5 Jun 2016

China backs minister's outrage at Canadian journalist

4:03 pm on 5 June 2016

China says it has already made its position clear about its foreign minister berating a Canadian journalist who asked a question about human rights.

Canada has issued a complaint about the minister's behaviour.

The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi lost his temper last week when pressed by a female reporter about human rights in China, saying the question was unacceptable.

He called the journalist arrogant and irresponsible.

The incident occurred after a meeting with Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion, who raised the case of Kevin Garratt, a Canadian citizen charged with spying in China.

China said last week that foreign media should ask themselves whether their reporting on human rights issues was objective, fair and accurately represented what was happening in China.