Awkward silence: China official temporarily speechless after question on protests

China's foreign ministry defended the country's zero tolerance response to Covid while protests have increased across the country. 

The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian took a long pause and shuffled papers before answering a Reuters reporter's question on the dissent by defending the government's policy.

The Guardian on YouTube:

#China #BlankPaperRevolution #WhitePaperRevolution #Covid #News

[VinnyOrzechowski]

As he sifts through the papers looking for a government approved response

[seanmei]

For those who don't speak mandarin, the translator neglected the part "widespread of anger" "across China" and simply said "What does the Chinese government have to say about the recent dissatisfaction towards the covid policy in China". So yes, they have their translators trained to be a filter in a circumstance like this

[Panda-cnjk]

He was not silent, he was thinking about his choices in life.

[khtan]

His worst nightmare suddenly became a reality when he discovered that someone had replaced all the documents in his file with blank sheets of paper.

[shaukahodan]

This man’s life is on the line if he says the wrong thing.

[abduvohidodiljonov]

His hesitation and thinking a lot before answering shows that the situation is quite serious in China.

[kabewar]

The amount of fear that man had just from the possibility of sounding minutely unflattering towards China is insane… he was walking on a thin line

[Islp]

For those who are wondering what happened afterward:
He was removed from his position on 9 January 2023.
He is now Deputy Director of the Boundary and Ocean Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

[saisatwik]

He took "silence speaks louder than words" to a whole new level.

[globalnomad]

It never fails to shock me at how controlled people can actually be.

[sungyong]

He cares about his career and paycheck rather than his honest answer.

[Seeker]

This perfectly sums up the quote: "Silence is not always empty, it is full of answers to those who listen."

[zikoraifenneli]

This is the most classic example of the saying"Silence speaks louder than words".

[kimberlyedwards]

As I listen to this for only two minutes or less, my tear is rolling down my eyes you know the people want their freedom and new president they have spoken clearly please don’t give up

[elitepunch]

He was actually giving an open book exam he just couldn't find the answer in his notes 😂😂

[kylecollins]

He's calculating every word as if his life depends on it

[winyonzentrada]

When you take something that has been in the darkness into the light, you can't cover it anymore. Just like now, no matter how you try to cover it, it is before the very eyes of the world.

[ashishsinha]

He was like "That question wasn't the part of the script"😏☠️🤣🤣

[rogueagent]

When you get asked a question that's not on the script

[vincentnguyen]

This is when action speaks louder than words