Stories about China from February, 2009
China: From Red Guards to Cyber-vigilantism to where next?
Rebecca Mackinnon from Rconversation discusses the rise of Net power in China: “Will the Chinese people rise above cyber-vigilantism and use the Internet to build a just and fair society governed by accountable leaders?”
China: Harnessing human search engines for government use
Joel Martinsen from DANWEI translated a recent incident when netizens human flesh search two reporters who are critical towards corrupted practice of local government in constructing their government building.
Taiwan: CECA, economic elixir or poison?
CECA? Neither a new game console from Japan nor another evil science project that is going to bring this world to an end? But according to the Government, CECA is coming to save Taiwan's economy from drowning in global financial crisis and the greatest recession in 50 years. However, most people still have no idea what CECA is, and like all the other issues, it is quickly politicized as a new media battle ground set for the continuous fight between KMT, the ruling party, and DPP, the major opposition party. Bloggers again try to ask key questions and explain the issues deeper on their own.
China: Bush maize ad
Sunbin posted a photos showing an ad making use of Bush for selling maize.
China: Reactions on the auction of stolen bronze relics
Fauna from ChinaSMACK translates Chinese netizens’ reactions on the auction of stolen bronze relics in France.
China: A hard place to defend
Angry Chinese blogger explains why it is difficult to defend China human rights condition by referring to the visit petition of 62 year old Zhong Ruihua.
China: Closer Look at the 50 Cent Party Member
If you want to take a closer look at the 50 cent party members, read RConversation. Last month, Beijing Association of Online Media held a meeting regarding illegal content, in which “40 representatives of Internet supervision volunteers” had attended.
Taiwan: The cost of investment
There has been a huge amount of Taiwanese investment in China over the past two decades. Michael Turton discusses the human cost of that investment.
China: Eluding the Cat Investigation, Netizen's Power or Government PR?
In response to the netizens’ talks and comments about the “eluding cat” incident, the Yunnan provincial Publicity Department's Press and Publication Administration decided to form an investigative committee on Feb 20. Moreover, the department had invited netizens to form a investigative committee. In a few hours, 510 netizens registered to...
China: Expectations of Xinjiang people
An article now popular in Chinese cyberspace depicts the sufferings and expectations of the people in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The post suggests that “all the friends across the country” owe an apology and a big “Thank you” to the Xinjiang people [zh].
China: Riding on Chairman Mao's head
On Feb19，a set of pictures that shows a girl riding on the head of Chairman Mao was circulated around the internet. Of course, what she rides is just a statue erected on the plaza in Hunan, Mao's hometown. However, the story with the pictures immediately secured the headline position in...
China: TV News Broadcasting Suicide
Fauna from ChinaSMACK translated a local forum discussion on whether or not it is too inhuman for Shangdong TV channel to broadcast the suicide scene of a young man.
China: Fabricated Yuan Story
Dan from China Law Blog discusses about the “fabricated story” from China briefing that moved the Yuan market/
China: Religious demography and house churches
Last November (21-22, Nov 2008), the China State Council Development Research Center organized a seminar on “Christianity and Social Harmony — Special Session on House Church”. This is the first of its kind organized by a Chinese governmental sector. However, soon after the seminar, the Ministry of Civil Affairs issued...
China: Chemical Additives in Mengniu Milk Prohibited
ESWN translated excerpt Of Fang Zhouzi's interview on Mengniu's Telunsu milk regarding the recent prohibition of chemical additives, (OMP) and IGF-1, by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ).
China: Who stabbed the blogger ProState in Flames?
Alice Xin Liu from DANWEI translated three blog posts commenting on the stabbing of blogger “ProState in Flames”.
China: “Stay away!” Vice president Xi warned in Mexico
Xi Jinping (习近平）, the Chinese vice president, is widely predicted as the next chairman of China, the successor of Hu Jintao. On Feb 11, during his visit to Mexico, he gave a speech to overseas Chinese there. His address includes a passage as a harsh criticism against foreign intervention, which...
Japan: Hetalia Axis Powers and the limits of parody
Hetalia, a satirical manga set mainly during the Second World War and featuring national protagonists of that era, has attracted attention among both domestic and international audiences for its caricature of world nations. In this post, read reactions in translation from bloggers in both Japan, where the manga originated, and in Italy, the country most strongly ridiculed.
China: Eluding Cat Kills himself in Jail
ESWN translated a local news report about an internet popular term “eluding the cat”. The story is related with the police's statement on the death of a youth in the police station, that he killed himself by accident when playing the game “eluding the cat” with his jail mate.
Taiwan: Sovereignty on trial
A recent case heard in the US Court of Appeals is based on the claim the US is the legal occupying power of Taiwan. Michael Turton dismissed the case as “a crank lawsuit”. Taiwan Echo believes the case is important. Also on the topic of sovereignty, Talk Taiwan discusses a...
China: Prominent Blogger Stabbed
Prominent blogger and novelist, Xu Lai at ProState in Flame was stabbed twice in a book store, One Way Street, at Beijing when he finished a public talk. Zola and doubleaf keep updating the news in their twitters. Can also read GVA for details.
About our China coverage
Oi wan Lam is the North East Asia editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
