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    Photo of bag-carrying ambassador charms China

    AP – Tue, Aug 16, 2011

    SEATTLE (AP) — A photo of the new U.S. ambassador to China carrying his own backpack and ordering his own coffee at an airport has charmed Chinese citizens not used to such frugality from their officials.

    ZhaoHui Tang, a businessman from Bellevue, Washington, snapped the photo Friday on his iPhone when he spotted Gary Locke at the counter of an airport Starbucks. Locke is the first Chinese-American ambassador to China and a former governor of Washington state.

    Tang uploaded the photo to the Chinese social media network Sina Weibo because he thought it was cool to run into the new ambassador at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

    He didn't expect it to generate 40,000 reposts and thousands of comments.

    "This is something unbelievable in China," said Tang, a Chinese-American citizen. "Even for low-ranking officials, we don't do things for ourselves. Someone goes to buy the coffee for them. Someone carries their bags for them."

    Locke tried to use a coupon or voucher for the coffee, but the barista rejected it, Tang said. The ambassador then paid with a credit card, he said.

    Tang, chief executive of an Internet advertising firm called adSage, was flying from Seattle to Silicon Valley. Locke was leaving for China from the next gate over.

    Tang introduced himself to Locke when he took the picture and wished him luck in the new job.

     

    4,625 comments

    • Dan
      Dan  •  9 mths ago
      Nice to see some positive news now and again. And JasonG, you need to remember that we have ambassadors to pretty much every country on earth. He's off to work on building a positive relationship with China.
      • GP
        GP 9 mths ago
        You CANNOT build a positive relationship with china...they are NOT our friend! They NEVER will be!
      • The first Brevityn
        The first Brevityn 9 mths ago
        They are only our enemy if we make them so. At the time being GP we are interdependent, a war between the US and China would be pointless. We'd be bombing our factories, and they would be bombing their best customers.
      • Dataman
        Dataman 9 mths ago
        GP, they never will be our friends if we treat them like enemies.
    • Dave 007
      Dave 007  •  9 mths ago
      Being that officials need everything done for them why not just fire em and let the assistants finish the job since they already do the job. This guy carries his own bag I would probably promote this guy since he actually attempt to do his own work. Our congress might think to take note and do there jobs instead of letting business write all our legislation.
    • Aki
      Aki  •  9 mths ago
      Gary Locke was always my favorite Governor. He wil be a superb ambassador. He is kind and seeping with humility.
      • CM
        CM 9 mths ago
        Is that what you need to represent you? One SEEPING with humility? That's weak.
    • Dr Woo Hoo
      Dr Woo Hoo  •  9 mths ago
      IN CONTEXT - this is good. The "Communist" country of China has officials who typically depend on peons. Ironic. Then again, the same pretty much goes in the U.S., but we call the peons "staff". It's not like US pols don't say things like, "Make yourself useful and get me a coffee."
    • Dragon Dawn
      Dragon Dawn  •  9 mths ago
      Another feel-good make belief of the american enterprise. Western propaganda at its best when the main actor is a Chinese. Welcome to the Chinese Century. The last time Chinese got a dose of such propaganda was when Bush Jr. eat burger with Putin. Lack of substance in western news. edible trash at its best.
    • Jesus C.
      Jesus C.  •  9 mths ago
      Impressive. Never read of a politician having to pay for a drink. This is the first.
    • May Pang Ping Pong
      May Pang Ping Pong  •  9 mths ago
      He's pretty fly for a Chinese-American guy
    • yoyo
      yoyo  •  9 mths ago
      VERY HUMBLE MEN, GOOD FOR HIM.
      • Viking
        Viking 9 mths ago
        No, no, dude he is a idiot...hahahahahaha
    • yoyo
      yoyo  •  9 mths ago
      VERY HUMBLE MEN, GOOD FOR HIM !!
    • yoyo
      yoyo  •  9 mths ago
      VERY HUMBLE PERSON GOOD FOR HIM.
    • Zik
      Zik  •  9 mths ago
      Remember our history when Abraham Lincoln's Chief of Staff met him in a room polishing his shoes, The Chief of Staff quipped: 'Gentlemen do not polish their shoes.' Lincoln replied, "Whose shoes do the polish?"
      The Ambassador has sent a big lesson to the Chinese by his action. Remember--Ping Pong Diplomacy with China. We now have Starbucks-Bag-Pack Diplomacy. Actions speak louder than words.
    • John Andrew
      John Andrew  •  9 mths ago
      Chinese and Africans are the same set of people, always looking for people to wipe their ...! Good American
      • Donald
        Donald 9 mths ago
        Yes, they're all humans. Evil the entire lot.
      • BigCKc
        BigCKc 9 mths ago
        You John are a frigging idiot. Actually, calling you an idiot is insulting to idiots everywhere. You are ten levels below an idiot
    • RAAGEE A
      RAAGEE A  •  9 mths ago
      Good leaders lead by example,YES
    • nhz
      nhz  •  9 mths ago
      The Ambasssador is one out of a million, I'd say.
      I think all our politicans should drive rented chevy's, and stay at Motel Six when traveling. Fat chance of that ever happening. lmao!
    • Kirk
      Kirk  •  9 mths ago
      How does the old saying go?
      Reputation is what you do when people are watching.
      Character is what you do when you think no one is looking.
    • Michael
      Michael  •  9 mths ago
      They did use back packs in past Wars as weapons of mass destruction till technology caught up with Evil!
    • Francesco Rinaldi
      Francesco Rinaldi  •  9 mths ago
      All of the American shyster politicians ought to take a page from this Chinese man's book. Can you imagine Nancy Pelosi or Barney Frank or even the chosen one Barack doing this?
    • Trantula lady
      Trantula lady  •  9 mths ago
      Ty Ambassador Locke for being and acting as a real person would do. Ty for the great example and job you're doing. You are a wonderful leader and maybe many others can learn and follow your fine example. :D Ty for caring. may you be blessed with long joyful healthy life. Namaste ~Tarantula lady
    • Luis
      Luis  •  9 mths ago
      bravo. take a lesson people. you can do it yourself!
    • Leo
      Leo  •  9 mths ago
      Humility prompts the Ambassador to the front line of the news
     Post a comment
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