Michael Bloomberg had to apologize for the speech of former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson
2022.11.20 07:56
Michael Bloomberg had to apologize for the speech of former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson
Budrigannews.com – Last week, Michael Bloomberg apologized to former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for criticizing China for being authoritarian at a business forum hosted by the news agency he founded.
The debate highlights China’s influence in Asia and its sensitivity to outright criticism of Beijing.
Former New York Mayor Bloomberg, who is running for president in 2020, apologized at the Bloomberg New Economic Forum in Singapore on Thursday.
“Some may have been insulted or offended by some of my comments last night that referred to a particular country and its officially elected leaders,” Bloomberg said in a statement posted on Twitter. We have the potential,” he said.
Referring to Johnson, Bloomberg said, “These are only his thoughts, his thoughts, and have not been revealed to anyone in advance or shared with me personally.” We apologize to everyone who was upset and concerned.”
Johnson, who resigned as British Prime Minister on May 9, sharply criticized the political system and leaders of China and Russia in a speech on Wednesday.
“Look at Russia and China. In 2 countries that were once communist tyranny, power is again concentrated in the hands of a single ruler. They are hostile to immigrants and are becoming increasingly nationalist in their attitudes,” Johnson said, according to his spokesman.
Johnson said Beijing and Russia were “happy to show a dull disregard for the rule of international law, and last year showed the huge limits of their political system by the disastrous mistakes they made.” He said.
A spokesman for Mr. Johnson said that Mr. Johnson had been asked to speak from Bloomberg himself and that his criticism was directed at the Chinese government, not the country or its people.
“Johnson has strongly criticized authoritarianism and authoritarianism, including in Russia and China, but continues to do so,” the spokesman said. “He continues to advocate for freedom and democracy on the world stage.”
Bloomberg did not specify whether his apology was directed at the Chinese or the Russians. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he will speak remotely on the forum, criticizing the “brutal aggression”.
