China Apologizes to Taiwan --UPDATED-- Nope

AP reports that China has apologized to Taiwan over the tainted milk scandal.

In Taiwan, authorities said all China-made milk products and vegetable-based proteins had to be tested before they can go back on sale.

The checks on the vegetable-based proteins show the concern over how the problem is spreading.

Taiwanese officials say at least seven Taiwanese companies have imported contaminated proteins from China. They say the proteins are made from corn or other vegetables but may be mixed with tainted milk products to improve their flavor.

China on Wednesday apologized to Taiwanese consumers.

"We feel extremely painful about the damage that the milk powder brought to people in Taiwan. Our government attaches great importance to it and is taking a series of measures to minimize the damage and influence," said Li Weiyi, a spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

In Taiwan authorities said all products from China had to be tested? You mean they weren't regularly testing them? After revelation upon revelation of tainted this and adulterated that? There's a reason so many consumers avoid products from China whenever possible.

But don't worry: if it isn't tainted food coming from China, it's a jarring mixture of tissues, brainwashed children, ocean pollution, and nationalist expansion.

UPDATE: No apology here. As Feiren and Maddog both point out in the comments, the Chinese spokesperson did not apologize, merely expressed sympathy of an "I feel your pain" nature. AP appears to have missed badly on that one. Feiren observed:

What crappy reporting. Maybe they should consider hiring some people who can actually read Chinese and understand it. Li said that China was pained tong4xin (痛心). That is an expression of sympathy ('I feel your pain') not at apology dao4qian4(道歉). It's even weaker than 'regret' (悔意). China has not admitted any wrongdoing here.

[Taiwan]