China's Export Of Censorship
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Far Eastern Economic Review | China's Export of Censorship
09-11-03 9:43 AM
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October 2009
China's Export of Censorship by Christopher Walker and Sarah Cook SUBSCRIBER LOGIN
Posted October 12, 2009
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The Chinese government’s effort to prevent dissident authors from taking part in the prestigious Frankfurt Book Fair, an international showcase for freedom of expression, has offered Germany a close-up view of China’s intolerance of dissent. In September, two Chinese writers, journalist Dai Qing and poet Bei Ling, had their invitations to the fair revoked by German event organizers after China’s organizing committee complained. The Chinese delegation threatened a boycott over invitations to the writers for a September symposium promoting the Frankfurt Book Fair, which begins on October 14. China is the "guest of honor" at this year's fair. In the face of this pressure, the event’s organizers withdrew the invitations. The writers’ participation was ultimately enabled when the German PEN club of independent writers invited the two Chinese dissidents.
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While Beijing’s coercive behavior caught many Germans off guard, it should not have come as a surprise; the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) censorship ambitions are neither new, nor limited to Germany. In fact, this action is just the latest example of an ongoing pattern of interference, cooptation and intimidation beyond China’s borders used to muzzle voices critical of the Chinese government. Two days after the opening of the Frankfurt Book Fair, a film festival in Taiwan’s second largest city, Kaohsiung, will begin. It, too, has come under pressure to censor. In this instance the issue is a planned screening of “The 10 Conditions of Love,” a documentary about exiled Uighur rights activist Rebiya Kadeer. Chinese authorities assert Kadeer has terrorist links, unsubstantiated claims not accepted by most Western countries or independent analysts. Despite pressure to shelve the film—linked to fears that the city’s growing industry servicing mainland tourists could be hurt—
http://www.feer.com/politics/2009/october54/Chinas-Export-of-Censorship
Page 1 of 4
Far Eastern Economic Review | China's Export of Censorship
09-11-03 9:43 AM
that the city’s growing industry servicing mainland tourists could be hurt— the Kaohsiung Film Archive and the organizing committee of the 2009 Kaohsiung Film Festival announced on September 27 that it would go ahead with the screening. A similar series of events unfolded at the Melbourne Film Festival this summer. In September, Uighur activist Dolkun Isa, who holds German citizenship, was denied entry into South Korea, to take part in a conference on democracy. China is South Korea’s largest trading partner. Isa, who fled China in 1997 and obtained asylum in Germany, was held at the Seoul airport without explanation for two days after being denied entry to South Korea. The Chinese authorities have developed an elaborate arsenal of censorship, including an extensive domestic apparatus of information control. Less appreciated and understood are the methods of interference and intimidation employed to muzzle critical voices abroad. Some of the modern authoritarian techniques the Chinese authorities use for this purpose beyond its borders are detailed in a study, “Undermining Democracy: 21st Century Authoritarians,” recently released by Freedom House, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia. Economic coercion is a principal line of attack in the transnational suppression of issues deemed sensitive by China’s rulers. The coercion is applied directly and indirectly. Instances of direct economic coercion and censorship typically occur when an event has already been planned or already begun. Pressure is then applied by Chinese government representatives on the organizers or local authorities to suppress certain activities or appearances deemed undesirable by the CCP. In such instances, explicit or implicit threats of boycotts, trade sanctions, or withdrawal of Chinese government funding have been used to force the hand of those in charge. The CCP’s Frankfurt Book Fair gambit fits this model, given the financial implications of the Chinese government’s $15 million investment in the event. More insidious has been an indirect form of economic intimidation, whereby publications, event organizers or governments engage in self-censorship on topics deemed sensitive to the mainland, a dynamic some have dubbed “pre-emptive kowtowing.” Given their small size, proximity and relationship to the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan are particularly vulnerable to this phenomenon. This June, the Hong Kong edition of Esquire magazine, published by South China Media, pulled a feature story by journalist Daisy Chu on the Tiananmen Square massacre slated to run on the 20th anniversary. In 2008, a prominent legal journal in Hong Kong made a last-minute decision not to publish an article on Tibetan self-determination. A blackout on independent coverage of the Falun Gong is believed to be practiced among certain Hong Kong and Taiwanese outlets whose owners have close ties to Beijing or significant business interests on the mainland. As China’s economic clout and role on the global stage grows, it will inevitably exert greater influence beyond its borders. However, the issue is not whether China—which features one the world’s least hospitable environments for free expression—will project influence but what shape this growing power will take. The CCP plans, for instance, to spend billions of dollars on expanding its overseas media operations in a potentially massive show of “soft power.” But whether this enormous investment will simply project the deeply illiberal values that characterize China’s domestic media scene to a wider playing field is a question advocates of free expression should seriously ponder. This critical question, so far, does not provide an encouraging answer. China’s attempts to insinuate itself into Taiwan’s media sector, and Beijing’s ongoing efforts to limit the vitality of Hong Kong’s media, are among the examples of this phenomenon in Asia. The CCP has recently demonstrated its willingness to suppress open expression in Germany and Australia. The
