Stories about China from November, 2008
China: When Your Son Is Kidnapped
ESWN translated a Southern Metropolis Daily news about a father seeking help online for finding his kidnapped son: the kidnappers demanded 30,000 RMB, but the police refused to accept the case because the amount has to be 50,000 RMB or more. The helpless father therefore went onto the Internet for...
China: Protest and Repression at Earthquake Area, Gansu Longnan
According to mainstream news report, around 30 peasants from Wudu（武都） district Dongjiang（東江） town paid a petition visit to the Longnan（隴南） city committee yesterday (17-18 of Nov), but it ended with police repression. There is little explanation on what had exactly happened as information has been blocked. However, two videos have...
China: Reflections of a Bridge Blogger
Roland from ESWN posts his presentation, “reflections of a bridge blogger”, for Chinese blogger conference in his blog. (He failed to attend the gathering because of family emergency.)
China: Blogger Conference
David Feng from China Review reports on various presentations at Chinese Blogger Conference, including: Michael Anti's presentation on his old / media experience, Ping Ke's presentation on ir/rational online debate, Hecaitou's presentation on the challenge for digging true information online.
China: Checking IDs
Mutant Palm blogs about the Identity card verification system recently launched in China. The blogger points out that the Chinese system of local registration and documentation has been far less comprehensive, or effective, than Western societies.
China: Too much time online? You got psychosis.
Facebook, twitter, blog, facebook, email, online game, then blog, how long have you stayed online? If you have stared at your computer screen and clutched your mouse for over 6.13 hours a day, you are, I am sorry, a person of mental disorder according to the latest official definition in China.
China: A new black business flourishes
In China, to publish an academic essay is extremely difficult for simply one reason: Too many people are compelled to publish essays in a miserably limited number of journals. Reluctantly, contributors have to pay certain sum of money to get their essays published. But demand still overwhelmingly exceeds supply. Therefore,...
China: The 3rd cabbies strike in 10 days. Now appeased.
After the cabbies strike in Chonqing in which about 9000 drivers participated and over 100 taxis and 3 police cars were smashed during the course, another taxi strike broke out on 10, Nov, in the southern tourism city Sanya. Though already appeased, does it simply mean a breath we can take before a larger storm is coming?
China: Does the secret “Fifty Cents Party” exist?
Wu Mao（五毛）is fifty cents or half yuan in Chinese currency. Wu Mao Dang (五毛党), or Fifty Cents Party, is a derogatory term applied to those pro-government bloggers who are suspected to receive fifty cents for every pro-party post. Does Wu Mao Dang really exist in China, as rumors say? A...
China: The end of export-led growth?
Alan Baumler from Frog in a Well comments on the China economic stimulus package and wonders if it implies an end of export-led growth. David Dollar from the World Bank blog also looks at the plan very positively.
China: Different Interpretation of Taiwan Politics
A well-known Chinese blogger WU Jiaxiang （吳稼祥）argues the “riot” that happened at Taipei Hotel November 6 is in fact part of the rampant “political kidnapping” in Taiwan [zh]. The blogger further analyses who are ultimately behind “the political violence” in Taiwan.
China: Indie music bands
Steve from the Fool's Mountain introduced a number of indie music bands in China.
China: Young Gangs
DANWEI has translated a local report on the emerging of young gangs (born in 1990s) in Beijing.
China: Ticking time bomb?
Angry Chinese blogger wrote about the potential out-break of social unrest in China.
China: Protest in Taiwan criticized as democratic violence
Mainland China envoy Chen Yunlin (陳雲林) flied back to Beijing 7, Nov after his 4-day “ice-breaking” visit to Taiwan. As the chairman of China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), Chen, led the highest-ranked official delegation ever from mainland to Taiwan, to negotiate for new deals that set...
Taiwan: Students Demand to Revise the Parade and Assembly Law!
About 500 students gathered peacefully in front of the Executive Yuan on 11/6 to protest against the current Parade and Assembly Law (集會遊行法). The government abusive use of the law has violated people's rights in protest in the past few days during the visit of Association for Relations Across the...
China: Should Lin Jiaxiang be charged of assaults?
Lin Jiaxiang, (CPC) party secretary of the Shenzhen maritime bureau in the Guangdong province of China, is the target of an investigation after he allegedly grabbed an 11-year-old girl in an attempt to molest her.
Taiwan: reports of protests in Taipei
Insightful and detailed accounts of the 6 November protests by the Far-Eastern Sweet Potato and Michella. The Bala Daily reports on a student protest at the Executive Yuan that was broken up by police.
Taiwan: Livecasting the Protest
Different from the fierce encounter between protesters and police forces during the day in front of the Presidential Office, there are more than 400 students peacefully gathering in front of the Executive Yuan in order to bring everyone's attention back to the real question: Is the freedom of expression still...
Taiwan: Defending Rights to Protest
Following David's article on “The Phantom of Police State” coming back with Chen Yun-lin (陳雲林)'s visit to Taiwan on 3 of Nov, I have collected some visual materials showing the conflict between the protesters and police with brief translation. Since Nov 3rd, many protesters wearing pro-Taiwan T-shirt or banners or...
China: Two Voices on Internet
ESWN translated a commentary from China youth daily on the dichotomy of opinions in the Internet public sphere in China.
About our China coverage
Oi wan Lam is the North East Asia editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
