China Will Let Hong Kongers Vote for Their Next Leader — But Only If a Pro-Beijing Committee Selects the Candidates

"We urge all Hong Kong citizens to stand up and speak out. The fact that they refuse to hear us does not mean that we don't exist."

From a “Gaza Stripper” in Texas to Chinese Migrants in Egypt, Kim Badawi Photographs Intercultural Encounters

In this interview, photographer Kim Badawi discusses his work on cultural encounters, and on the role of social media when mainstream news fails to report stories that matter to communities.

China Insists That Hong Kong Should Only Have Pro-Beijing Candidates — for National Security

China's Basic Law Committee Li Fei said that "the person who governs Hong Kong must be a patriot" or the city risks turning into an independent political entity.

China Blocks Beijing Independent Film Festival

Beijing authorities blocked an annual independent film festival from opening on August 23, 2014. The move is seen as a sign that Beijing is tightening ideological controls. According to indie director Huang Wenhai, the shutdown was “the darkest day in the history of Chinese independent film.” Started in 2006 by independent art critic Li Xianting,...

Leaked Documents Reveal How the Chinese Communist Party Channels Public Opinion

Censorship  25 August 2014

What exactly do China's online "opinion analysts" do? A recent scandal at Peking University sheds light on the question.

Ignoring Pro-Democracy Protests, China's Media Trumpets Pro-Beijing March in Hong Kong as the ‘Majority’

China has promised Hong Kong a direct vote for the next chief executive, but insists that a committee approve the candidates. Pro-democracy protesters want the right to choose the candidates.

Pro-Government Protesters in Hong Kong Were Reportedly Rewarded With Cash and Free Food for Showing Up

Pro-Beijing groups have been eager to match the level of mobilization shown by the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.

China’s Soldiers Have Instant Noodles Cooked With Muddy Water. Political Performance? Or Not?

Human Kidney Trafficking in China

A recent court case in Jianxi province revealed the insider story of human kidney trafficking business in China. Charles Liu from theNanfang.com curated the local investigative report on the operation of the underground business. … a 21 year-old man looking to prove to his family that he was financially independent....

Local Chinese Government Bars Hijabs, Long Beards and Other ‘Abnormal Appearances’ From Public Transport

Some think the temporary measure will become permanent in Karamay, Xinjiang, home to many ethnic Uyghur Muslims. Tensions have at times resulted in deadly clashes between Uyghur activists and authorities.

When Red Cross China Needs a PR Boost, Propaganda Authorities Have the Embattled Charity's Back

CCTV aired a confession from Guo Meimei, who impersonated a Red Cross executive, the evening after a deadly earthquake. Many speculated it was to help the charity's calls for donations.

China Tightens Its Control of Popular Messaging App WeChat With Real-Name Registration

WeChat has grown popular since 2012 and now has almost 400 million active users. It was subject to a crackdown earlier this year, with 100 public accounts shut down.

Chinese Soldiers Are Dancing to Viral Hit ‘Little Apple’ to Convince People to Enlist

Some media have called "Little Apple" China's answer to Korean K-pop's "Gangnam Style."

A Weibo Spat Hints at the Battle Brewing Over Journalism's Future in China

Lin Zhibo's appointment as dean of journalism school at Lanzhou University pitted the country's leftist nationalists against liberals pressing for more media freedom.

Political Implications on the Downfall of Security Chief

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) announced its investigation of Zhou Yongkang, a former senior member of CCP and headed China's security apparatus on July 29, 2014. China File invited Sebastian Veg, Roderick MacFarquhar and Taisu Zhang, scholars from history and social science to comment on the political significance of Zhou's...