Fei Chang Dao

On January 5, 2014, the state-sponsored Global Times published a letter from Chen Guangbiao entitled “ I Intend to Buy The New York Times, Please Don’t Take It as a Joke .” An excerpt:  I had the idea of purchasing The New York Times when I first placed an advertisement in it in December, 2012, claiming China's sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands. I find Americans know little about a civilized and open China that has been enjoying unprecedented development. The tradition and style of The New York Times make it very difficult to have objective coverage of China. If we could purchase it, its tone might turn around. Therefore I have been involved in discussing acquisition-related matters with like-minded investors. On January 8, 2014, the Global Times published a report entitled “ Chinese Businessman Helps Immolation Victims Undergo Surgeries in NY .”An excerpt: Two former Falun Gong practitioners who suffered horrific burns after setting themselves on fire in Beijing in 2001 wi

On December 31, 2014, the state-sponsored Global Times published an article entitled “ Video Game World Trapped in Cold War Mindset .” An excerpt: China's ban on Battlefield 4: China Rising, a recent war simulation game designed by US company Electronic Arts, has stirred up interesting reactions back in the US. . . . . It is interesting to compare the Chinese elements in US video games and Hollywood blockbusters. There is an argument that while the US gaming industry, which has not switched focus to the China market, risks offending the Chinese without much hesitance, Hollywood movies like Iron Man 3 already kowtow to Beijing's stupendous box office returns by squeezing in China-related plots. Nonetheless, as China will reportedly lift the ban on sales of video game consoles, along with the launching of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone earlier this year, the US gaming industry will likely follow suit. This screenshot was taken on December 27, 2013, and shows tha

These screenshots show that Sina Weibo has begun censoring searches for "Return to Tiananmen" (重回天安门).

Global Times Editor Hu Xijin's Weibo On February 13, 2014, the state-sponsored Global Times published an editorial entitled “ Wealthy Migration Shouldn’t be Politicized ” ( “富人移民潮”的政治含义被夸大了 ). An excerpt: Canada announced Wednesday the cancellation of the Immigrant Investor Program popular among wealthy Chinese. . . . . Chinese account for more than half of the immigrants who'll face mounting immigration difficulties with Ottawa shuttering the wealth-based visa scheme. . . . . In final analysis, maintaining the prosperity and stability of China conforms with the interests of the wealthy. According to Forbes : [A]mong the 59,000 applications pending for the program, more than 45,000 were from mainland Chinese. Data from some Canadian provinces indicated that about 99 per cent of applicants are mainland Chinese. According to the Wall Street Journal : [In 2013,] 6,895 Chinese nationals were issued visas through the [United States’ investor visa] program, outpacing all

At 10:15 am on December 23, 2013, Chen Hongguo (谌洪果), an associate professor of law at Northwest University of Politics and Law in Shaanxi Province, posted the following announcement on his Sina Weibo: This morning I have submitted my resignation letter to the school. I now publish this “Open Announcement of Resignation.” Let us be calm and rational, and exercise our rights appropriately as ordinary citizens. 今天早上我已经向学校提交了辞职申请。现在此发布《辞职公开声明》。让我们做温和理性、善待权利的普通公民。 His post included an image of his Public Announcement of Resignation. These screenshots show that within hours his post was deleted. Later that evening Chen posted this : Explanation: Although my resignation announcement was deleted, I will nevertheless remain rational, respectful, and well-intended. Things are difficult for me, but I will go on loving. Taking things as they come, for the sake of my family’s happiness. 说明：我的辞职声明虽然被删了。但我会一如既往保持理性、尊重和善意。我自己很艰难，但我会继续爱。走一步看一步吧，为了家的幸福。 On January 27, 2014, the state-s

As noted previously by this blog, on January 21, 2014, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists published an article on its web site entitled “ Leaked Records Reveal Offshore Holdings of China’s Elite ” ( 机密文件披露中国精英的海外资产 ). Some excerpts: Close relatives of China’s top leaders have held secretive offshore companies in tax havens that helped shroud the Communist elite’s wealth, a leaked cache of documents reveals. The confidential files include details of a real estate company co-owned by current President Xi Jinping’s brother-in-law and British Virgin Islands companies set up by former Premier Wen Jiabao’s son and also by his son-in-law. 美国一家独立新闻组织取得的机密档案和资料库显示，中国高层领导的近亲在加勒比海避税天堂持有隐秘的离岸公司，有助中共精英在海外隐藏巨额财富。 这些文件包括国家主席习近平的姐夫在海外与他人合伙的地产公司注册资料，以及前国务院总理温家宝的儿子、女婿注册的BVI（英属维尔京群岛）公司。 These screenshots show that a post on Sina Weibo showing an image with a list of Chinese people’s who names were mentioned in the report was blocked.  These screenshots show that shortly af

