A Cambridge student has been charged by police after throwing a shoe at the Chinese prime minister during a speech on Monday.

The 27-year-old student, who has not been named, will appear in court on Tuesday charged with causing fear of violence.
Wen Jiabao was giving a lecture at the West Road Concert Hall when a loud whistle interrupted him. A student stood up and said: “How can the University prostitute itself with this dictator? How can you listen to these lies?”

The protester was heckled by much of the audience, who were predominantly Chinese. One member of the audience told the protester: “You are being extremely rude.”

How can the University prostitute itself with this dictator? How can you listen to these lies?

The student then took off his shoe and threw it towards the stage, but it missed Mr Wen and landed a few feet away.
Proctors and University Constables immediately ran towards where he was seated, pushing past other attendees to reach him at the far end of the row.

As he was being escorted out of the hall by security, the student shouted: “Stand up and protest and get out!”

Mr Wen seemed unfased by the encounter, initially continuing with his speech on the state of the Chinese economy within the global market. He barely flinched as the shoe was thrown and responded after the protester was removed from the room by saying: “This despicable behaviour cannot stand in the way of friendship between China and the UK.”

China’s foreign ministry later described the protest as “despicable”.

“The Chinese side has expressed its strong feelings against the occurrence of the incident,” a statement said. “The facts demonstrate that the despicable conduct of this troublemaker will win no sympathy,” it continued.

Cambridge’s Vice-Chancellor, Alison Richard, said: “I deeply regret that a single member of the audience failed to show the respect for our speaker that is customary at Cambridge. This University is a place for considered argument and debate, not for shoe-throwing.”

Last year, an Iraqi journalist famously threw both his shoes at former US president George Bush during a news conference in Baghdad.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the venue. Human rights campaigners wanted to raise awareness of China’s perceived poor human rights record.

Director of Free Tibet, Stephanie Brigden, said: “No-one attending the Rede Lecture in Cambridge should be under any illusions about Premier Wen.

“He is the public face of China’s violent crackdown inside Tibet. As China’s second most powerful leader, it is inconceivable that the orders for Chinese troops to fire on unarmed Tibetan protesters last year could have come without his knowledge and consent.”

The ticketed event was open to all members of the student and faculty body at Cambridge and was also attended by a number of accompanying Chinese delegates.

Over 2,000 people applied for tickets for only 400 places, according to the University.

The prime minister titled his speech ‘See China in the light of her development’, describing China as “both young and old”, referring to the fact that China is a “big Oriental country with a civilisation spreading stretching back several thousand years.

“She is young, because the People’s Republic is just 60 years old, and the country began reform and opening-up only 30 years ago.”

He concluded his address with a hope that British-Chinese cooperation would develop into the future. “As the first industrialized country, Britain has accumulated rich experience in economic development and environmental protection.
“We hope to learn from your experience and strengthen exchanges and cooperation with you,” he said.

There was only time for two questions at the end of the lecture since Jiabao had to leave for a flight back to Beijing that afternoon.

In Alison Richard’s address of gratitude at the end of the afternoon, she commented on that fact that many arms were raised for questions that were left unanswered. “There is a conversation to be continued and an exchange to be continued. We do hope that you will return,” she said.

Security at the event was tight, with body searches on entry and a ban on laptops coming into the building. Scores of police were deployed to control the event. Police were placed on the roofs of surrounding buildings, including the English Faculty.

By Caedmon Tunstall-Behrens