Saturday, December 28, 2013

2013 Year In Review: Top 10 Examples of Censorship of Protests

Trying (Unsuccessfully) to Pay Homage to Protestors


On December 30, 2012, Tencent published an article entitle "New Years' Resolution: Pay Tribute to Ten Great Dissenters" (年终策划:致敬十大反对者).

These screenshots, taken on January 3, 2013, show that both Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo were censoring searches for the article's title.
Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/01/tencents-tribute-to-dissent-gets.html

Mass Suicide Attempts in Beijing


On August 14, the state-sponsored Beijing Youth web site reported that at least ten people attempted to commit suicide together by drinking pesticide near Beijing West Railway Station.

As these screenshots show, the article was deleted the same day.

Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/08/chinas-weibos-news-sites-censor-report.html

On December 12, the state sponsored 21cn.com web site published an article on its web site entitled "Not Satisfied With Compensation for Demolished Homes, 12 Wuhan Petitioners Drink Pesticide in Beijing" ( 不满拆迁补偿 12名武汉访民北京集体喝农药).

These screenshots show that on December 12 Sina Weibo began censoring searches for "12 Wuhan Petitioners Drink Pesticide in Beijing in Mass Suicide Attempt" (12名武汉访民在北京集体喝农药自杀).

Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/12/sina-weibo-censors-searches-about-mass.html

Not In My Back Yard


On April 26, 2013, the following post appeared on Baidu's PostBar (Tieba 贴吧): “May 4, oppose the Pengzhou PX Chemical Plant Project, march and demonstrate, location: Jiuyan Bridge (the government has already approved) make a collective noise, comrades, wave your banners, show our unity for the next generation.” (5月4号,抗议彭州PX化工项目,示威游行,地点:九眼桥(政府已批准)吹响集结号,同志们,旗旗儿..摇起来,为了我们的下一代大家团结.)

That post was quickly deleted. These screenshots were taken on May 2, and show that Sina Weibo censors "May 4 Stroll" (五月四日 散步) and Tencent Weibo censors "May 4 Jiuyan Bridge Stroll" (五月四日 九眼桥 散步).


Context:
On May 5, 2013, the state-sponsored Nanjing Daily web site published an series of photos under the title "3,000 Kunming Citizens Gather in City's Center to Peacefully Protest PX Project."(昆明3000市民聚集市中心和平抗议PX项目).

These screenshots show that the photos were deleted the following day, between 9:15 and 10:30 am.

Context:
On May 16, 2013, the state-sponsored China Daily published an article entitled "Shanghai Battery Factory Canceled Over Protest." According to that report:
A Shanghai battery maker has given in to public pressure and canceled its plans for a new lithium battery factory in the city's Songjiang district. Shanghai Guoxuan New Energy said on Wednesday it had withdrawn its investment for the Songjiang program and would return the planned factory site to the local government, without claiming any compensation.
These screenshots were taken on May 2, and show that Sina Weibo was censoring searches for "Guo Xuan" (国轩) and "Battery Factory" (电池厂).


Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/05/sina-weibo-censors-searches-related-to.html

Hong Kong


On April 8, 2013, the state-sponsored Global Times published an article entitled "Rise to the Occasion," with a photo captioned: "Dock workers and their supporters demand a 20-percent pay rise in the largest strike in Hong Kong in six years on Sunday."

These screenshots, taken on April 15, 2013, show that Sina Weibo was censoring searches for "Hong Kong Dock Workers Strike" (香港码头工人罢工), but not for "Dock Workers Strike" (码头工人罢工).


Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/04/sina-weibo-censors-searches-for-hong.html

On June 30, 2013, the state-sponsored Global Times published an article entitled "No Hidden Agenda in HK Pop Concert." Some excerpts:
Monday marks the 16th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong, as well as the day when Hongkongers hold an annual march to express their political demands for democracy.
People's rights to participate in marches and express their political demands are enshrined in law, and the government has never intervened in the July 1 marches.
These screenshots show that on July 1, Sina Weibo began censoring searches for "Hong Kong 7 1 Take to the Streets." (香港 七一 上街)

Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/07/as-hong-kongers-march-on-16th.html

