China Condemns British Shoe Protest

China today denounced a British protester who threw a shoe at the visiting premier, Wen Jiabao, and hailed the visit as a success.

A foreign ministry spokeswoman described the "extreme disruption" to Wen's speech at Cambridge University as "despicable".

Police in Cambridge said they had charged a 27-year-old man with a public order offense. He will appear before magistrates next week.

The incident appears to have been inspired by the Iraqi journalist who threw a shoe at the former US president George Bush in December, but yesterday's protester did not have such a good aim. Wen did not need to duck and the black trainer landed about a meter away from him.

China's official media reported that the speech had been disrupted, but did not explain or show what had happened.

"The Chinese side has expressed its strong displeasure over this incident," said the spokeswoman, Jiang Yu, in a statement on the foreign ministry's website.

"The facts demonstrate that the despicable conduct of this troublemaker will win no sympathy and will not hold back the tide of friendly co-operation between China and Britain."

Witnesses said the protester shouted: "How can the university prostitute itself with this dictator? How can you listen to the lies he is telling?"

Wen continued with his speech, telling the audience: "We come in peace. This is not going to obstruct China-UK friendships. History shows harmony will not be obstructed by any force, so would you let me continue."

The premier's audience had been vetted in advance and protesters with concerns about Tibet and human rights were kept well away as he arrived. They complained that the police operation was "over the top" and designed to keep them out of Wen's view.

Demonstrators dogged the premier's three-day visit, with police arresting five pro-Tibet campaigners on Sunday after they broke through police lines as he arrived at the Chinese embassy in London.

Full details of yesterday's incident quickly spread on the internet in China.

"The first one who threw shoes [at President George Bush] was a genius; the second one was a pig-head," read a comment on Smth.org, a website used by Beijing university students.

A commenter on Sina.com looked on the bright side, writing: "The protest proved that China's power has been recognised by the British. People wouldn't protest against a little country."