Stories about Chinese from November, 2010
China: “Hang the Slaves of the West”
A new website that vilifies Chinese political liberals, including 2010 Nobel Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, has caught the attention of the Chinese internet for its extreme views. Why has it not been removed by censors?
China: ‘Ditch oil’ floods restaurants
An economic investigation team detained a Hubei oil refiner Nov. 10 who pumped more than 60 tons of “ditch oil” into the local restaurant industry during the past three years, Hubei’s Jingzhou News reported. Concern over the prevalence of the second-hand oil in restaurant kitchens has increased sharply since an investigative report...
China: Time for a new conversation about privacy invasion
With a broader and perhaps global view of more pervasive privacy issues, poet and professor Rui Shen asks: "Some people disagree with airport security measures that display people's bodies, feeling those to be an invasion of their privacy. Watching the debate on the news, though, I wonder: are these people confused or just stupid?"
China: Hang the Liberal!
A website,Progressive Society, with a feature page called Hanging Slave of the West, has been set up by some extreme “leftists”. The website claims to record all the sins of Chinese political liberals. It also collects photos of famous political activists such as Nobel Peace Prize winner, Liu Xiaobo calling...
China: Messages behind the flowers to the Shanghai fire victims
Yesterday, thousands of mourners in Shanghai flocked to the 28-storey apartment block that was gutted by a tragic fire on November 15 to pay their respects for the 58 residents who perished. Much of China's headlines today focus on the collective mourning, but few have highlighted the messages behind citizens' insistence in offering flowers at the disaster site.
China: thousands gather at site of Shanghai fire
Early reports coming in from Twitter say that thousands are gathering at the site of Monday's deadly fire in Shanghai that claimed 58 lives. Coverage in Chinese and English can be followed by using the hashtag #jiaozhoulu (the name of the road the building is located on).
China: Educated youth face a tough future
China Media Project translates an article by Yu Jianrong about educated youth in China, which can be divided into two groups. The first one are privileged by their access to wealth and power. The second, and much larger, group lack this privilege. It is the latter group which face a...
China: First case of Twitter inquisition
A woman in China was sentenced to one year of ‘re-education through labour’ for sending a single tweet, under the charge of 'disrupting social order.'
Taiwan: National dignity hurt in the Asian Games
On November 17, leading Taiwanese Taekwondo athlete Yang Shu-chun was disqualified from the 2010 Asian Games during a match with a Vietnamese competitor for “wearing non-certified electronic foot equipment” or “electronic socks”. The incident has stirred up a lot of emotions in Taiwan.
China: Reporter steps up to Obama and asks for trouble
At a press conference held by American president Obama in Korea this week, one highly popular young reporter became the center of polarizing controversy at home not due to the content of his question, but in how it was asked.
China: iPadgate
Since October Chinese Customs have started charging a 20% tax for carrying iPhones and iPads across the border even if the products were out of the box and in use. This has caught people by surprise because in recent years shopping tours are one of the most important parts of the cross-border economy between Hong Kong and China.
China: fire ravages Shanghai apartment block
A high-rise apartment block in downtown Shanghai became engulfed by flames at around 2pm this afternoon. Early reports say firefighters are trying to rescue residents and construction workers still trapped inside the building. Photos from the scene are available here [zh] and here.
China: Perception on national power
Maryannodonnell translated a series of mobile messages about Chinese people's perception of national power and world order.
Taiwan: The Na'vi in “Avatar” Join the Fight against Petrochemical Plant
The native blue giants “Na'vi” who fought with colonization armies from the earth in the blockbuster movie “Avatar” has become the spiritual symbol of young environmentalists and students in Taiwan who stand against the Kuo-Kuang Petrochemical project in Changhua County. A march against Kuo-Kuang will take place on 11/13, and...
China: AIDS support group pressured by tax authority
Chinese AIDS activist Zeng Jinyan disclosed in Twitter on Nov. 11 that she was under pressure from tax authority to close AIDS support group, Beijing Loving Source. More info from Under the Jacaranda Tree.
China: Rising prices and rooftop gardens
Rising prices in China have led to grocery shoppers seeking bargains in Hong Kong, but are they also leading to more sustainable consumption?
China: 360 VS. QQ: What about privacy and user rights?
A commercial spat between instant messaging applications Tencent QQ and Qihoo 360 has affected million of users. Although QQ still monopolizes the market, public opinion shows that Chinese Internet users are on the side of Qihoo and are becoming increasingly aware of the averse effects of Tencent's monopoly, and the significance of protecting Internet users' privacy and rights.
Taiwan: Reporting on Autumn Struggle 2010
The Annual Autumn Struggle(秋鬥) was held on 11/7 this year, more than 1000 people from various minority groups and social activists organizations-migrant workers, indigenous tribes, HIV+ patients, sex workers, environmentalists, and farmers deprived of their lands-joined the march together. CivilMedia's video report summarized demands from different groups[zht] while Coolloud's photo report captured...
China: Comments on Ai Weiwei's River Crab Banquet
Over the weekend, prominent Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei was under house arrest, a move believed to be coming from powerful political figures in Shanghai. Ai had planned to fly to Shanghai to host a goodbye party at his condemned studio on Sunday. Although the authorities say the studio...
Taiwan: Open data, open failure
Zonble demonstrates many failed examples of how Taiwanese government spend money on creating useless, difficult and empty “open data” websites of crime information[zht]. As an iPhone app developer, he also criticizes the government for over-emphasizing on soft and promotional apps like “flora expo guide”, but not apps for crime information...
China: Ai Weiwei under house arrest
Controversial and outspoken Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was on Friday placed under house arrest for, it seems, planning to host a dinner for 1,000 people to commemorate the demolition of his Shanghai studio. Meanwhile, updates and images [zh] coming in from Twitter show that many have continued to gather outside Ai's studio...
About our Chinese coverage
Oi wan Lam is the North East Asia editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
