Latest posts by Owen Guo
China Awards Tennis Champion Li Na With Six-Figure Prize
The Chinese local authorities’ decision to award 800,000 yuan to China's tennis superstar Li Na shortly after her triumph at the Australian Open has triggered criticism among Chinese netizens.
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 Social Web Slams Local Dog Meat Festival
The annual dog meat festival in China’s southwestern city of Yulin in Guangxi province is a summer tradition for many. But this year the festival was met with outcry online and calls for a boycott.
China Shoots Down Accusations that Edward Snowden is a Spy
Edward Snowden, the whistleblower behind the revelations of the United States massive Internet spying program, turned to the Guardian newspaper once again, this time for an online Q&A, shortly after China broke its silence over the leaking scandal and said Snowden was not a spy for the country. Despite a cautious response from the government, China's online world has been abuzz with chatter surrounding the case.
China Quotes Foreign Press on Snowden
China tightened its media's use of information from foreign press in April, 2013, in a move to exert stronger control over domestic newspapers and TV broadcasts. Ironically, Chinese media in...
Snowden Hides in Hong Kong, US-China Diplomacy Takes Center Stage
As Edward Snowden, a US whistleblower hides out in Hong Kong, a wave of nationalism has hit China's blogosphere. Many netizens see the US government's vast snooping as a chance for Beijing to score political points and strike back at the accusations of cyber-espionage that China often faces.
Fuss in China Over Entrance Exam Masks Trouble in Higher Education
High school students in China just sat the annual national college entrance examination, hoping to secure a place in a leading university by acing the test. But the hype surrounding China's annual university entrance exams masks the troubled higher education system that awaits the hopefuls.
China's ‘Dishonest Americans’ Newspaper Series Hits at US Businesses
China’s top official newspaper The People’s Daily is taking aim at the United States with a newly unveiled column initially called "The Dishonest American Series”, in what appears to be the latest media campaign to target US enterprises. The column was met with backlash online.
Shanghai Residents Protest Battery Plant Over Potential Pollution
Hundreds of residents marched along a street in the outskirts of Shanghai on May 11, 2013 to oppose plans for a lithium battery plant, marking the country’s second protest in a week over potential environmental pollution.
Chinese Director's Reported Seven Children Shocks Public
China's one-child policy is once again under scrutiny after mainland media revealed that famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou might have fathered seven children. Frustrated netizens thronged to social media, seizing upon the case as yet another example that privilege is what it takes for one in China to flout laws and regulations.
China: More Suicides at Foxconn Factory
Two Foxconn employees recently jumped to their deaths in Zhengzhou, raising concerns about the poor working conditions in the world’s largest electronics manufacturer.
China Says ‘No’ to Japan's Earthquake Aid Offer
The Chinese government has turned down Japan’s offer to help with relief efforts following an earthquake in China's southwest Sichuan province that left at least 193 people dead and more than 12,000 injured.
Chinese President Xi Jinping's ‘Fake’ Taxi Ride Fools State Media
China's state news agency is backpedaling on a report it endorsed that appeared in Beijing-backed Hong Kong newspaper about Chinese President Xi Jinping hailing a taxi last month in order to chat with the cabby about the issues of the day, calling the piece "fake news".
China Yanks ‘Django Unchained’ from Theaters
Chinese censors abruptly pulled the Oscar-winning movie “Django Unchained” from the country’s cinemas on the day of its premiere in an unexpected about-face after the movie's week-long promotion in China.
Outbreak of New Avian Flu Kills Six in China
A strain of avian flu never before seen in humans has so far infected 21 people, with six deaths, in China, putting health authorities on high alert and prompting fears among many Chinese of the disease spreading.
28,000 Rivers Disappear from Chinese Map
Some 28,000 rivers in China have seemingly disappeared, according to a recent government water census. A prominent environmentalist attributes the disappearing rivers to the over-exploitation of river resources and the large hydroelectric projects.
China's New Premier Promises Cleaner Government in First Press Conference
In a combination of pragmatism and modeled political language, Li Keqiang, the newly installed Chinese premier, promised a cleaner government and less bureaucracy in his first press conference address to a group of reporters in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Gives Farewell Report to Parliament
China’s retiring premier Wen Jiabao read out a carefully scripted government work report to a sea of reporters and legislators in Beijing's Great Hall of the People during the country's annual session of the parliament, marking his final televised address to the nation before stepping down.
Citizens Document Extreme Water Pollution in China
As the effects of China’s toxic smog problem in mid-January reverberate through the country, severe water pollution is documented by online campaigns calling for a reality check on the state of rivers across China.
Incoming Chinese President's Mystery Fan Blogger Revealed
An anonymous blogger in China who ignited the country's curiosity with intimate details of incoming Chinese President Xi Jingping's comings and goings has revealed himself to be a college dropout and migrant worker unaffiliated with the communist party. Many remain skeptical that he is simply a fan.
China Wonders Who's Behind New President's Mystery Fan Blog
A mystery blogger who has chronicled the comings and goings of incoming Chinese President Xi Jinping with remarkable candidness on the popular Chinese micro-blogging website Sina Weibo has many in the communist country wondering who he or she is.