http://www.feer.com/politics/2009/october54/Chinas-Export-of-Censorship
Page 2 of 4
Far Eastern Economic Review | China's Export of Censorship
09-11-03 9:43 AM
its willingness to suppress open expression in Germany and Australia. The United States is not immune to this pressure. The Dalai Lama will be waiting a bit longer for his meeting with President Obama. The Chinese government’s position at the vanguard of efforts to monitor and filter Internet content, using its wealth and technical acumen to devise methods to limit the free and independent flow of information online, also has serious transnational implications for free expression. China effectively serves as an incubator for new media suppression; authoritarian governments around the world carefully watch China’s censorship techniques and learn from its innovations. The community of democratic states must acknowledge the Chinese government’s growing media ambitions and efforts to censor beyond its borders. Acquiescence in this challenge will only embolden the Chinese authorities. Christopher Walker is director of studies and Sarah Cook is an Asia researcher at Freedom House. Print Digg it
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Taiwan Tracker @ 2009-10-20 13:51:42
Let's not also forget the organized cooperation of Chinese pundit-vigilantes who monitor online media comment sections such as this and cram it with fallacious and reactionary comments the minute a China criticism materializes. To be fair, China has a long, distrustful relationship with the so-called West and Western entrepreneurs and opportunists are partly to blame for China's anxious behavior. It's been so easy to exploit China over the centuries due to its massive size and the near impossibility to control corruption. I fear this will never change unless China adopts a new form of government, such as a federation of its 7-8 regions, each with its own central government. Nevertheless, as long as China plays the defensive bully abroad, it will never gain the respect of other people and nations, and will have to endure "hurt feelings" time and again until the world no longer gives a damn what the Chinese think or feel. don @ 2009-10-15 10:26:42
directed at Xiaohuzi: Do you shutter to think about people understanding their world better? Do you shutter to think about the human mind's exposure to alternative points of view? Do you shutter to think about the world acknowledging the plight of the mistreated or the unjustly accused? I don't want to down play china's progress. But why down play the progress of democratic countries like america? Our liberalism is still developing. We many need much more time as well. And china will inevitably need to develop in this respect as well. The economy is not enough; money is not enough. If you love the darkness of ignorance, why live in america? Why not move to myanmar or north korea? Xiaohuzi @ 2009-10-13 20:42:45
I shutter to think of the moral depravity that will come in the wake of socalled freedom of expression. While I am not happy with such trivial clamp downs as those experienced by facebook and YouTube, I rest assured knowing that the PRC is actively engaged in preventing the moral ambiguity and devalued emphasis on family and tradition such as what we are experiencing in the west, particularly in the USA where I am a citizen. I live in China part of the year, and I must tell you all something: I have NEVER felt safer and more secure. Give it time people, the Chinese government is, despite it's shortcomings, moving with positive reform...they are just pragmatic and prudent as to not repeat the aftermath as the case of the former soviet union. flippertie @ 2009-10-13 13:35:05
The self-censorship of the local media in Hong Kong (as a result of Beijing's pressure) is getting more noticeable all the time. Normally we hear at least something about Taiwan's national day (October 10th) even if the stories are negatively slanted. This year with all the noise about the CCP's 60th anniversary none of the local media (English language) even mentioned the event. Given the proximity of the two dates you can be sure that some of the usual suspects would have been doing their best to make some noise about the 'double 10th' but you'd never know it from the papers or television Alexander Lugg @ 2009-10-13 12:41:59
A similar event occurred in Melbourne, where the Melbourne International Film Festival was pressured to drop the film '10 Conditions of Love' with the
http://www.feer.com/politics/2009/october54/Chinas-Export-of-Censorship
Page 3 of 4
Far Eastern Economic Review | China's Export of Censorship
09-11-03 9:43 AM
threat to withdraw all Chinese films. The director of the festival refused to cave. More interesting is the context in which this happened. At the same time, Australian Stern Hu, an executive with mining company Rio Tinto, was detained by Chinese police for an alleged fraud. When the Australian government attempted to intervene they were told not to meddle in Chinese domestic affairs. I understand that several businesses are now reviewing their engagement with China as a result. Combined, what these two events show is that just as the world depends on the Chinese market to sell and manufacture goods, so too does China rely on the rest of the world for other resources. The exportation of authoritarianism can be prevented, but it requires principled action. Duke Togo @ 2009-10-12 15:05:26
Regardlessly, as a long term strategic economic force, China should consider herself owing a duty to act responsibly in any and all endeavours. Without doubt, her rise is not without difficulties and all too often would attract just the kind of disruptive jealousy and irrational behaviours to which her rightfully strong reactions are labeled as censorship or worse. All the same while needing to demonstrate tolerance for constructive criticism, sound judgement should also be exercised over say the rather enthusiastic army of image consultants and media practitioners in her employ. It is perhaps ironic that in view of its nature, no formally recognised guideline concerning censorship of free expression have yet been agreed, how far is enough. There is simply ample room for abuse and misunderstanding which can obscure and even nullify the best of intentions. She should be mindful, too, of examples set for less genuine countries which are all suppression and little else, and which are enboldened by all the fast and foot loose rebranding and all too easily shifting etymologies.