On January 21, 2014, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists published an article on its web site entitled “ Leaked Records Reveal Offshore Holdings of China’s Elite ” ( 机密文件披露中国精英的海外资产 ). Some excerpts: Close relatives of China’s top leaders have held secretive offshore companies in tax havens that helped shroud the Communist elite’s wealth, a leaked cache of documents reveals. The confidential files include details of a real estate company co-owned by current President Xi Jinping’s brother-in-law and British Virgin Islands companies set up by former Premier Wen Jiabao’s son and also by his son-in-law. 美国一家独立新闻组织取得的机密档案和资料库显示，中国高层领导的近亲在加勒比海避税天堂持有隐秘的离岸公司，有助中共精英在海外隐藏巨额财富。 这些文件包括国家主席习近平的姐夫在海外与他人合伙的地产公司注册资料，以及前国务院总理温家宝的儿子、女婿注册的BVI（英属维尔京群岛）公司。 These screenshots show that, in the days following the report’s release, the ICIJ’s web site, www.icij.org, disappeared from Baidu’s search results. The ICIJ’s files were published at http://offshoreleaks.icij.org. T

On February 17, 2014, the state-sponsored Global Times published editorials in English and Chinese entitled “ Counting on US for Freedom is Naïve ” ( 向美国务卿“要自由”，好萌的表演 ). Some excerpts from the English version: US Secretary of State John Kerry met with four Chinese journalists and bloggers Saturday to discuss Internet freedom before concluding his Beijing trip. Some participants asked the US government to put more pressure on China to ease restrictions on Internet use and to help "tear down the great Internet firewall." They also urged the White House to support "Chinese who aspire for freedom" including activists Liu Xiaobo and Xu Zhiyong. . . . . China's mainstream society must keep vigilant against the concerted effort by dissidents and the Western world, the development of which is completely uncertain. . . . . It is difficult to garner a clear picture of the overall architecture of our era and most online activists in China could only calculate on sho

Screenshots showing Sina Weibo, Tencent Weibo, and Baidu Tieba censor searches for "Tibet Independence" On February 12, 2014, the state-sponsored Global Times published an English language editorial entitled “Ignorance Leads to Spanish Judge’s Ruling.” Some excerpts: A Spanish judge on Monday issued a ridiculous "arrest warrant" against former Chinese heads of state. In response to the charge filed by Spanish pro-Tibet independence human rights groups, the judge accused former top Chinese officials of committing crimes against humanity under the principle of universal jurisdiction. The judge might have never been to Tibet because he is totally ignorant of the enormous social progress made in recent decades. He still views China with an old, biased and arrogant attitude by attempting to interfere into Beijing's internal affairs. It is fair to say that he is a blunderer who lacks the fundamental concepts of international politics. He is more ludicrous

Xue Fushun (薛福顺) was the father of Xue Mingkai (薛明凯). Xue Mingkai was convicted of subverting state power several years ago. Xue Fushun died in late January at the offices of the People's Procuratorate in Qufu, Shandong. These screenshots were taken on February 6, 2014, and show that Sina Weibo was censoring searches for “Xue Mingkai Suicide” (薛明凯 自杀), but not for “Xue Mingkai” or “Suicide.” These screenshots show that the next day, Sina Weibo began censoring searches for “Xue Fushun.” The following screenshots show that on February 11, Baidu, Sina Weibo, and Tencent Weibo all began censoring searches for “Xu Fushun” and “Xue Mingkai.”  

Haidian Court Announcements of Yuan and Xi's Convictions On January 29, 2014, the Haidian People’s Court published notices on its Sina Weibo stating that it had sentenced Yuan Dong (袁冬) to 18 months imprisonment for gathering crowds to disturb order in a public venue, and that it had found Hou Xin (侯欣) guilty of the same crime, but imposed no penalties due to the minor nature of her crime. Yuan and Hou were detained on March 31, 2013.  On May 24, 2013 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 others unfurled banners in downtown Xidan plaza, Beijing, calling for the public