Government Response in Flood Ravaged Yuyao


On October 16, 2013, the state sponsored Global Times published an English language article entitled "Official Calls for Restraint in Yuyao." According to that report:
Cai Qi, head of the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China Zhejiang Provincial Committee, called for residents in Yuyao to restrain from radical acts on his Tencent Weibo account Tuesday, saying that local government officials have been trying their best in disaster relief.
These screenshots show that at some time on October 15-16), Baidu began censoring searches for "Yu Yao Demonstrations" (余姚 示威).
Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/10/demonstrations-reported-in-yu-yao-baidu.html

 

 Local Governments Appropriating Land


On March 4, 2013, the state-sponsored Global Times reported that on the morning of February 22, village committee director, Li Baoyu, called police to report he was attacked in his office and injured by six masked thugs. Less than an hour later, police said Li hired his own thugs from other villages and ordered them to attack residents of Shangpu village.

These screenshots show that Tencent Weibo began censoring searches for "Shangpu Village" (上浦村) on March 6.


Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/03/another-protest-another-village.html

A Woman’s Death in Beijing


On May 9, 2013, the state-sponsored China Daily published an article entitled "Death of Girl at Mall Triggers Large Protest." Some excerpts: Yuan Liya, 22, died after plunging from the seventh floor of a mall last week, and police say initial findings point to suicide. However, by Wednesday morning, hundreds of people had gathered outside the Jingwen coat wholesale outlet in the capital's Fengtai district to call for further investigations into the tragedy.

These screenshots show that Tencent's Soso search engine started censoring searches for "Jingwen" on May 9.


Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/05/sites-censor-information-about-yuan.html

Thursday, December 26, 2013

2013 Year In Review: Top 10 Examples of Censorship of Corruption and Nepotism

Translation Chief's "Improper Lifestyle"


On January 17, China's official news agency Xinhua reported that Yi Junqing (衣俊卿), director of the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, had been removed from his post for "living an improper lifestyle." The following day, the Zhejiang Daily published an editorial entitled "Mouth Full of Marxism, Belly Full of Deceit" (满嘴马列,满腹盗娼).

Below, the left-hand screenshot shows the article as it appeared on January 18. The right-hand screenshot shows that same page as it appeared on January 20. 
Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/01/zhejiang-daily-deletes-editorial-on.html

Rumors of NPC Secretary General Being Investigated


On January 26, 2013, Hong Kong's Ming Pao published an article entitled "Capital Whispers: Li Jianguo Investigated as Part of 'Beat the Tigers' Anti-Corruption Drive" (京城密語﹕反腐「打老虎」 李建國傳受查). Li Jianguo is vice chairman and secretary general of China's National People's Congress.

These screenshots show that on January 29 Baidu began censoring search results for "Li Jianguo." Prior to Baidu's censorship, the top search result was a discussion of the Ming Pao report. Following Baidu's censorship the top result was Xinhua's profile of Li.

Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/01/baidu-and-sina-weibo-censor-search.html

Local Official Caught With a Suspicious Watch


On February 4, the state-sponsored Mirror (法制晚报) published the following on their verified Tencent Weibo account:
[Overacting] While reviewing the scene of the State Administration of Work Safety deputy director Wang Dexue wailed and moaned, utterly tragic! Fan Jing said, who knew that he would be exposed as a "watch brother"! One "watch" stirred up many layers of waves! Song Zude spoke frankly, official are consummate actors, and some actors are forced to use eyedrops when they can't cry on cue, but government officials are true masters of the dark arts. Ah, can this charade continue?
【戏演过了】安监总局副局长王德学视察连霍高速义昌大桥垮塌事故现场,哭天抹泪,好不悲伤!范静 称,谁知道被人发现是“表哥”!一“表”激起千层浪!宋祖德 直言,官员演技比专业演员精湛,有的演员现场哭不出来还得借助眼药水,官员大部分是厚黑学的高手。唉,这戏可咋继续?
Tencent Weibo deleted this post the following day. These screenshots show that on February 6 the Baidu PostBar ("Tieba" 贴吧) for "Wang Dexue" had 20 subjects and 23 posts. The following day the Wang Dexue PostBar had one subject and one post. The one remaining post was the inaugural post from February 3, and is entitled "Hey, welcome to the Bar, you can speak freely here." (嗨,欢迎来到本吧,您可以在此畅所欲言!)

 Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/02/baidu-sina-and-tencent-censor-social.html

Local Official Caught With a Suspicious Tan Line


On April 23, 2013, the state-sponsored Global Times published an article entitled "Lushan Official Just in Time for Scandal,” stating that “a photo taken of Fan Jiyue, party leader of Lushan county, while accompanying Premier Li Keqiang overseeing quake-relief work on April 21, revealed visible tan lines on Fan's left wrist. Web users assumed that Fan had secretly taken off his expensive watch before he met with the Premier.”

These screenshots show that Tencent Weibo began censoring searches for "Fan Jiyue" (范继跃) some time between April 23 and April 24.

Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/04/2013-sichuan-earthquake-web-sites.html

Questions About Deng Xiaoping's Son's Connection to the US


On May 3, 2013, China's official news agency Xinhua published an article on its web site entitled "Deng Xiaoping's Only Grandson Deng Zhuodi Assumes Post of Deputy County Chief of Pingguo County, Guangxi" (邓小平唯一孙子邓卓棣任广西平果副县长).

These screenshots show that between May 4 and May 9, Sina Weibo began censoring search results for "Deng Zhuodi America." (邓卓棣 美国)

Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/05/chinas-web-sites-censor-searches-for.html

Lawyers' Calls for Officials to Disclose Their Assets


On May 24, 2013, China-based civil rights lawyer Xu Zhiyong (许志永) published an article on his blog entitled "Citizen’s Statement Regarding the Arrest of the Asset Disclosure Ten Gentlemen" (公民就“财产公示十君子”被捕的声明). The post was signed by Xu, Xiao Shu (笑蜀), Wang Gongquan (王功权), Teng Biao (滕彪), Liu Weiguo (刘卫国), Li Xiongbing (黎雄兵), Liang Xiaojun (梁小军), Li Fangping (李方平), and Xiao Guozhen (肖国珍). According to the statement:

On March 31, 2013, Yuan Dong, Zhang Baocheng, Ma Xinli, Hou Xin and two others unfurled banners in downtown Xidan plaza, Beijing, calling for officials to publicly disclose their personal assets. Ten or so minutes later, they were taken away by police, and later, four of them were criminally detained on charges of “illegal assembly.”
2013年3月31日,袁冬、张宝成、马新立、侯欣等在北京西单广场展示条幅,呼吁官员公示财产,十多分钟后四人被警察带走,被以“非法集会罪”刑拘。

These screenshots show that Sina Weibo began censoring the phrase "Asset Disclosure Ten Gentlemen" (财产公示十君子) on May 26 or 27.


Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/06/sina-weibo-censors-call-to-release.html

Senior Officials' Children Not Returning to China


On May 28, the state-sponsored Yicai.com website published a report entitled “Wang Qishan Demands Senior Level Officials Children Return to China Within One Year After Completing Studies Abroad” (王岐山要求高官留学子女毕业一年内回国).

These screenshots show that on May 28 Sina Weibo began censoring "Wang Qishan Demands Children of Senior Officials Studying Abroad to Return Within One Year After Graduating" (王岐山要求高官留学子女毕业一年内必须回国).

Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/05/phoenix-apologizes-for-reporting.html

Calls to Investigate Shanghai Judge Cui Yadong


On August 16, China's largest state-sponsored media outlets, including Xinhua, the China Daily, and the People's Daily, published reports with titles such as "Shanghai High Court Judge Reported for Corruption, Stole Six Tons of Mautai a Year" (上海高院代院长被举报贪腐 每年偷拿6吨茅台) and "70 Step Forward to Report Cui Yadong Shows Difficulties in Calming Public Wrath" (崔亚东遭“70名下属实名举报”是众怒难平).

These screenshots show that on August 17, Baidu shut down its Cui Yadong PostBar (Tieba 贴吧) forum.

Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/08/chinas-weibos-news-sites-and-search.html

Accusations Regarding Former Premier's Daughter Li Xiaolin


On October 13, 2013, China's official news agency Xinhua published an article entitled "Li Xiaolin Responds to 'Suspicious Insurance Deals': Malicious Defamation" (李小琳回应“涉保险交易”报道:恶意中伤). Li's denial was presumably in response to an article published by the Telegraph on October 10 entitled "Daughter of 'Butcher of Tiananmen Square' Brokered Secret Deal for Insurance Giant." The Xinhua article did not mention that Li Xiaolin is the daughter of Li Peng (李鹏) the former Premier of China.

