Most Chinese net users said they support the Chinese foreign minister's public rebuke of a Canadian journalist, stressing such diplomats are needed to denounce the Western countries' accusations against China.



Wang Yi berated a reporter for her question on China's human rights record during his visit to Canada on Thursday.



"I would like to suggest to you please don't ask questions in such an irresponsible manner. We welcome goodwill suggestions, but we reject groundless or unwarranted accusations," Wang said.



"I have to say that your question is full of prejudice against China and arrogance … I don't know where that comes from. This is totally unacceptable," he noted.



Some Western media outlets and politicians quickly weighed in as the incident made international headlines, calling Wang's remarks "rude and unacceptable."



Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expressed "dissatisfaction" with China, who said that "the fact of the matter is freedom of the press is extremely important to me," the Guardian reported on Friday.



"Foreign media should also focus on Chinese netizens' reactions. Many Chinese netizens support the minister and despise some foreign media outlets, mainly because [we] have heard enough biased reports from them on China. They have been using reports that smear China's image to cater to Western readers' tastes and bias," netizen "Yang Chang M" said on Sina Weibo.



Wang's reprimand has been trending online under the hashtag, "Wang Yi scolded a foreign reporter," which received more than 1.7 million page views as of press time.



"China's diplomatic policies have been quite gentle and peaceful in the past few decades. Wang's stern remarks have satisfied some netizens' desire to defend the country, but surprised foreign media outlets which have already become used to China's mild diplomacy," said Jin Canrong, deputy director of the School of International Studies at the Renmin University of China.



Western media should quit applying their standards on China, Liu Yuqin, former Chinese ambassador to Cuba and a research fellow at the China Foundation for International Studies, told the Global Times.



Liu pointed out that the time when Western countries have the final say on international issues has passed, and China will further protect its interests.



"As the country's foreign minister, once the country's honor and core interests are challenged, he is obliged to respond and clarify China's stand," Liu said, noting that Wang's remarks did not go against diplomatic protocol.