Chinese government offices, including the Central Propaganda Department and the State Council Information Office, send directives to various media outlets on what they may report. Harper’s Magazine (Dec. 2011 issue) has reprinted some of these directives:
All websites are requested to immediately remove the story “In China 94 Percent Are Unhappy; Top-Heavy Concentration of Wealth.”
Regarding Shanghai’s and Chongqing’s experiments with initiating property taxes, opinions that property taxes steal money are not to be reported.
All websites are requested to immediately remove photos and news reports regarding Chengdu bus explosion.
Do not report on the sinkholes caused by coal mining in Shanxi.
China is doing well economically. Its people have a work ethic that puts ours to shame. The Chinese government has loosened many aspects of government control. Nevertheless, China is still a dictatorship with press censorship and arbitrary rules; I’m glad I don’t live there.
No comments:
Post a Comment