These screenshots were taken on October 11, and show that Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo were censoring searches for "Li Xiaolin" (李小琳).

Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/10/former-premiers-daughter-li-xiaolin.html

Accusations Regarding Former Premier's Daughter Wen Ruchun


On November 13, 2013, the New York Times published an article entitled "JPMorgan’s Fruitful Ties to a Member of China’s Elite" (摩根大通与温家宝女儿曾有商业往来). According to that article, in order to promote its standing in China, JPMorgan Chase hired Wen Ruchun, the only daughter of former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (温家宝).

These screenshots show that, shortly after the article's publication, Baidu began censoring searches for "Wen Ruchun Morgan" (温如春 摩根).
Context:

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

2013 Year In Review: Top 10 Examples of Free Speech With Mainland Chinese Characteristics

"The China Dream"

Screenshots showing Sina Weibo began censoring "The Chinese Dream" (中国梦)
Context:

"Today"

Screenshot showing Sina Weibo censoring searches for "Today" (今天)
Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/06/sina-weibos-censorship-of-24th.html

"I’m Cold and I’m Hungry"

Screenshots showing Tencent Weibo began censoring "I'm cold and I'm hungry" (我冷我饿)
Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/04/2013-sichuan-earthquake-images-of.html

"Silence Those Who Need Silencing"


Screenshots showing Sina Weibo Weibo censoring searches for
 "Silence Those Who Need Silencing" (该关闭的关闭)
Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/04/chinas-weibos-censor-discussion-about.html

"Lawyers Detained and Beaten While Calling Attention to Black Jail in Ziyang"

Screenshots showing Baidu began censoring searches for
"Lawyers Detained and Beaten While Calling Attention to Black Jail in Ziyang"
(律师围观资阳黑监狱被殴打监禁).
Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/05/search-engines-and-sina-weibo-censor.html

"Open Letter to a Nameless Censor"

Screenshots show that Sina Weibo began censoring searches for
 "Open Letter to a Nameless Censor" (致黑暗中的弄权者).
Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/06/chinas-weibos-and-baidus-postbar-censor.html

"Xu Zhiyong Criminally Detained"

Screenshots showing Baidu began censoring
"Xu Zhiyong Criminally Detained" (许志永被刑事拘留)
Context

"Tiananmen Explosion"

Screenshots showing Baidu began censoring
 "Tiananmen Explosion" (天安门 爆炸).
Context:

Officials Dying While  in Communist Party Custody

On April 25, the print edition of the state-sponsored Beijing News published an article entitled "Official Dies While Detained by Communist Party, Officials Say It Was a Heart Attack" (官员双规期间死亡 官方称心脏病突发). These screenshots show that it was deleted.

Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/04/news-sites-delete-story-about-jia.html

These screenshots show that, between September 5 and September 9, all information relating to Yu Qiyi's death had been deleted from Baidu's Encyclopedia (百科 Baike) article on Yu Qiyi. The article ends with the statement that he was placed under shuanggui in March 2013, but makes no mention of the fact that he is dead or the circumstances surrounding his death.

Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/10/baidus-encyclopedia-and-news-websites.html

Southern Weekend Tries (Unsuccessfully) to Question the Rumor Crackdown

On September 5, the state sponsored Southern Weekend published an article entitled "Will Attacking Rumors With the Long Arm of the Law Lead to a World Without Rumors?" (打击谣言的法律边界重拳严打,天下无谣?).  These screenshots show it was deleted on September 6.
Context: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2013/09/southern-weekend-article-questions.html

Thursday, December 19, 2013

2013 Year in Review: Top Examples of State Media Editorials on Free Speech - With Interpretive Memes

In this post the text in italics is from the cited source. The images are courtesy of this blog.

