By Zhang Haizhou (China Daily/Agencies)
Updated: 2008-03-28 06:55

The coverage of the riots in Tibet by some Western media was a "textbook of bad examples", Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang said yesterday in Beijing.

Qin made the comments in response to a question on whether the Chinese government was behind the website www.anti-cnn.com, an independent site aimed at exposing alleged bias in Western media reporting of the unrest in Tibet.

"I think you should have a look at some Western media's coverage of the riots. Does the Chinese government need to instigate such activities (the anti-cnn website)?" Qin told a regular news briefing.

"This is just Chinese people condemning and criticizing irresponsible, unprofessional, and immoral reports."

The unrest could also be seen as a mirror that reflected the true faces of some people in the international community, Qin said.

"This might be the good thing we can learn from an unfortunate event."

The anti-cnn website, reportedly built by a 23-year-old Tsinghua University student, gives examples of how some Western media distorted the recent events in Lhasa.

The People's Daily yesterday carried a declaration by the China Journalists' Association that said some Western media coverage of the unrest "betrayed the basic principles of accuracy and objectivity".

"Their reporting poses a serious threat to the credibility of the media among the public," Zhai Huisheng, an official with the association, was quoted as saying.

The journalists' association also said Western media too often publish the views of the Dalai clique, but only "sometimes" quote the Chinese government.

Qin said all media should find out who initiated "Tibet independence" activities so they can then report "objectively" on Tibet.

"The idea of 'Tibet independence' did not exist 100 years ago," Qin said.

"You should check the history books and do some investigating to find out the initiator of 'Tibet independence'.

"This will help you to report on the issues regarding Tibet and the Dalai Lama."

Qin also said the Chinese government firmly opposes any interference in China's domestic affairs regarding the Tibet issue.

"We ask all countries not to offer any support in any form or under any excuse to the Dalai clique's separatist activities," he said, adding that the government has both the determination and ability to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Through China's many changes of dynasty, Tibet has remained under the jurisdiction of the central government, ever since Lhasa came under the control of the Yuan court in the mid-13th century.