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09-11-03 9:43 AM
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HOME » POLITICS » 2009 » CHINA'S EXPORT OF CENSORSHIP
October 2009
China's Export of Censorship by Christopher Walker and Sarah Cook SUBSCRIBER LOGIN
Posted October 12, 2009
User name Password
Forgot your password Register
The Chinese government’s effort to prevent dissident authors from taking part in the prestigious Frankfurt Book Fair, an international showcase for freedom of expression, has offered Germany a close-up view of China’s intolerance of dissent. In September, two Chinese writers, journalist Dai Qing and poet Bei Ling, had their invitations to the fair revoked by German event organizers after China’s organizing committee complained. The Chinese delegation threatened a boycott over invitations to the writers for a September symposium promoting the Frankfurt Book Fair, which begins on October 14. China is the "guest of honor" at this year's fair. In the face of this pressure, the event’s organizers withdrew the invitations. The writers’ participation was ultimately enabled when the German PEN club of independent writers invited the two Chinese dissidents.
ESSAYS
read more
DOW JONES LINKS
asia.WSJ.com WSJA.com Chinese WSJ.com Dow Jones
ADVERTISE ON FEER.COM AND IN FEER
ABOUT FEER.COM
Introduction to FEER
Introduction
History
Incentive Plan & Rates
Who we are
Technical Specifications Publication Schedule
Summer Internships
While Beijing’s coercive behavior caught many Germans off guard, it should not have come as a surprise; the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) censorship ambitions are neither new, nor limited to Germany. In fact, this action is just the latest example of an ongoing pattern of interference, cooptation and intimidation beyond China’s borders used to muzzle voices critical of the Chinese government. Two days after the opening of the Frankfurt Book Fair, a film festival in Taiwan’s second largest city, Kaohsiung, will begin. It, too, has come under pressure to censor. In this instance the issue is a planned screening of “The 10 Conditions of Love,” a documentary about exiled Uighur rights activist Rebiya Kadeer. Chinese authorities assert Kadeer has terrorist links, unsubstantiated claims not accepted by most Western countries or independent analysts. Despite pressure to shelve the film—linked to fears that the city’s growing industry servicing mainland tourists could be hurt—
http://www.feer.com/politics/2009/october54/Chinas-Export-of-Censorship
Page 1 of 4
Far Eastern Economic Review | China's Export of Censorship
09-11-03 9:43 AM
that the city’s growing industry servicing mainland tourists could be hurt— the Kaohsiung Film Archive and the organizing committee of the 2009 Kaohsiung Film Festival announced on September 27 that it would go ahead with the screening. A similar series of events unfolded at the Melbourne Film Festival this summer. In September, Uighur activist Dolkun Isa, who holds German citizenship, was denied entry into South Korea, to take part in a conference on democracy. China is South Korea’s largest trading partner. Isa, who fled China in 1997 and obtained asylum in Germany, was held at the Seoul airport without explanation for two days after being denied entry to South Korea. The Chinese authorities have developed an elaborate arsenal of censorship, including an extensive domestic apparatus of information control. Less appreciated and understood are the methods of interference and intimidation employed to muzzle critical voices abroad. Some of the modern authoritarian techniques the Chinese authorities use for this purpose beyond its borders are detailed in a study, “Undermining Democracy: 21st Century Authoritarians,” recently released by Freedom House, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia. Economic coercion is a principal line of attack in the transnational suppression of issues deemed sensitive by China’s rulers. The coercion is applied directly and indirectly. Instances of direct economic coercion and censorship typically occur when an event has already been planned or already begun. Pressure is then applied by Chinese government representatives on the organizers or local authorities to suppress certain activities or appearances deemed undesirable by the CCP. In such instances, explicit or implicit threats of boycotts, trade sanctions, or withdrawal of Chinese government funding have been used to force the hand of those in charge. The CCP’s Frankfurt Book Fair gambit fits this model, given the financial implications of the Chinese government’s $15 million investment in the event. More insidious has been an indirect form of economic intimidation, whereby publications, event organizers or governments engage in self-censorship on topics deemed sensitive to the mainland, a dynamic some have dubbed “pre-emptive kowtowing.” Given their small size, proximity and relationship