Overseas Chinese in U.S. protest against media bias in Tibet issue coverage

Overseas Chinese in U.S. protest against media bias in Tibet issue coverage

Over 300 Chinese expatriates and students in the United States attend a peaceful demonstration to express their support for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and their anger at distorted media reports about the recent Lhasa riots in front of the Capital Hill in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, April 19, 2008.

Over 300 Chinese Americans and Chinese nationals working and studying in the U.S. gathered near the U.S. Capitol Saturday to protest against some Western media and politicians' biased remarks about last months' riots in Lhasa, the capital city of China's autonomous region of Tibet.

The peaceful demonstration in the Upper Senate Park, which lies across the street from the U.S. Capitol Building, attracted Chinese Americans and overseas Chinese of all ages and from various professions who live or study in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.

"American media, you can muzzle our voices, but cannot smother the truth!" reads one banner.

"We Chinese American feel outraged by the biased Western media coverage on the Lhasa riots and Olympic torch relay, and I think it is time to have our voices heard, " said Ma Xiping, one of the organizers of the event.

"How can you say the Dalai clique's violent attempts to sabotage the Beijing Olympics are 'peaceful actions'? We must tell people the truth and stop media distortion," she said.

To illustrate the truth, the demonstrators held some 50 placards with photos and data, which gave vivid examples of the Dalai clique's violent actions on innocent people in Lhasa and Western media's biased reports.

They are also infuriated by some members of the U.S. Congress, who support the Dalai clique out of their own political purposes.

Wu Xiaohui, a local Chinese community leader, told Xinhua that some U.S. politicians' attitude toward the Lhasa riots clearly demonstrated their "double standards" in foreign policy as well as their arrogance and disrespect for other people in the world.

2008-04-20

Overseas Chinese rally in LA against CNN's anti-Chinese remarks

Protestors holding Chinese national flags drive outside the U.S. Cable News Network (CNN)'s studios in downtown Los Angeles, U.S., April 19, 2008. Thousands of Chinese Americans and overseas Chinese rallied there Saturday to protest anti-Chinese remarks by the network's commentator Jack Cafferty.

A girl holding a poster takes part in a rally outside the U.S. Cable News Network (CNN)'s studios in downtown Los Angeles, U.S., April 19, 2008.

A demonstrator protests outside the U.S. Cable News Network (CNN)'s studios in downtown Los Angeles, U.S., April 19, 2008.

Thousands of Chinese Americans and overseas Chinese rallied Saturday outside CNN's studios in downtown Los Angeles to protest anti-Chinese remarks by one of the network's commentators.

The protestors crowded the sidewalks, holding placards which read: "No Racial Discrimination", "CNN, Don't Fool Americans," "No Media distortion" and "True Apology from CNN".

Singing patriotic Chinese songs and shouting "CNN Liar, Cafferty Fire," the protestors demanded a true and sincere apology from CNN (Cable News Network) and its news commentator Jack Cafferty, as well as his dismissal from his post.

On April 9, as the Olympic torch relay was underway in San Francisco, Cafferty said in CNN's political news program 'The Situation Room' that goods from China were "junk," and referred to the Chinese as being "the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the past 50 years."

Overseas Chinese rally against biased media coverage, for Olympics

Over 1,500 people, including Chinese expatriates and students in Austria, stage a peaceful demonstration to show support for the Beijing Olympics and express their anger at the "pro-Tibet independence" activists' attacks of the Olympic torch relay in Vienna, capital of Austria, April 19, 2008. The demonstration, titled "Overseas Chinese in Vienna Supporting Beijing Olympics Demonstration," was organized by 25 Chinese groups in Austria and local Chinese-language media organizations.

Chinese expatriates staged a peaceful demonstration in Vienna on Saturday to show support for the Beijing Olympics and express their anger at the "pro-Tibet independence" activists' attacks of the Olympic torch relay.

The demonstration, titled "Overseas Chinese in Vienna Supporting Beijing Olympics Demonstration," was organized by 25 Chinese groups in Austria and local Chinese-language media organizations.

Over 1,500 people, including Chinese expatriates and students in Austria, took part in the demonstration.

During the protest, they chanted slogans like "Safeguard unification, oppose 'Tibet independence'" and "Protest against the false information provided by Western media," and sent out sincere invitations to the Austrian people: "You are welcome to Beijing in2008."

Overseas Chinese in Germany protest against biased media coverage

Thousands of Chinese expatriates and students from all across Germany attend a peaceful demonstration to protest against the biased news coverage of the recent riots in Tibet and voice their support for the Beijing Olympics in Berlin, capital of Germany, April 19, 2008.

A French man holds a red flag during a peaceful demonstration at the Place de la Republique square in Paris, capital of France, April 19, 2008. A peaceful demonstration was held in downtown Paris on Saturday, in which nearly 10,000 Chinese expatriates and students in France expressed support for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and their anger at distorted media reports about the recent Lhasa riots.

People attend a peaceful demonstration at the Place de la Republique square in Paris, capital of France, April 19, 2008. A peaceful demonstration was held in downtown Paris on Saturday, in which nearly 10,000 Chinese expatriates and students in France expressed support for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and their anger at distorted media reports about the recent Lhasa riots.

