Mexico Protests Chinese Quarantine of 70 Travelers

Mexico is sending a charter plane to China today to rescue more than 70 Mexican travelers who have been quarantined by the Chinese government regardless of whether they had symptoms of the swine flu. President Felipe Calderon protested what he called "repressive and discriminatory measures," AP reports. Other Mexican nationals have been taken into isolation after arriving on flights, and even the country's consul was detained after he returned to China.

"I think it's unfair that because we have been honest and transparent with the world some countries and places are taking repressive and discriminatory measures because of ignorance and disinformation," Calderon said last night. "There are always people who are seizing on this pretext to assault Mexicans, even just verbally." Mexico has recommended that citizens not go to China.