Source: Feichangdao.com
Source: Global Times, "Southern Weekend's 'Letter to Readers' Truly Makes One Ponder" (南方周末“致读者”实在令人深思), January 7, 2013:
Whether these people like it or not, this is common sense: given the current state of China's society and government, the kind of "free media" that these people yearn for in their hearts simply cannot exist.
不管这些人愿不愿意,有一个常识是:在中国今天的社会政治现实下,不可能存在这些人心中向往的那种“自由媒体”。
Subsequently deleted from:

Source: Feichangdao.com
Source: Global Times, “US Tech Website Back Online,” January 24, 2013:
GitHub was not the only programming website that had been kept away from Chinese mainland users. Google Code, Google App Engine, SourceForge and several other renowned technical websites have been blocked at times. 
"Some of them were blocked because they contained codes of virtual private network, or VPN, a kind of software that allows users to get over the Great Firewall. Others contained 'sensitive' comments that reveal political opinions," Huang Weilian, a programmer and a renowned IT blogger, told the Global Times, adding that blocking these websites increased the cost of software product development for many Chinese start-up companies. 

Source: Feichangdao.com
Source: Ren Xianliang (任贤良), "Target the Two Venues of Public Discourse, Solidify the Positive Energy of Society" (统筹两个舆论场 凝聚社会正能量), writing in Red Flag Journal (红旗文稿), April 10, 2013:
The Party controls the media, the Party controls public discourse, these are unshakeable fundamental principles for maintaining the Party's leadership, no less than the Party  controls the military and the Party controls the barrels of the guns. And given current circumstances it can only be strengthened, it cannot be relaxed.. . . .When it comes to control, it is necessary to boldly confront all obstacles, even those powerful media outlets, famous web sites, bloggers, and micro-bloggers. Warn those who need warning, ban those who need banning, and silence those who need silencing.
党管媒体、党管舆论,如同党管军队、党管枪杆子,是坚持党的领导不可动摇的基本原则,尤其是在当前形势下只能加强、不能放松。. . . .即使对那些强势媒体、知名网站和名人博主、微博大V,在管理上也必须敢于碰硬,该警告的警告,该禁言的禁言,该关闭的关闭。
After publishing this article, Ren was promoted to Deputy Director, State Internet Information Office.
Source: Feichangdao.com
Source: Global Times, “Hackers, Bloggers and Professors Team Up to Tap into Blocked Microblog Content ,” July 28, 2013:
China's regulation on Internet information lists nine types of banned content, most of which concerns national security, state unity, rumors, pornography and violence. But in practice it isn't always clear where the line is and in the event of a breaking incident, certain words or phrases that are otherwise normal might become sensitive for a period of time.
Subsequently deleted from http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/799621.shtml.

