Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of Global Times

Regarding the recent comments made by Yang Rui, the CCTV-9 host, I feel there might have been some strong use of words but just because of which, some western media have been pressing CCTV to fire him, which has gone a bit too far. We (Global Times Editorial) do not agree. For one, Yang made those comments on his personal Weibo account, not on behalf of CCTV; and secondly, using emotional and strong words are common on Weibo. It falls within the general climate of Weibo. To single him out in this case is over-reacting a bit. Jack Cafferty, a host on CNN wasn't fired after he made abusive remarks about China on April 2008, right? Let me repeat this, we don't think Yang Rui did the right thing by making such comments, but we also can't agree with the proposals circulating online to fire him.

@穿西装的黑小胖: People who work in media need to be extra-cautious when making comments since they can easily be misinterpreted by the authorities as being said on behalf of the public. It's not unique in China. However, freedom of speech worth fighting for and patriotism is understandable, but this incident doesn't need to be conceptualized as something suggestive that is landmark, marking the direction of social changes, etc.

@ChinaGeeks: There is foreign trash in the city, but not much. It's not like how Yang Rui described as being everywhere, and sounding like they are representative of all foreigners in China. Also, I feel a lot of netizens have a misconception over "freedom of speech". This concept means one is exempt from legal prosecution for making comments that might be offensive, but no one is exempt from the consequences other than facing legal proceedings.

@鑫谷幽兰: Hasn't western society always been advocating hard for freedom of expression? It's a rare occasion to have some one stand out and say no to western ideology. Purging foreign trash is not only a physical action, but can also happen in our minds. The moon is not always brighter on the other side of the world!