S going to the gulag

[@mayankkumar5896]

Man took " sometimes silence is the best answer" seriously.

[@cf8802]

@Travel Crawl Uhm.... When was it safe to have children in History? And... Has there ever been a world without insane leaders, that has caused tremors and fear? Btw, Historically, we probably have just lived through the second most peaceful period ever, since Pax Romana, at least here in the Western World.

[@utsavmewada45]

Uski phati padi hai..

[@tannen3339]

@@Orange-ic2mp Putin is a monster

[@stupifyingstupedity2112]

He did not choose silence, he was struggling and paralysed. If this was a movie scene, that acting would have been judged to be overdone. Each answer he came up with in his mind strangled his tongue.

[@fransvangoolen2972]

It's a computerized answer without any feeling..

[@crimsonsbarvwin3393]

IF I'm the China's Foreign- ministry! I'll just WALK- OFF like................. *DONALD TRUMP* (without an Answer without an Xplanation) !!!!!!!!

[@voofongting9083]

EXACTLY 👍👍👍

[@crimsonsbarvwin3393]

the China's Foreign ministry should just WALK- OFF & WALK- OUT like................ *Donald TRUMP* (without an Xplanation & Answer) !!!!!!!

[@voofongting9083]

Well- said👍👍👍

[@bryanjason9057]

Donald trump's the worse and you wanna see how they compared him to Zhao!

[@calvindevries]

bot

[@pauln7029]

There is silence of power, but this is most certainly a silence of anxiety

[@ludo9234]

And also the silence of death.

[@prn718]

It’s fascinating to see China’s carefully orchestrated facade crumble progressively in the era of social media and nonstop information.

[@anshi5098]

@@prn718 thats so well put together

[@MonroeSim]

@@anshi5098 so many well spoken people on YT lol that’s like the 5th poetic comment I’ve seen in like 20 min 😂

[@dchegu]

He didn't even have a generic diplomatic reply.

[@whatabout129]

Did they play the full video ?

[@cj41079]

diplomatic in China? 🤣🤣🤣

[@Tensho_C]

what he said last couldnt be more diplomatic and generic

[@marvinyean5]

Well he did Deny it which is the generic dictatorship answer

[@wilg9400]

Unfortunately reliability is way over evaluated than capabilities

[@gabriellim1343]

the China's foreign ministry had No wrong in this, Obviously is the *Typical- paid CIA/ FBI Reporter* paid to ask Such QUEST) !!!

[@voofongting9083]

Am so Proud of you ~

[@Greta_Traderberg]

OK, Wumao.

[@abhisekgogoi1043]

-50,000 social credit

[@recration]

This is an honest man. He gave us the honest answer. And then gave us the answer he has to give to keep his livelihood. Silence speaks a thousand words.

[@ACP099]

Anyone who's listened to him regularly knows he's the biggest liar on the planet...in order to keep his livelihood.

[@Ixions]

I could be wrong but the long silence may have been a refusal to answer the question... The implication being that if he wants any sort of answer to report he should "repeat" the question. (ask something else). This failed but the question was repeated with a more diplomatic and softer phrasing. The man then proclaimed, "nothing to see here, our 'dynamic' zero-covid policy continues" Interestingly, this leaves the door open to cave to the protests in future. "The protests never changed our minds. We're being 'dynamic'!" It's a fragile system that is built on fear. The state must appear infallible and beyond reproach or it WILL fail.

[@gordo3582]

I actually thought his silence was sort of like the white paper protest, not saying anything is actually a form of protest considered 'safer' by some in China like the blank sheet of paper.

[@karazakiakuno4645]

He didn't gave silence as answer, His silence was because there was no answer.

[@richmondlandersenfells2238]

Not really LOL!

[@NPHL01]

This men remains SILENT!

[@ChatGPt2001]

Such moments can be significant in political discourse and may reflect various factors, including the sensitivity of the issue being discussed, the spokesperson's need to choose their words carefully, or the need to consult with superiors or refer to official documents

[@KakumeiDev]

He didn't need to answer that question, his silence explains it more than anything.

[@rinahk3407]

Bravo !! This diplomat is brilliant - best way to handle an unprofessional journalist from the west !!

[@ksy6177]

@@rinahk3407 sure, if unprofessional means asking questions that you should but don't want to answer

[@rinahk3407]

@@ksy6177 The questions was compounded, lacked foundations and assumed facts not in evidence. Learn you basic logic first kid

[@evileagle467]

@@rinahk3407 Assumed facts? ARE YOU BLIND? Learn basic usage of your eyes little infant.