Source: Feichangdao.com
Source: Global Times, “Hengqin New Area Aims to Skirt Firewall,” July 24, 2013 :
Local authorities of the Hengqin New Area in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province confirmed Tuesday that they are planning to bypass the Great Firewall by opening special access to the Internet. . . .
If passed, Hengqin will be the first region on the Chinese mainland where local residents can skirt the firewall and get access to blocked websites including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Source: Feichangdao.com
Source: Global Times, “New Freedoms for Banned Books,” July 25, 2013:
The so-called banned books are mainly works by Chinese authors that have been outlawed by the authorities, such as Yang Jisheng's Tombstone: The Great Chinese Famine, 1958-1962, in which the author spent 20 years investigating the reasons that led to mass starvation, including the death of his own father. They can also be books that had some politically sensitive content removed from mainland versions, such as historian Zhang Yihe's The Memories Haven't Vanished, in which she tells the stories of prominent intellectuals who suffered from brutal attacks during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76.)Many mainlanders who buy political books at the Book Fair told the Global Times that they did not feel comfortable talking about it as they were afraid their comments might land them in hot water.
Source: Feichangdao.com
Source: Seeking Truth, "Take Up the Cause of Insisting on a Marxist Approach to News" (自觉坚持马克思主义新闻观), August 16, 2013:
Perhaps the degree of freedom enjoyed by China's traditional media is slightly less than that enjoyed by the media in developed Western countries, in particular the reporting by the Party's newspapers, magazines, radio, and television outlets.
. . . .
At its current stage, China could not endure the consequences of losing control over public discourse. . . . The overall quality of government agency administration and the ranks of Party officials is not high enough, and they are finding it very difficult to adapt to the challenges posed by excessively open public discourse. . . .
也许,现在中国的传统媒体,主要是党报党刊、电台电视台报道的自由度,要比西方发达国家媒体的自由度小一些。
. . . .
现阶段的中国,承受不了舆论失控的后果。. . . . 各级政府机关的管理水平和干部队伍的整体素质还不高,很难适应舆论过度开放带来的挑战. . . .
Source: Feichangdao.com
Source: Global Times, “Legal Basis Needed for Dissenting Voices,” August 18, 2013:
A human rights advocate from Guangzhou, Yang Maodong, better known by his pen name, Guo Feixiong, was detained recently. Xu Zhiyong, an activist and legal scholar based in Beijing, was also detained recently. Overseas voices have connected the two incidents and believed the Chinese mainland is conducting a "decapitation" campaign against the human rights movement. Meanwhile, they glorify what Guo and Xu did by calling them "pro-democracy activists." . . . .
Obviously, China has not found a mature way to deal with these confrontational individuals. On the one hand, they play a new role in society and what they do is not all negative. But on the other hand, they pose a danger to the current social governance system and long-term social stability.
Source: Feichangdao.com
Source: Global Times, "Is Chinese Public Opinion Really Constricting?" (中国舆论真的在收紧吗), September 6, 2013, by Zhang Yiwu (张颐武), a professor of Chinese Studies at Beijing University:
Given today's Internet environment, any move toward social governance will almost inevitably be met with debate and consternation. There is nothing at all odd about this. But the fact is that this does not in any way mean that the development of online opinion in China is being subjected to restrictions. On the contrary, this is a step toward "normalization" of online opinion in China, and it is laying the foundation for a flourishing and dynamic Internet for China.
在今天的互联网环境下,任何一个社会治理的行动都会难免遭遇议论纷纭的状况,这毫不奇怪。但实际上它决不意味着中国互联网舆论的发展受到限制,相反是中国互联网舆论走向“常态化”的重要一步,也为中国互联网繁荣和活跃奠定坚实基础。
Source: Feichangdao.com
Source: China Daily, "'Like an online king' - celebrity blogger Xue's story'," September 15, 2013:
The noted venture capitalist [Xue Manzi] was detained last month for alleged group sex with prostitutes. His detention sent ripples across the Chinese cyberspace as he was a star blogger with 12 million followers on Sina Weibo, Chinese leading twitter-like blogging service, and was seen as an "online crusader for justice".
. . . .
"My irresponsibility in spreading information online was a vent of negative mood, and was a neglect of the social mainstream," Xue said [in an interview broadcast on China Central Television]. His sober demeanor was different from the arrogance of two weeks ago when he was taken into detention.

Referring to China's latest move to criminalize online rumors spreading, Xue said "freedom of speech cannot override the law".
Source: Global Times, “China Can't Cede Agenda-setting to Western Media,” December 17, 2013:
Source: Feichangdao.com
Columnist Thomas L. Friedman of The New York Times has written an open letter to the Chinese president, demanding China remove the block on Bloomberg's website, and some Chinese-language websites of mainstream Western media such as the NYT and The Wall Street Journal. He also requested visa renewal for correspondents of the NYT and Bloomberg. Their sensitive reports, according to Friedman, are "a warning heart attack."
. . . .
In the past two years, with the development of China's Internet and the public's wider participation in the country's political affairs, many mainstream Western media have been trying to make breakthroughs from topics that the Chinese public is most concerned about. They would create quite a stir or directly set China's political agenda. If successful, they will be at the center of China's public opinion sphere.

No matter if these reports are the result of Western journalists' individual impulse, or collective efforts of the newsroom, they highly conform to the West's strategy in interfering China's political agenda-setting and future policy orientation.

