Stories about Chinese from January, 2010
China: Threatened by American Internet censorship
Reactions from Chinese programmers to SourceForge.net's decision to follow American law and block users from several countries include suggestions for how to work around American censorship of the global Internet.
China: No more dirty joke via SMS
According to last week's Xinhuanet report, Mobile China Shanghai branch will start suspending a mobile phone's SMS function if they find the number distribute “vulgar”, “pornographic” and other illegal contents(Details see GVA). Other cities and mobile companies also carry out similar practices since the beginning of 2010. The new policy...
China’s Orwellian Future
John Chan (陳冠中), an author from Hong Kong who is currently living in Beijing, has written a novel entitled The Fat Years: China, 2013 (盛世 – 中國, 2013). The story happens in 2013, when China enters a new era of material prosperity and everyone is happy, while the western world...
China: How does the young generation view Confucius
A rumor circulated on the web that all the 2D versions of Avatar have been pulled out of the Chinese cinemas to make way for the domestic movie Confucius. Despite reports like this, government officials quickly denied it. Yet like all rumors, even if wrong, they may contain a kernel...
China：Google's announcement to clarify rumors brings in more speculations
The latest announcement by Google.cn is that all the rumors about their quit is just rumors. However, more speculations came in, questioning whether Google's move is to cover up its business failure, or to serve for a political purpose
China: Another Cell Phone Registration System in the Works
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has announced a plan to enforce a “real-name” registration system for mobile phone users. The announcement comes four years after the Ministry of Information Industry—which subsequently became the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology—drew up the framework for similar legislation. Despite much talk...
China: More Violence Over Salary Dispute
A migrant worker from Hebei was stabbed Jan. 9, resulting in the loss of a kidney, after requesting withheld salary from a subcontractor in Beijing, reports the Yangcheng Evening News. The incident has been dubbed the “beg for salary, lose a kidney” incident by Chinese media sources. 28 year-old Gao Zhiqiang, father of three,...
China: Twitter survey on a Google departure
As Chinese Internet users wait for Google's decision regarding the future of its operations in China, one netizen has begun surveying peers for their views on what Google should do and what the impact will be should the company decide to leave.
China: Google's possible exile leads to cyber protests; Netizens on move
Do no evil, Google says. But the irony is that it did help the Chinese government block sensitive information from the Chinese internet users, which is necessary for it to operate in China. However, this time it seems to be really provoked and made its simmering feud with the authority...
Taiwan: How the Puyuma people started Year 2010
The Puyuma tribe is one of the indigenous groups in Taitung County along Taiwan’s East Coast. The Nanwang Village, the leading village of this tribe, holds the Monkey Ceremony and Hunting Rite in December and starts the new year with the Annual Ritual.
China: Iranian Cyber Army aims at Chinese critics, misses target entirely
"The feelings of the Iranians were hurt by the Chinese people," writes one Chinese Twitter user after pro-government Iranian hackers attacked China's largest search engine, which prompted a counterattack by pro-government Chinese hackers against two dozen Iranian government websites.
China: Controversial conviction of lawyer in corruption crackdown
With twenty gang lawyers arrested in Chongqing's corruption crackdown, the conviction of one last week has locals tired of lawlessness on one side and lawyers across the country seeing malfeasance in a political trial on the other.
China: Bloggers’ Reviews of Avatar
James Cameron’s blockbuster, Avatar, was released in China on 2 January 2010, two weeks later than the rest of the world. It is proving popular among the Chinese people. Apart from praising the 3D and special effects, Chinese people also link the story to a controversial social issue in China:...
China: New Ticketing System For Train Riders
As “Chunyun”—the travel season before, during, and after the Chinese New Year—approaches, two of China’s largest rail lines are adopting a “real-name” ticketing system. Information Times reported Friday that passengers traveling on trains serviced by Guangzhou Railway Group or Chengdu Railway Bureau will be required to produce a valid identification card upon...
China: Will you accept ‘Naked Marriage’?
A new term has become popular recently among Chinese netizens: ‘naked marriage’ (裸婚). Don’t be mistaken, but the term has a special meaning: it means getting married without a house, a car, a diamond ring and a proper wedding ceremony. Just taking a picture and getting a marriage certificate is...
Taiwan: Suhua Freeway Project Deferred
Suhua Freeway Project has been in dispute for more than a decade. On 22 of December, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) opted for a plan to improve existing highway. However, we are yet to see if this decision will put an end to the controversy and path the...
Hong Kong: #0101hk – New Year March for Democracy
Around 30-thousand Hong Kong residents spent the first day of the 2010 new year by marching in the street, demanding democracy and the release of Liu Xiaobo. To show their support for this rally, twitterers from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China together pushed the hashtag #0101hk to the top...
About our Chinese coverage
Oi wan Lam is the North East Asia editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
