Apparently, Taiwan's China Post feels the same way about lying as well:
Frank comments by Central Bank Governor Perng Fai-nan (彭淮南) that Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou's proposal of a referendum on the latest 130-billion-euro bailout plan could be like “a bomb dropped on the global financial market” made news around the globe as the world weighs in on the latest eurozone crisis. [Emphasis added]
Now, I've never been to journalism school. But I am pretty sure one thing they don't teach is to just casually make shit up. (In the VERY FIRST SENTENCE of your editorial, no less.)
Perng Fai-nan's comments made news around the globe? Pray tell, in which alternate universe did his pronouncements raise such a stir?
Because in the one I currently inhabit, there's nothing about this in the New York Times.
Nothing in the Washington Post.
Nor in London's Daily Telegraph. Nor the Daily Mail.
Googling Perng Fai-nan Canada brings up a big goose egg. As does Perng Fai-nan Australia. Same for New Zealand as well.
While by no means the biggest lie the Post has ever perpetrated, it is amusing nonetheless. That a paper should have the face to start a piece explicitly pandering to the "China is the center of the world" prejudices of its ultra-nationalist readership . . . and then complain about POLITICIANS who engage in "populism".
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Update: The Post again:
"Of course, if the referendum is indeed held, the Greek public may possibly pay little attention to the opinion of a Taiwan central bank chief." [Emphasis added]
Whoa. You called THAT one, dudes.
Update #2: Wanna know exactly how much of a non-event Perng's statements were on the world stage?
I'm as surprised as anyone to see the top search engine result for "Perng Fai-nan New York Times".
ROTFLMAO.
