Sina Weibo Commemorates Anniversary of Government's Shutting Down Xinjiang's Internet - With Censorship

In July 2009, the state-sponsored Global Times published a timeline of the events surrounding the riots that took place in Xinjiang that month. Some excerpts:

• June 26: Shaoguan (韶关]), Guangdong Province, 2 am: A rumor that a Han girl was raped by local Uygur workers triggered a dispute among workers of Xuri toy factory (旭日玩具厂) in Shaoguan, Guangdong Province, leading to a fight involving hundreds of people, leaving two Uygurs dead and 118 people injured.
• July 1: The World Uygur Congress holds a special meeting planning to incite domestic mass riots via the Internet, telephone and text messages.
• July 4: Urumqi, evening: Some demagogues begin disseminating information calling for mass demonstrations at People’s Square and Nanmen in Urumqi.
• July 5: Urumqi, 1:06 am: The Urumqi police station command center is tipped off that some demagogues are disseminating illegal information on the Internet forum to try to stir up mass demonstrations at People’s Square at 7 pm.
• Urumqi, 11 am: Rebiya Kadeer contacts her brother in Urumqi and says “We’ve known that many things happened already. Something might happen tomorrow evening at Urumqi.”
• Urumqi, 8 pm: Some rioters start beating pedestrians, smashing buses, setting fire to shops along the streets and the mayhem quickly spreads to other parts of the downtown area. Tens of vehicles are set fire to.
• Urumqi, 8:50 pm: At Erdaoqiao in downtown Urumqi, many innocent people fall down in the blood pool among the chaos.

Immediately after the riots began, the Chinese government shut off all Internet access, SMS texting, and international calling to users in Xinjiang. The screenshot below shows that Baidu searches originating from Xinjiang (in this case for "Beijing" (北京)) dropped to zero in early July.

Communications access was restored as follows:

• December 28: Access restored to the People’s Daily and Xinhua News sites.
• January 10, 2010: Sina and Sohu, two popular Chinese portals, are restored in a very limited capacity.
• January 17: Text messaging restored but limited to 20/day.
• January 20: International calling capabilities are restored.
• February 5: the government allowed people in Xinjiang to access 27 China-based websites, including commercial sites such as Taobao and Alibaba, travel and online gaming sites, and the People's Daily and Xinhua.
• February 10: Emailing is allowed again, but only through Sina.com.cn, and many users cannot send or receive attachments.
• March 22: Email users of Sina can now send and receive attachments
• May 14: Full Internet access is restored.

These screenshots show that on July 5, 2013, Sina Weibo began censoring searches for "Xinjiang Networks Cut" (新疆 断网) and "7 5 Incident" (75事件).

As Hong Kongers March on 16th Anniversary of Return to China, China's Weibos Censor Searches About the March

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.
. . . .
Intervention from the central government cannot be found either at the Hong Kong Dome Festival or the July 1 march. 

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)

This screenshot, also taken on July 1, shows that Tencent Weibo was censoring searches for "Hong Kong Take to the Streets." (香港 上街)

Discussion of Disturbance in Hotan, Xinjiang Disappears From China's Social Networks

On June 28, 2013, the state-sponsored Tianshan Net published an article entitled "Group Gathers for Mass Disturbance in Tuoshan Xinjiang, No Injuries or Fatalities" (新疆妥善处置一起群体聚集闹事事件 无群众伤亡). The report stated:

At 3:30 pm on June 28, an armed group gathered to create a disturbance in Hanerik Township in Hotan, Xinjiang, public security agencies urgently handled the situation, and detained the troublemakers in accordance with the law, and the situation quickly quieted down.
6月28日15时30分许，新疆和田县罕尔日克镇发生一起群体持械聚集闹事事件，公安机关紧急处置，依法抓捕留置闹事人员，事态迅速平息。

These screenshots show that Sina Weibo was censoring searches for "Hotan" (和田), and Tencent Weibo was censoring searches for "Hotan Disturbance" (和田 骚乱).

These screenshots show that a user of Baidu's PostBar (Tieba 贴吧) forums reposted the Tianshan story, and that the post was deleted within hours.

