Jan.-Feb. 2001

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PM told to ‘watch his mouth’ after cultural gaffe in China

‘Either it shows he’s arrogant or insensitive'

By Jack Aubry and Jason Logan

The Ottawa Citizen

Friday 16 February 2001

SHANGHAI—Prime Minister Jean Chretien does not think there is a need to apologize for a remark he made about the appearance of his new secretary of state for Asia, a Filipino-Canadian he said looked Chinese.

   Pointing out the Asian members of his caucus, Mr. Chretien listed several members of his government during a meeting with Chinese law students. When he referred to his new minister, Rey Pagtakhan, who was born in the Philippines, he turned to him on the stage and pointed out that Mr. Pagtakhan “looks a bit like a Chinese.” The comment was greeted with uncomfortable laughter from the crowd of 200. Mr. Pagtakhan, who is a new member of Mr. Chretien’s cabinet, appeared to grimace at the comment.

   Later at a briefing with reporters, a senior government official said Mr. Pagtakhan had not asked for an apology and the prime minister didn’t apologize after the incident.

   “I think Mr. Pagtakhan himself said he thought that was a minor issue,” said the official. “Mr. Pagtakhan didn’t ask for an apology and the prime minister didn’t apologize, no.”  Salvador Cabugao, president of the National Council of Canadian Filipino Associations, said the Mr. Chretien should “take care of his mouth.” He said he didn’t think the prime minister meant any harm by his remarks.

   “We know that the prime minister is one person who speaks without really thinking properly,” Mr. Cabugao said, referring to Mr. Chretien’s history of verbal slips.  “He’s always off the cuff. Normally, that’s the way he speaks. “Either it shows he’s arrogant or he’s insensitive to these things.” Canadian Alliance MP Deborah Grey said the incident “shows that this prime minister is just unbelievable, that he has his own little terms of reference and his own standards. He can go on the attack about other people and it’s supposed to be humour. “How this prime minister thinks that this is funny or how he could get away with it is just beyond me. It’s just  pitiful.”

   Phillip Leong, president of the Chinese-Canadian Intercultural Association, said Mr. Chretien’s comments should be considered offensive to Mr. Pagtakhan and that Mr. Pagtakhan should be embarrassed.  “I think this comment is a reflection of Jean Chretien’s personality and attitude. He always likes to joke in a political way,” Mr. Leong said. “I think this is arrogance.  He’s always like that.”