Putin's gallantry upstages Chinese host at APEC

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-EXCITE

By DIDI TANG

BEIJING (AP) — It was a warm gesture on a chilly night when Vladimir Putin wrapped a shawl around the wife of Xi Jinping while the Chinese president chatted with Barack Obama. The only problem: Putin came off looking gallant, the Chinese summit host gauche and inattentive.

Worse still were off-color jokes that began to circulate about the real intentions of the divorced Russian president — a heartthrob among many Chinese women for his macho, man-of-action image.

That was too much for the Chinese authorities.

The incident at a performance linked to this week's Asia-Pacific summit originally was broadcast on state broadcaster CCTV and spread online as a forwarded video. But it was soon scrubbed clean from the Chinese Internet, reflecting the intense control authorities exert over any material about top leaders while also pointing to cultural differences over what's considered acceptable behavior in public.

FULL story at link.



In this photo taken Monday, Nov. 10, 2014, Russia's President Vladimir Putin, left, shakes hands with Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan as Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, watches before a dinner hosted for APEC leaders at the Beijing National Aquatics Center in Beijing. It was a warm gesture on a chilly night when Vladimir Putin wrapped a shawl around the wife of Xi Jinping later in the evening while the Chinese president chatted with Barack Obama. The only problem: Putin came off looking gallant, the Chinese summit host gauche and inattentive. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20141111/as--apec-chivalrous_putin-a48470c133.html

[Bragi]

1. A Stalinist Gallantry Trick

The horror!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

2. I'm sure FOX "News" is now screaming about "Shawlgazi".

[Old Nick]

3. Well...

.....'tis all in the eye of the beholder.

[Dr. Xavier]

4. very interesting

Let's see, he wrestles tigers, rides a horse with no shirt on in the middle of the Russian winter, and now places a shawl on the shoulders of a married woman! Wow, be still my beating heart.

If the rest of them are anything like him, they are going to kick our azz once the next big one starts up.

[Feral Child]

6. Personally, i think his image is bravado, but

I've met a couple of Spetsnaz when I was in the army and they were tough mammyjams.

[Feral Child]

5. Showboat.

As Eric said to Lafayette, "That isn't salesmanship, it's ego."

[Mojorabbit]

7. It was a very human thing to do

Too bad so many egos got wrapped in it so that it became a huge issue.

[Cha]

8. In the video, Peng stood up, politely accepted the gray shawl or blanket offered by Putin, and

thanked him with a slight bow. But she soon slipped it off and put on a black coat offered by her own attendant."

Xièxiè(syeh-syeh)but No Xièxiè(syeh-syeh), Mr Putin

http://www.wikihow.com/Say-Thank-You-in-Chinese

Mahalo Steve~