CCTV FOLLIES 8.22 Missing Inaction

Judging from photos, the South Africa summit is not going smoothly -Xi's team of rivals run a tight ship back home -Xi's big ideas talk of the town -Xi, toast of Africa -Japan pollution -Maui neglect

What happens when you fire, without explanation, a highly competent foreign minister with a strong track record in handling protocol and pulling off seamless summits just a few weeks before an upcoming summit? You get this, which is a jumble of bad TV coverage, confused cues, bad timing, lousy lighting and probably some security breaches too. Wang Yi, newly reappointed FM is no slouch, but he’s got more work here than he can possibly handle.

Note: In other footage Xi looked unsteady going down the steps but it’s not on CCTV