[@Romanum1]

@@rinahk3407 cringe CCP supporter alert

[@NotoriousPyro]

"can you repeat the question?" What he actually meant was: "can you ask a different question?"

[@Marcheloul]

No, more like "Can you give me more time?"

[@wasilaify]

So true. 😅

[@boobopish]

He’s like wait, what am I allowed to say to that? ☹️

[@seankingsland]

It would be more funny if The White house didn't do the exact same thing.

[@keller_]

the white house would've given a tremendous non answer in like 10 seconds - same message just less pathetic looking

[@Jj-ty7qh]

This man’s life is on the line with every word he says. So I don’t blame him for exercising the utmost care. He is literally walking the tightrope of words. One wrong word, just like one misstep on a very high line with no harness, and we will literally never see him again. That country is a nightmare for everybody including these at the top. China is on the same continuum as North Korea.

[@pennycandyys]

Yes, Xi's actions and the state of China recently have been reminding me *so* much of N Korea

[@hannanhub1717]

No doubt

[@chrishansen2100]

It's not though.

[@haoosc5017]

I am chinese 哈哈哈哈

[@haoosc5017]

@Mickael Dintimille HAHAHA thx，but i m fine😆misleading news ，very funny

[@ResearchNational]

It has to be stressful knowing that giving the wrong answer could get you "disappeared".

[@tomlewis4888]

Has to be stressful being propagandised

[@D.2601]

Even this act is gonna get him disappeared! He kinda held the blank paper indirectly

[@deletedcomment2478]

I have a business partner that is Chinese and he said you can disappear there easily and for almost nothing.

[@Jennifer-xy5sw]

Chinese people think he is a rogue, without any quality

[@doodlegassum6959]

His family as well

[@supercalifragilisticexpial6495]

Let us give him a moment of silence🙏🏻

[@snekjek]

really shows how little they can justify being silent on things anymore, he doesnt even have a lie to tell, he just says none of this is happening

[@1398go]

Which is the biggest lie. Can’t save face from that!

[@suikai2776]

Just a little colorful revolution to install instability. Nothing to talk about. We have been planning this for years and they know it.

[@urrywest]

It is a typical western response as well... Wide spread protests against sanctions in europe.... European leaders tend to double down on sanctions against themselves... Russia overcoming Ukraine in the field.... US media talks about the inevitability of Ukraine's total victory..

[@du-me-Utube-1975]

WHO REMEMBERED IN THE WEST (Canada, Australia, USA) when people protests and were denied, arrested, dehumanized, mocked by the media, bank accounts frozen…??? HYPOCRISY MUCH WESTERN MEDIA???

[@chrisviking7807]

His was a very Russianesque reply.

[@nolove7485]

That silence was pure trepidation and calculation. A man who knew that his answer could not only cost him his life, but the lives of his family and anyone who has ever been close to him ever.

[@Kunbeeb]

And the lives of his countrymen too. Tbh. How he answers will affect the mood of the current populace even more in either direction.

[@xtsmbayi3028]

Drama queen

[@AKDHFR]

He is silence bcs it is indeed true there was a protests and they don't know how to respond to that. A bad answer doesn't mean his life is on the line that's not how they work. If you notice today china ease zero covid bcs a protests yesterday and there was no single coverage on that except from SCMP or Skynews y'all deluded

[@ayeme9246]

What an evil government

[@diodoruscronus]

Wrong. That's arrogance

[@matthewlai9892]

Why don't you show us the full answer footage?

[@brendanburrows3217]

................cause BBC had something to- HIDE!!!

[@matthewlai9892]

@@brendanburrows3217 I'm not surprised.

[@brucemighty7438]

Wow, this is the first time I’ve seen Zhao being so awkward and out of his elements, and came up with a non-answer.

[@Leo-ty5bh]

经常这样，只是你没看到，那几个发表言人里这个是最菜，最起码人家还能瞪眼说瞎话，这个低头不说，要不就是一个字一个字的说

[@tawnydi]

Couldn’t agree more. He’s usually very smug and supercilious. Very out of character, and shows how serious this is.

[@sleepingbunny1]

@@Leo-ty5bh也挺不要脸的

[@HighBoss]

When I saw this video/headline I thought it'd be the typical overhyped clickbait but wow I never expect to see Zhao like this.

[@minervaowl8298]

@@tawnydi exactly China this stuff is getting exposed so much that they can't even hide how bad it is anymore

[@stephaniegaughan2886]

The silence spoke a thousand words.