 See also: Violence in Xinjiang Leaves Dozens Dead - A Look at the Censorship

Violence in Xinjiang Leaves Dozens Dead - A Look at the Censorship

Early in the afternoon of June 26, 2013, the state-sponsored China.org.cn published an English language report from the official news agency Xinhua published a report entitled "Riots in Xinjiang Kill 27." An excerpt:

Riots left 27 people dead early Wednesday in a remote town in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, local authorities said. The riots happened at around 6 a.m. in Lukqun township of Shanshan County in Turpan Prefecture.

Later that afternoon, most of China's major online news media outlets had published a Chinese language report entitled "Disturbance Takes Place in Remote Xinjiang City Leaves 27 Dead" (新疆一处边远城市发生骚乱27人死亡), the text of which stated:

According to an English language Xinhua report, at approximately six this morning a disturbance took place in a remote city in Xinjiang in which 27 people died.
据新华社英文稿库，新疆一处边远城市今日早晨6点左右发生骚乱27人死亡。

Within hours the report had been deleted from the following URLs:

• http://news.ifeng.com/mainland/special/xinjiangbaoluan/content-3/detail_2013_06/26/26825221_0.shtml
• http://finance.qq.com/a/20130626/011972.htm
• http://news.sohu.com/20130626/n379918358.shtml
• http://news.163.com/13/0626/13/92A36FK20001124J.html

Sina also published the report here - http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2013-06-26/131827503298.shtml - but within hours it had replaced the headline and the story with this:

Violent Terrorist Incident Takes Place in Remote Xinjiang City Leaving 27 Dead 

According to an English language Xinhua report, at approximately six this morning an incident of terrorist violence took place in a  remote city in Xinjiang in which 27 people died. 

新疆1处边远城镇发生暴力恐怖事件27人死
据新华社英文稿库，新疆一处边远城镇今日早晨6点左右发生暴力恐怖事件27人死亡。

These screenshots show that, within hours of the initial Xinhua report, Sina Weibo began censoring searches for "Disturbance Takes Place in Xinjiang Leaving 27 Dead" (新疆发生骚乱27人死亡).

These screenshots show that Sina Weibo was also censoring searches for "Shanshan County" (鄯善县).

This screenshot shows that Tencent Weibo was censoring "Xinjiang Disturbance" (新疆 骚乱).

These screenshots show that Baidu was censoring "Xinjiang Disturbance" (新疆 骚乱), but not "Xinjiang Violent Terrorist Incident" (新疆 暴力恐怖事件).

This screenshot shows that, while Baidu does have a PostBar (Tieba 贴吧) forum for "Shanshan County," the top post in that forum, from 2009, states: "In accordance with relevant laws, regulations, and policies, this PostBar can only be browsed, and posting is not allowed." (根据相关法律法规和政策，本吧目前只能浏览，不能发贴。).

Finally, here are the comments posted on the original China.org.cn report as of June 27.

Baidu, Sina, Tencent, and Yahoo.cn Censor Searches Connecting Former Ag Minister to Monsanto

On June 17, 2013, Monsanto announced that China's Ministry of Agriculture had approved the company’s Intacta soybeans, which it’s planning to launch in Brazil for the upcoming crop season. According to Monsanto:

Intacta RR2 PROTM soybeans, genetically modified to resist insects, are a cornerstone of Monsanto’s next-generation soybeans. 

The approval is “a significant milestone” and “showcases the next wave of innovation that is poised to drive the decade of the soybean at Monsanto,” Monsanto President and Chief Commercial Officer Brett Begemann said in a statement.

China's current Minister of Agriculture is Han Changfu (韩长赋). These screenshots show that searches for "Han Changfu Monsanto" (韩长赋 孟山都) and "Han Changfu Genetic Modification" (韩长赋 转基因) on Sina Weibo and Baidu return apparently uncensored results.

Sun Zhengcai (孙政才) was Minister of Agriculture from 2006-2009. These screenshots show that searches for "Sun Zhengcai Monsanto" (孙政才 孟山都) and "Sun Zhengcai Genetic Modification" (孙政才 转基因) on Sina Weibo, Baidu, Tencent's Soso, and Yahoo.cn return censored search results.

Screenshots show Baidu searches for "Sun Zhengcai Monsanto" and
"Sun Zhengcai Genetic Modification" trigger a censorship notice, but
searches for "Sun Zhengcai," "Monsanto," and "Genetic Modification"
by themselves do not.

