Stories about China from October, 2013
Chinese Newspaper Defies Censors, Publishes Front-Page Call for Journalist's Release
Reporter Chen Yongzhou was detained by police after the publication of his numerous investigative reports on the business practices of a large Chinese construction company.
Three Lessons on Dating in China
Jocelyn Eikenburg from Speaking of China shared her experience in cross-cultural dating in China. The three lessons she had learned are: 1. Actions matter more than words; 2. Keep that past relationship in the past; and 3. It takes a lot longer to meet the parents.
CCTV News Tweets About Zhou Yongkang Corruption Case
China Watch Twitters spotted a news tweets which was quickly deleted about the government's investigation on Zhou Yongkang's corruption case. Is it a rumor? Or a glimpse of the truth? Beijing cream put a spotlight on the discussion.
Viral Video Compares Chinese Top Leaders to Kung Fu Masters
Viral video in China: What kind of leaders do you want? American idols or Kungfu masters?
China's Maple Bridge Experience and Local Governance
Qian Gang looks into the political implications of recent state propaganda of “Fengqiao experience” (or Maple Bridge Experience) which took place in Zhejiang province during the Mao's era in early 1960s as a local governance model under the new China leadership.
China: School Forces Students To Participate in Forced Demolition
Joe from ChinaSMACK translated a news story about a middle school in Guiyang city, Guizhou province, that forced students to wear SWAT police uniforms and participate in the demolition of illegal structures. In China, demolition armies are as notorious as Chengguan on account of their violent actions against rural villagers who...
Arbitrary TV License Decision Undermines Hong Kong Freedom of Speech
Hong Kong people believe that the government screened out a new free-to-air Television competitor due to political reasons.
China's Agenda in the World Media Summit
David Bandurski from China Media project reported on the World Media Summit which took place in Beijing between October 8-10. To sum up, the World Media Summit, this ostensible back-slapping affair offering an opportunity for media leaders to talk media strategy, is fundamentally about China projecting its influence over global...
Chinese Party Paper Bashes Former Google China Chief Lee Kaifu
China’s Party magazine “Party Building” recently published “Ten Questions for Lee Kaifu”[zh], questioning the former Google China chief and online celebrity’s citizenship status, his motives, his public comments and political views.
Man Saws Off Own Leg In Rural China
Fauna from China SMACK translated a terrible news story about a man in rural China who sawed off his own leg at home because he had no money to go to hospital to have a proper surgery.
Official Blames Chinese Cooking Style for Polluting Air
Zhao Huimin, director of the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, was quoted in a T.V interview: Our Chinese cooking styles also contribute a lot to PM 2.5 density. We hope Beijing citizens corporate with us and work with the government to clean the air. Offbeat China wrote a round-up on Chinese...
Chinese Journalist Arrested After Exposing Corruption Online
Liu Hu was formally arrested after seven weeks of detention on charges related to his posts on Sina Weibo detailing the alleged corruption of four high-ranking officials.
The Great Gatsby Resonates with Urban Chinese Youth
The film adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby has found sympathizers among Chinese young men, who share Gatsby's frustration in love and in life in modern China. TeaLeafNation has more.
Suicide Shines Light on Harsh Reality Faced by China's Rural Teachers
Cheng Xinggui jumped into a river, killing himself on July 17, 2013 after bureacracy prevented him from receiving his due wages after two decades of teaching.
China's Air Pollution Monitoring Network: Too Little, Too Late?
Heavy smog descended on Beijing and the surrounding area over the recent week-long holiday, pressuring Chinese authorities to unveil a pollution monitoring system. Netizens were not satisfied.
Chinese Netizens React: What is Patriotism?
In the wake of the National Holidays, China's state media CCTV interviewed people on the streets and asked: “what is patriotism?”. You can imagine the huge gap in response between young and old (or conservative versus liberal). Offbeat China has translated some comments online and the discussion continues there, begging the question...
Hong Kong: Say No to Ivory Trade and Crafts
A coalition of concerned individuals and NGOs, Hong Kong for Elephants, rallied on October 4 calling on the Hong Kong Government to destroy its entire stockpile of 25 tonnes of confiscated ivory.
China: Netizens’ Reaction to Inheritance Tax Proposal
Chinese netizens expressed their discontent on the draft inheritance tax law as the proposed exclusion starts rather low at RMB 800,000 yuan. Instead of balancing the wealth gap, netizens believed that the new law is to steal money from the working middle class. More from Offbeat China.