. . . .
Friedman should understand that Chinese authorities are breaching their duty if they allow Western media to work in China unchecked.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Sina Weibo Censors Searches About Mass Suicide Attempt in Beijing

On December 12, 2013, the state sponsored 21cn.com published an article on its web site entitled "Not Satisfied With Compensation for Demolished Homes, 12 Wuhan Petitioners Drink Pesticide in Beijing" ( 不满拆迁补偿 12名武汉访民北京集体喝农药). Some excerpts:
Shortly after 4 o'clock in the afternoon on December 10, 12 petitioners from Wuhan (3 men and 9 women) drank pesticide in the area near Qianmen in an effort to protest four years of ineffective petitioning.
12月10日下午4点过后,12名武汉访民(3男9女)在北京前门附近喝农药集体喝农药,以此抗议4年来的上访无效。
These screenshots show that on December 12 Sina Weibo began censoring searches for "12 Wuhan Petitioners Drink Pesticide in Beijing in Mass Suicide Attempt" (12名武汉访民在北京集体喝农药自杀).

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

State Media Deletes Editorials Espousing the Benefits of Air Pollution

These screenshots were taken on December 9, 2013, and show that, during the preceding two days, levels of PM 2.5 pollutants in both Shanghai and Beijing had exceeded 400. Anything above 300 is considered “Hazardous.”
Shanghai
Beijing
On December 6, 2013, the state sponsored China Daily published an article entitled “Shanghai Lowers Air Quality benchmark to Reduce Alerts.” Some excerpts:
The Shanghai environmental authority announced on Thursday that it has adjusted its air pollution standards to reduce the number of alerts, adding that they will still be frequent in winter.

Experts say the move was a reluctant tacit acknowledgment of the city's poor air quality.

The municipality's Environmental Protection Bureau will now lift air pollution alerts when the concentration of PM2.5 — particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter that can penetrate deep into human lungs — falls below 115 micrograms per cubic meter.

Previously, the bureau lifted alerts after the concentration of PM2.5 dropped below 75 micrograms per cubic meter.
On December 8, 2013, China’s official news agency Xinhua published an English language  article entitled “Smog Not to Smother Road Toward Chinese Dream: Experts.” Some excerpts:
Smog these days has covered most of China with visibility in some regions lower than 50 meters, and its the hot topic at home and abroad.

Shanghai mayor Yang Xiong told a two-day forum called International Dialogue on the Chinese Dream on Saturday that Shanghai had the worst air pollution, "but it will be fine in the following days."

The Air Quality Index (AQI) topped 500 in certain areas of Shanghai on Friday.
On December 8, China’s state run television network published an editorial on its web site by one of its editors, Wang Lei (王磊), entitled “The Five Unexpected Benefits That Smog Brings” (雾霾带来的五大意外收获).
Wang's Article as it Originally Appeared on CCTV's Website
According Wang, the five benefits are:
  1. The smog makes Chinese people more united. (雾霾让中国人更团结)
  2. The smog makes Chinese people more equal. (雾霾让中国人更平等)
  3. The smog makes Chinese people more aware. (雾霾让中国人更清醒)
  4. The smog makes Chinese people more humorous. (雾霾让中国人更幽默)
  5. The smog makes Chinese people more knowledgeable. (雾霾让中国人长知识)
 The article, originally available here - http://opinion.cntv.cn/2013/12/08/ARTI1386507346057774.shtml  - was removed from the CCTV web site on December 9. These screenshots show that Xinhua published, and deleted, the article on the same day.
On December 9, the state sponsored Global Times published an article entitled “Smog Has a Major Impact on Weapons, Surveillance Becomes Unclear, and Guided Missles Lose Accuracy” (雾霾对武器影响多大:侦察看不清导弹打不准). Some excerpts:
Recently, the smog in most regions in China has grabbed everyone’s attention. Smog not only impacts physical health and normal travel, it also has an influence on military activities: it can significantly reduce the effectiveness of surveillance equipment, and can also cause guided missiles to become inaccurate. Smog is major enemy of those who make their living off the air force. However, on the battlefield, smog can also benefit the military activities of defense forces. 
近日中国大部分地区出现的雾霾引起了人们的广泛关注。雾霾不仅会影响人体健康和正常出行,同样会影响作战行动:它会令很多侦察装备的效果大打折扣,也会让一些导弹瞄不准目标,对于靠天吃饭的航空兵来说,雾霾更是大敌。不过,在战场上,雾霾也有利于防守方的军事行动。
The article, originally available here - http://mil.huanqiu.com/paper/2013-12/4642262.html - was subsequently deleted, as shown in this video.

Translation: Xu Zhiyong's Statement in His Own Defense

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