Screenshots show Soso searches for "Sun Zhengcai Monsanto" and
"Sun Zhengcai Genetic Modification" trigger a censorship notice, but
searches for "Sun Zhengcai," "Monsanto," and "Genetic Modification"
by themselves do not.

Screenshots comparing Yahoo.cn and Yahoo.com search results for
"Sun Zhengcai Monsanto." The Yahoo.cn search results are limited to
Xinhua and China Central Television.

Sina Weibo censors searches for both Sun Zhengcai Monsanto" and
"Sun Zhengcai Genetic Modification" 

Neither Qihoo nor Sogou were censoring searches for these terms.

Story of Civil Rights Lawyer Being Barred From Beijing Hotel Deleted From News Web Sites

On May 22, 2013, the state-sponsored Yunnan Info Daily published an article entitled "Well-Known

Lawyer Reports He Was Stopped for Entering Hotel to Meet Friend for Being a 'Person of Interest'" (知名律师自曝成“重点” 进宾馆会友被挡门外). Some excerpts:

Yesterday evening well-known lawyer Pu Zhiqiang publicized a "somewhat surprising" incident -- that he had been personally listed as a "person of interest," and was prevented from entering a Beijing hotel. According to the hotel, they were merely acting based on information associated with his personal identification card.
. . . .
According to Pu, when he provided [hotel security] with his ID card, they swiped it on a terminal which then stated he was a "person of interest," and refused to allow him entry into the hotel.
. . . .
Yesterday, the lobby manager for the Ruian Hotel said that his "hotel was somewhat special," and they did not admit anyone with a criminal record or any foreigners, and that if an ID card's information said someone was a person of interest, they could only base their decision on whether to allow entry on the content of the information displayed.
知名律师浦志强昨晚在微博公布了一件令其“颇为吃惊”的事情——自己被列为“重点人员”，进入北京一宾馆时行动受阻。对此，宾馆方面称，他们只是根据身份证验证信息行事。
. . . .
浦志强透露，他提供了身份证，对方用终端机刷了一下，告诉他属于“重点人员”，宾馆拒绝接待。
. . . .
瑞安宾馆大堂经理昨日称，其“酒店较特殊”，如果有犯罪记录或外籍人士，一律不接待，若身份证信息显示是重点人员，他们也只能根据信息显示的内容，来判定是否让其进入。

These screenshots show that the news story was subsequently deleted from the Yunnan Information Daily web site, as well from another state-sponsored news web site, 21cn.com.

Original URLs:

• http://news.21cn.com/caiji/roll1/a/2013/0522/11/21792500.shtml
• http://news.ynxxb.com/content/2013-5/22/N10685303316.aspx

It can still be found here: http://money.163.com/13/0522/09/8VFHACDV00253B0H.html

These screenshots show that on May 23 Sina Weibo stopped showing search results for "Pu Zhiqiang Person of Interest" (浦志强 重点人员).

Sina Weibo Censors Call to Release Those Who Called for Disclosure of Officials' Assets

This screenshot was taken on April 30, 2013, and shows that on that day Sina Weibo was censoring searches for "Asset Disclosure Nine Gentlemen" (财产公示九君子).

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). It has been translated by Yaxue Cao at Seeing Red In China. Some excerpts:

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.”
. . . .
Ding Jiaxi, Zhao Changqing, Sun Hanhui, Wang Yonghong, Li Wei, Qi Yueying didn’t appear on the Xidan scene on March 31, nor were any of them the person-in-charge of that event or directly responsible for it. Some of them had similarly expressed their personal views in other locations in Beijing, but again, none had “disobeyed an order of dismissal” or “seriously undermined the social order,” elements constituting a criminal offence, nor had they been stopped or penalized by the Public Security officers. Their actions cannot possibly constitute illegal assembly or the offence of “provocation and disruption.” 

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。
. . . .
丁家喜、赵常青、孙含会、王永红、李蔚、齐月英，并没有出现在3月31日西单现场，也不是此次活动的负责人或者直接责任人。他们中虽然有人此前在不同场合有过类似的个人表达，但都不存在“拒不服从解散命令”以及“严重破坏社会秩序”的犯罪构成要件，也并未受到公安部门的制止和处罚，不可能构成非法集会罪，也不可能构成“寻衅滋事罪”等其他罪名。

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.

These screenshots were taken on May 26, and show that both Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo were censoring searches for "Ding Jiaxi" (丁家喜) and Zhao Changqing (赵常青).