Harper-Chretien war of words makes Chinese media

Published Thursday August 21st, 2008

THE CANADIAN PRESS

BEIJING - Chinese media have picked up on the war of words this week between Jean Chretien and Stephen Harper over the prime minister's decision to skip the opening ceremonies of the Summer Games in Beijing.

The story was teased on the front page of the English-language China Daily under the headline "Canada PM Flayed for Skipping Day 1" and was also featured on about a dozen Chinese news websites and various blogs yesterday.

Most stories ran with the headline: "Former Prime Minister Chretien Strongly Criticizes Current Prime Minister Harper for Not Attending Olympics: Will Pay Heavy Price."

Harper said Tuesday that Chretien was being a hypocritical for attacking him since the former Liberal prime minister only went to one Olympics during his time in power.

Chretien warned Monday that Canada could end up paying a hefty toll for Harper's decision not to go to China, the world's second-largest and fastest-growing economy.

Chretien, who was known during his time in office for keeping strong ties with China, has said he wouldn't have thought twice about attending the opening ceremonies.

Chretien said relations between the two countries have deteriorated since the Tories came to power.

Harper has long insisted his decision to stay away from the Games had nothing to do with politics, but rather with a scheduling conflict.

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LOOL, fools will be fools....nothing but a jealousy game between them.It all who did what,who went where and who does better.and at the end,nobody did anything for no one,they've been everywhere( on tax payers money of course) and their all a bunch of no good liars, period.Chrétien's a good one to talk with his ( Scrap the GST ) and when the time came he said that " SCRAPE " was what he had said and not " SCRAP ".So Chrétien keep quite and go hide in your cocoune again,stay absent, were much safer out here,oh and bring your members with you ...after all they are responsible for that 5% raise hike.