[@forgettohaveaname2954]

And you clearly spoke the truth that you don’t know what a spokesperson is about

[@yori13]

@@forgettohaveaname2954 not only do you not know what being a spokesperson is about, but you are also ignorant of the situation. Ask yourself why this video was posted, with such a title, and has 1.2m views in 1 day. Indeed, it was because the silence held meaning, so the OP was correct. The meaning of the silence went completely over your head, sadly.

[@forgettohaveaname2954]

@@yori13 At least I had been in a course of a spokesman, besides, do you know the fact that the question is about China, and Chinese are not in the 1.2 m?

[@yori13]

@@forgettohaveaname2954 did you know that youtube is banned in China? You don't know anything about China if you're asking that question.

[@forgettohaveaname2954]

@@yori13 You are so cute, do you know I am a Chinese? and have a rich connection with China and far more channel to know the fact about China?

[@ashishsinha7495]

He was like "That question wasn't the part of the script"😏☠️🤣🤣

[@adazns2207]

It’s interpreter’s fault, left some information out so he didn’t get it fully.

[@sanchurros6030]

NO ONE !!! Is NO ONE!!! Need to answer the Reporters' ANY, ANY Quest) Incld. Zhao, the foreign ministry he, himself!!!

[@taxitaxi922]

I don't seem any Wrong, on Him! Is the REPORTER the one that I smell weird and Out of *ORDER*

[@makapa2u]

Correct answer would be ‘ We are looking into issue and addressing as needed “

[@crimsonsbarvwin3393]

I will just WALK- OFF & OUT like........... *DONALD TRUMP* (without any Xplanations & ANSWER) to the FACE of the Reporter if I am HIM!! ~ Can't WAIT TO see WHAT He gonna Do, NEXT!

[@voofongting9083]

Now, IF this is not comment of the year 2022! I don't know really WHAT it is!!!

[@bryanjason9057]

Trump's the worse and they wanna compare him to Zhao?

[@allenthien3103]

Am NOT Surprised , sounds like the Reuters reporter had been paid to ask such Quest) !!! Any Foreign ministry wouldn't & Can't *answer* ThaT ^^ !!! :D

[@nnnnnopenoway8418]

What is terrifying, is that this type of government and disregard for reality and free will is actually spreading. Places where people are allowed to make their own decisions and be responsible for themselves is diminishing.

[@LordKingKamiGuru]

Places like where exactly?

[@ydontubegray]

People were never responsible for themselves, its weird how people think "freedom" automatically fixes every single problem out there.

[@kristijanveljaca1687]

Mf living in 2050

[@4.0.4]

@@LordKingKamiGuru lockdown measures were forced in many places, even if someone might personally rather risk it - people offed themselves to this, didn't see relatives one last time, lost life opportunities and more. People were treated like pawns with no agency by those in power.

[@joaopk6263]

Lol y’all think the west is free?

[@TheZoltanChronicles]

Look at him, he's just terrified.

[@geraldzananski2960]

Tells the world everything we need to know by being silent.

[@deepx8679]

The way reporter structured the question is just excellent 👌

[@Blindswordsman1994]

These CCP officials are used to just reading off scripts

[@ignashi7plays401]

Got him by the gut.

[@ubermenschen3636]

His is a leading question. A loaded question.

[@blackknight4996]

You are an uneducated re t ard....The question is a statement. E-D-AT!

[@dave9547]

Didn't western governments beat, imprison and close bank accounts of people protesting the same thing? The hypocrisy of our media and governments is disgusting.

[@_checkit]

"omg omg what should I say..."

[@jeremiahmartin2413]

Man was seeing his life flash before his eyes.

[@aliciajones3531]

He’s scared for his position and his future, so he handled it cautiously 😟😟😟

[@user-sc1lp5hy7g]

yes

[@mikeshoults4155]

No no. This is his protest! Recently people have been holding up blank A4 paper to protest because they are not allowed to say anything. This is his blank white paper. Oh sh**. He has ba**s! He is protesting!

[@minervaowl8298]

Idk why you guys are feeling so sorry for this man. He's apart of the party

[@groovyscratch]

He's amongst the politicians who deliberately decided to apply these zero-covid policies so please do not feel sorry for him... He doesn't belong to the People.

[@JP13795]

No lol he's scared for his life. You think he's just worried about losing his job? If he messed that up he probably would have disappeared soon after.

[@intreoo]

This guy is the sharpest man I've ever seen. It was surreal to see him completely speechless like a student being asked a question after a book report on the book they never actually read..

[@animeknightx]

I sware he was literally sweating bullets

[@morlarav602]

Which is you

[@wasilaify]

Sharpest? Let’s not euphemize him.