People hold boards which means "Love Our China" during a peaceful demonstration at the Place de la Republique square in Paris, capital of France, April 19, 2008. A peaceful demonstration was held in downtown Paris on Saturday, in which nearly 10,000 Chinese expatriates and students in France expressed support for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and their anger at distorted media reports about the recent Lhasa riots.

Pierre Picquart, a French expert on Chinese studies from Paris University, makes a speech during a peaceful demonstration at the Place de la Republique square in Paris, capital of France, April 19, 2008. A peaceful demonstration was held in downtown Paris on Saturday, in which nearly 10,000 Chinese expatriates and students in France expressed support for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and their anger at distorted media reports about the recent Lhasa riots.

Thousands of Chinese expatriates and students from all across Germany staged a peaceful demonstration in Berlin on Saturday, to protest against the biased news coverage of the recent riots in Tibet and voice their support for the Beijing Olympics.

Nearly 3,000 people participated in the march, beginning from Berlin's famed downtown Friedrichstrasse railway station to the Potsdamer Platz, a landmark square for the capital city.

The rally was among a wave of protests by overseas Chinese across the world in the wake of widespread biased news reports on the March 14 riots in Lhasa, capital of China's Tibet Autonomous Region, by many Western media groups, including German broadcasters and newspapers.

During the rally, the protesters held banners such as "Tibet was, is and will be a part of China" and "Boycotting Olympics = New Berlin Wall," and sang patriotic songs.

Over the past month, overseas Chinese in Germany and other countries have been irritated by some Western media organizations for their strongly biased coverage of the riots in Lhasa.

They also felt hurt when the Olympic torch relay was repeatedly disrupted in London, Paris and San Francisco by "pro-Tibet independence" activists.

Overseas Chinese in Britain rally in protest against Western media distortion

Chinese expatriates and students in Britain attend a silence demonstration at a square opposite to the British Parliament building in London, capital of Britain, April 19, 2008. The demonstration is to protest against the distorted reports by some Western media including BBC on the March 14 Tibet riots. More than 3,000 people joined the demonstration, the first ever staged by the Chinese community in Britain.

Two British people attend a silence demonstration at a square opposite to the British Parliament building in London, capital of Britain, April 19, 2008. The demonstration is to protest against the distorted reports by some Western media including BBC on the March 14 Tibet riots. More than 3,000 people including Chinese expatriates and students joined the demonstration, the first ever staged by the Chinese community in Britain.

Chinese expatriates and students in Britain staged a silence demonstration at a square opposite to the British Parliament building on Saturday, in protest against distorted reports by some Western media including BBC on the March14 Tibet riots.

More than 3,000 people joined the demonstration, the first ever staged by the Chinese community in Britain.

"Today we are here to oppose media distortion and media fabrication in the recent events. We are here in a quest for objectivity, fairness and justice," a demonstration coordinator read out a statement.

"As we heard, we saw, we say BBC on some of the recent events has misled the British public and the rest of the world by providing intensive untruthful reports and biased coverage."

"We are afraid that media distortion and media fabrication are going to build up the barrier and bring hatred between the Western world and the Chinese people. This attempt reminds us of the Cold War and the Iron Curtain."

"We appeal to British media agencies to end media distortion and media fabrication."

"At the time of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, we warmly welcome people from all over the world to come to our country to see, to hear, to touch the real China and to talk to the real Chinese people."

The demonstrators carried anti-distortion banners like "BBC unfair," "Stop media distortion, respect history, truth and China," and "Softkiller, don't spread hatred."

The demonstrators, through several display boards, told the truth about the March 14 riots in Lhasa, capital of China's Tibet Autonomous Region, and by comparing some original photos with the ones grafted by certain Western media organizations, revealed how some media agencies distorted the truth.

The rally was mobilized via the Internet and received enthusiastic responses from all parts of Britain.

Overseas Chinese hold rally for Olympics

Overseas Chinese hold posters and China's national flags during a rally supporting 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and opposing "Tibet independence" separatist forces in Ottawa of Canada, April 13, 2008. Some 10,000 Chinese Canadians and Chinese students held a rally in Ottawa Sunday to voice anger at Tibetan separatists' violence in Lhasa and western media's distorted coverage.

Li Huahua, former Chinese swordplay athlete, attends a rally supporting 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and opposing "Tibet independence" separatist forces in Ottawa of Canada, April 13, 2008. Some 10,000 Chinese Canadians and Chinese students held a rally in Ottawa Sunday to voice anger at Tibetan separatists' violence in Lhasa and western media's distorted coverage.

9-year-old Lu Minxue sings a song during a rally supporting 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and opposing "Tibet independence" separatist forces in Ottawa of Canada, April 13, 2008. Some 10,000 Chinese Canadians and Chinese students held a rally in Ottawa Sunday to voice anger at Tibetan separatists' violence in Lhasa and western media's distorted coverage.

An overseas Chinese attends a rally supporting 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and opposing "Tibet independence" separatist forces in Ottawa of Canada, April 13, 2008. Some 10,000 Chinese Canadians and Chinese students held a rally in Ottawa Sunday to voice anger at Tibetan separatists' violence in Lhasa and western media's distorted coverage.