Patriot or con man? China media disagree on mystery art bidder

BEIJING (AFP) – A Chinese antique collector who placed the winning bid in an auction for looted art, only to say he was not going to pay, received uncharacteristically mixed marks in the local media Tuesday.
Cai Mingchao, 44, was a patriot, some said, while others blasted him for sullying China's overseas reputation, a day after he went public saying he was the successful bidder for two bronze animal heads looted from Beijing in 1860.
Zhao Yu, a senior culture ministry official, told the Beijing Times that Cai's behaviour during and after last week's Christie's auction had done no favour to his compatriots.
"In overseas auctions... bidders usually need no deposit and simply rely on their reputation," said Zhao.
"The fact that Cai Mingchao has gone back on his word in reality means he has undermined the credibility enjoyed by Chinese people at large international auctions."
The bronzes, part of the art collection of late French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge, sold for 15.7 million euros (20.3 million dollars) each at the Christie's auction in Paris last week.
Authorities in Beijing had repeatedly called for the sale not to go ahead, and urged that the relics be returned to China.
"A collector and a patriot", the English-language China Daily called Cai on its front page.
"It was Christie's that started violating the rules," said Wang Zhanyang, a professor at the Central Socialist Academy, according to Beijing News.
"Why should we be just if others are not? Cai Mingchao has performed a patriotic political act to strike back at an illegal auctiuon."
A vote on the website of China News Service, a news agency, showed 8,347, or 63 percent, in favour of Cai's action.
Liang Fafu, a blogger, said Cai had made the Chinese "look even worse on the international scene."
"We come across as untrustworthy people, a bunch of conmen. Who wants to deal with that kind of people in the future?" Liang said.