As of 3:00 am, the video is still available without using a proxy.

I watched the speech live on CCTV. Audio of the incident was available throughout; however, the camera was either pointed at a non-descript blue curtain or at Grandpa Wen. It was not clear to me at the time that a shoe had been thrown. Shots of the audience applauding after Wen's comment (in which he described the act as 卑鄙) revealed a disproportionate number of Chinese. Not unusual - the same happens at Harvard whenever a Chinese bigwig comes to town. In any case, shame on the protestor for throwing a shoe; shame on Cambridge (indeed, all of Europe) for shielding Wen from protestors; and shame on CCTV for yet another vain attempt at hiding the truth.

The two sides should have had a shoe fight

Meh. Typical CCP. Bush's response was a lot better.

Seems to be catching on ... Never invite Imelda Marcos to a press conference or political lecture ... !

I'm just waiting for them to start throwing bras...yes I'm creepy. :D

Haha, the Chinese media are calling this the "interference incident", without saying what said incident actually involved! Pathetic死了.

I mean, who throws a shoe?

Hehe...this has to be some sort of intellectual property infringement.

shanzhai shoe thrower

When it comes to shoe-throwing, Wen's probably the least deserving of the top leadership.

How many truth u know in your narrow minds?
How can you determine what u hear and watching on your media is truth?
Have you ever been to china to see the truth of Chinese people's lives? You just see what somebody wants you to see, hear what somebody wants you to listen,truth is not get form hearing, go to china, and take a look around, you'll find the truth that most people are living a happy and satisfying life,even better than you.
Throwing a shoe isn't a brave behavior, it is showing his fear and weak, if someone is really a brave man, he thinks with his mind, not with a piece of shit.
Everyone is born equal. Someone is honored because he payed much of his efforts to make himself a wisdom man, to make people of his nation live a better life, and to make the world a better place. Someone is shameful because he gets in the way of the above-mentioned man.

they are pigs
i can not bear it
i want to kill them
grandfather Wen is the greatest man !
our superman!

Uh-oh, who linked the FQs?

I can see the day when attendance at speeches by foreign dignitaries in the future will require removal of shoes outside the venue as a security precaution; ... perhaps barefoot PhDs (doctors) at Tsinghua?

Were the shoes at least made in Wenzhou???

who's next? plse aim properly ok?

I find the act of shoe throwing absolutely despicable.

I think the present group of Chinese leaders have done a great job in managing the country. Those westerners tend to forget that China has more than 1 billion people; of which many are still living below poverty line.

I am not from China but I have the highest respect for Hu JinTao and Wen JiaBao.

I hope that idiot that threw the shoe be severely punished.

Spelunker: This is why we can't have nice things.

Why did the crazy guy throw a shoe not a book? How could he get into the hall without security inspection? How could he go back home with only one shoe on?
Was the shoe Adidas or Nike or what?
Waiting to know more...

that was once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase his PR skill, and he did fine, not superb but fine.

This is like a Shanzhai version of the Iraq-Shoe Throwing incident. It lacks the cultural gravitas associated with what the shoes represent in Iraqi culture. Kind of uninspired. Humorous, but uninspired and not particularly creative.

Maybe DVDs of Earthquake and a couple of milk cartons and a friendlies doll set would have carried some entendre-weight.

This behavior not only insulted the spirit of UK regime, also trigger the tight and bleak relationship between both sides.

i can't believe it happened in cambirdge ,i fel sorry of the student ,the college.

"Seems to be catching on ... Never invite Imelda Marcos to a press conference or political lecture ... !"---ON THE MONEY

Hahaha. I get it. Cause she loved shoes.

Bush was definitely a better sport.

How many of your said it was "despicable" when Bush was on the receiving end? It's such a double standard.

If this dude is so tough and mighty he can handle a stupid shoe.

BY the way, Steelers rule!

to haohao:
You want to kill a person who throws a shoe at a leader? come on, be a little more rational, we are not living at Mao's time any more, thank God, or whatever.

Great shoe ads if adding to the screen "everything is possible" or "just do it", but better pick someone else coz lots of shoes are made in China!

N1ke, Just Did It.

BTW, Hilarious's 'Pathetic死了' is so classic.

Shame on the shoe-thrower! Mr. Wen does not deserve that.

I find the act of shoe throwing absolutely despicable.

I think the present group of Chinese leaders have done a great job in managing the country. Those westerners tend to forget that China has more than 1 billion people; of which many are still living below poverty line.

I hope that idiot that threw the shoe be severely punished.

Shame on the shoe-thrower! Mr. Wen does not deserve that.
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Agreed. Wen is fundamentally different from other commie bosses, I'd pleasantly throw a shoe at Jiang Zemin or Li Peng but never Wen. He openly preaches about right and democracy all the time and thats one hell of a job for a ccp member in a largely conservative hardline party, and behind-the-scene he is pushing reforms that other leaders are just too lazy to do.

internet censorship, tibet, dissent persecution and whatnot have nothing to do with him, he isn't even in charge of these affairs. so the buttom line is, this idiot targeted the very wrong person, he could study more about China's politics before untying his shoelace so he could know things aint that simple.

and whats more outrageous is the protestor had a choice to ask questions after Wen is done speaking, which I believe is more satisfying for him than a dart show.

"Humorous, but uninspired and not particularly creative."

King of Men: well said,well said.

"This is like a Shanzhai version of the Iraq-Shoe Throwing incident. It lacks the cultural gravitas associated with what the shoes represent in Iraqi culture."

This is a comment from someone who obviously isn't very familiar with Chinese culture. In former times, people on the street would throw their shoes at a woman who committed adultery (called 破鞋) indicating her low moral standards. By using a shoe as his weapon of choice, the attacker strongly insulted Premier Wen and the Chinese government. This, of course, sparked a major outrage on the side of the Chinese people.

The question is, if the attacker knew about this symbolism or if he is merely a copy cat.

I would be interested to find out what the punishment for the protester will be, if any. Under which law would you punish him?

Josh,

He was arrested and charged with a public order offence - probably either threatening violence or causing harassment, alarm or distress. He'll probably get a small fine for it. He could also be kicked out of the university, if he's a student, or at least disciplined. And fair enough - if you want to protest by chucking shoes, you've got to take the consequences.

All these Pro-Chinese/ Anti-Bush comments are from hypocrites. Double Standard!

Bush's judgment caused death and misery in Iraq for years and counting, thus the anger vented from an Iraqi is universally understandable, even for Bush supporter.

Comparing this to the act against Wen is ridiculous.

That German student in UK probably suffered from negative media coverage and rethoric propoganda towards somewhere far from where he is.

Sources have confirmed that the man arrested over the incident is 27-year-old Martin Jahnke, a senior postgraduate member of the pathology department who has been at the university for several years, tutoring undergraduates and presenting lunchtime seminars....
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