[@soccom8341576]

no, the journalists are the sharp ones.

[@TheBreadSultan]

Reporter asked a foreign office spokesman - about a home office issue...

[@nerex_rs2937]

Your question is against China -100000 of social credits

[@Arcadax]

Actually, he always tells the journalists to repeat the questions or keep silence, or pretend to read the files to waste the time. It’s very common for him. If the journalist ask again, he would wait for a longer time and repeat the same answer

[@Levittchen4G]

lol why tho?

[@ann-mariepaliukenas19]

@@Levittchen4GCCP

[@mafinalmessagechangedaworl7131]

So why would the ccp send out someone like him to talk about the recent protest??

[@romnickz9]

Waste of time. A big lie peddled to the world. Make TSAYNAHH a democratic country. Hold elections. END DICTATORSHIP. END CPP.

[@toddgrant6133]

@@mafinalmessagechangedaworl7131 They had no idea how to deal with this widespread situation

[@sanchurros6030]

My Gosh!!! WHAT a *PAID* Reporter!!!!

[@gabriellim1343]

😅🤣😂👍👍👍🤝🤭

[@basba_qal]

He was looking for the prewritten reply in his papers, and when he could not find it, he simply went into "denial " mode aka "you lying".

[@rarelyaccurate6252]

"If I close my eyes, maybe everyone will disappear."

[@Hunter_IRL]

Right! Guy had a sensory overload and had to shut one down.

[@MW-greatteacher10]

That was excruciating to observe. His silence spoke volumes.

[@eddyvideostar]

To MW: It's the AI translation equipment stuff that spoke zilch.

[@deanbarnett8538]

@@eddyvideostar This Android is so advanced in its appearance. Sadly,it still has a few glitches trying to process western concepts.

[@XSquibX]

He's trying to figure out what he can say and not be killed...

[@LifeIsInteresting1]

SMH!

[@LeaverWild]

He might be “speechless” but he said a million things in that silence. 😅

[@localextremist2839]

@@illDefine1 Wumao

[@frankh.5378]

Give me 1.

[@seangelarden8753]

Their country is going to go through some things

[@tanmaythakur7650]

May be he or his closed one was affected by it. I kind of sensed some emotional turmoil underneath.

[@sasamiami1816]

Obviously, the reporter is a *Paid- reporter* !!! Zhao, had no Obligation to answer the reporter's Quest) !!!

[@ellycham621]

🤣😂😅👍👍🤝

[@sephiroth8377]

He needs to say the truth. "He's not in a position to say"

[@edoardodario]

Who is then? He’s the spokesperson. Literally his job is to be the person to say

[@explicitreverberation9826]

@Edoardo Dario that's what your looking at. Top down infiltration. There's nothing we can do for him but watch. At least we notice this guy is trapped. One wrong move and he literally gets erased. NOT just killed. Erased.

[@Follower_Of_Xi_Jinping_Pooh]

@@edoardodario Especially in authoritarian countries, spokespersons are there to dodge and lie to silence the questions.

[@Shinzon23]

@@edoardodario Because his superiors will either have him tortured to death or just drag his family out to a Courtyard put a bullet in their heads and then shoot him in the face.... because that's the sort of people the red Chinese are. Ororgan harvest him while hes still alive because that's something they also do to prisoners there. I wish I was joking, look up what happened to Falon Ga in China

[@msjahun]

@@edoardodario but the response is to avoid saying anything

[@bubbakushingtonIII]

Boy oh boy I've never seen someone so careful with his words.

[@celestinaphang4528]

Zhao did N0THING WRONG, is the Reporter who asked such Fabricated, disgusting- made up PAID- Quest) !!!

[@redred1952]

He doesn't want his family to die

[@marylee8430]

No, his wife and children in Germany 😂😂

[@nekopolice]

@@marylee8430 assassin, mercenaries and agent.. they are everywhere

[@matthew78917]

@@marylee8430 well he himself doesn’t want to accidentally fall out of a window with both hands tied to his back either

[@adilkhan226]

🤣🤣

[@redred1952]

@@marylee8430 Chinese have agents/police everywhere

[@thearchibaldtuttle]

Almost cannot believe he wasn't expecting this question!

[@null-0]

More like he was really hoping that nobody would bring it up. Bet he felt his stomach dropped.

[@thearchibaldtuttle]

@@null-0 LOL I know that feeling from school!!

[@null-0]

@@thearchibaldtuttle Been there.

[@mythoughtsinyourass9711]

I am surprised there wasn't an answer prepared for this as its the most expected one.

[@sok4846]

The silence is so LOUD