As Olympics protests mount, China blasts its foreign critics

By Tim Johnson, McClatchy Newspapers

BEIJING — Bristling at criticism in the run-up to the Summer Olympics, China is lashing back at its foreign critics— by name.
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Earlier this week, the state Xinhua news agency called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “disgusting.” And on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu lambasted a CNN commentator, Jack Cafferty , for his “vicious” commentary on China .
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“We solemnly request that CNN , and Cafferty himself, take back the malicious remarks and apologize to the Chinese people,” Jiang said at a news briefing.
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Protests plaguing the global Olympic torch relay, along with mounting criticism of China’s handling of domestic unrest by Tibetans, have embittered many Chinese. As foreign leaders discuss whether to boycott the Olympics’ opening ceremonies on Aug. 8 , Chinese Internet sites are replete with their own mounting calls for boycotts of foreign goods, souring the mood as the nation prepares to host its biggest international event ever.

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Tags: china, chinese, Pelosi, Tibet, Tibetans