Chinese Political Representatives Face Embarrassing Slip-Ups During Media Interviews
During this year’s “Two Sessions”, members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and National People’s Congress representatives have faced embarrassing moments in front of the media. One such incident involved Zheng Shun, a member of the CPPCC and deputy director of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Justice, who struggled during an interview with reporters.
On March 4, before the opening of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, Zheng Shun participated in a collective interview event where he discussed safeguarding the rights of small and medium-sized enterprises. While sharing a case about a commercial dispute intervention by the judicial department, he emphasized the importance of the rule of law in creating a favorable business environment.
However, CCTV footage revealed Zheng Shun’s difficulty in staying on script during the interview. He stumbled over his words multiple times, leading to a slip of the tongue that was captured on camera and shared on social media platform X. Netizens criticized Zheng Shun’s performance, with some questioning his professionalism and predicting negative repercussions for his career.
Zheng Shun’s mishap was not an isolated incident, as other Chinese political representatives have also experienced similar slip-ups during interviews. Premier Li Qiang of the State Council made a mistake in his government work report, leading to further speculation and criticism from the public.
These incidents highlight the pressure faced by Chinese political representatives when speaking in front of the media, with many netizens pointing out the lack of spontaneity and reliance on scripted remarks. Despite efforts to maintain decorum and deliver messages effectively, slip-ups and embarrassing moments can still occur, leaving officials vulnerable to public scrutiny and ridicule.