Only minutes into the vice president’s remarks, Chinese officials began directing journalists toward the exits. Soon the shooing became shoving.

By Michael A. Memoli Los Angeles Times

August 18, 2011, 3:00 a.m.

Reporting from Beijing—
Vice President Joe Biden’s famously loquacious style has now become the source of some international tension.

At the senior levels, the American and Chinese delegations actually seem to be getting along quite well. But relations between the press and staff traveling with the vice president and Chinese officials guarding access to the leaders are another story entirely.

Biden’s schedule Thursday, his first full day in China, included two bilateral meetings with Chinese Vice President Xi Jingping. American and Chinese press were to be allowed in to hear the opening remarks at the start of the first, expanded meeting.

At least that was the plan.

More: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-biden-press-20110818,0,6178823.story

Vice President Joe Biden and his granddaughter Naomi Biden arrive in Beijing. (Alexander F. Yuan / Associated Press)