to the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan are particularly vulnerable to this phenomenon. This June, the Hong Kong edition of Esquire magazine, published by South China Media, pulled a feature story by journalist Daisy Chu on the Tiananmen Square massacre slated to run on the 20th anniversary. In 2008, a prominent legal journal in Hong Kong made a last-minute decision not to publish an article on Tibetan self-determination. A blackout on independent coverage of the Falun Gong is believed to be practiced among certain Hong Kong and Taiwanese outlets whose owners have close ties to Beijing or significant business interests on the mainland. As China’s economic clout and role on the global stage grows, it will inevitably exert greater influence beyond its borders. However, the issue is not whether China—which features one the world’s least hospitable environments for free expression—will project influence but what shape this growing power will take. The CCP plans, for instance, to spend billions of dollars on expanding its overseas media operations in a potentially massive show of “soft power.” But whether this enormous investment will simply project the deeply illiberal values that characterize China’s domestic media scene to a wider playing field is a question advocates of free expression should seriously ponder. This critical question, so far, does not provide an encouraging answer. China’s attempts to insinuate itself into Taiwan’s media sector, and Beijing’s ongoing efforts to limit the vitality of Hong Kong’s media, are among the examples of this phenomenon in Asia. The CCP has recently demonstrated its willingness to suppress open expression in Germany and Australia. The
http://www.feer.com/politics/2009/october54/Chinas-Export-of-Censorship
Page 2 of 4
Far Eastern Economic Review | China's Export of Censorship
09-11-03 9:43 AM
its willingness to suppress open expression in Germany and Australia. The United States is not immune to this pressure. The Dalai Lama will be waiting a bit longer for his meeting with President Obama. The Chinese government’s position at the vanguard of efforts to monitor and filter Internet content, using its wealth and technical acumen to devise methods to limit the free and independent flow of information online, also has serious transnational implications for free expression. China effectively serves as an incubator for new media suppression; authoritarian governments around the world carefully watch China’s censorship techniques and learn from its innovations. The community of democratic states must acknowledge the Chinese government’s growing media ambitions and efforts to censor beyond its borders. Acquiescence in this challenge will only embolden the Chinese authorities. Christopher Walker is director of studies and Sarah Cook is an Asia researcher at Freedom House. Print Digg it
Email to a friend Facebook
Back to top
del.ici.ous
See archives Stumbleupon comments (6)
Taiwan Tracker @ 2009-10-20 13:51:42
Let's not also forget the organized cooperation of Chinese pundit-vigilantes who monitor online media comment sections such as this and cram it with fallacious and reactionary comments the minute a China criticism materializes. To be fair, China has a long, distrustful relationship with the so-called West and Western entrepreneurs and opportunists are partly to blame for China's anxious behavior. It's been so easy to exploit China over the centuries due to its massive size and the near impossibility to control corruption. I fear this will never change unless China adopts a new form of government, such as a federation of its 7-8 regions, each with its own central government. Nevertheless, as long as China plays the defensive bully abroad, it will never gain the respect of other people and nations, and will have to endure "hurt feelings" time and again until the world no longer gives a damn what the Chinese think or feel. don @ 2009-10-15 10:26:42
directed at Xiaohuzi: Do you shutter to think about people understanding their world better? Do you shutter to think about the human mind's exposure to alternative points of view? Do you shutter to think about the world acknowledging the plight of the mistreated or the unjustly accused? I don't want to down play china's progress. But why down play the progress of democratic countries like america? Our liberalism is still developing. We many need much more time as well. And china will inevitably need to develop in this respect as well. The economy is not enough; money is not enough. If you love the darkness of ignorance, why live in america? Why not move to myanmar or north korea? Xiaohuzi @ 2009-10-13 20:42:45
I shutter to think of the moral depravity that will come in the wake of socalled freedom of expression. While I am not happy with such trivial clamp downs as those experienced by facebook and YouTube, I rest assured knowing that the PRC is actively engaged in preventing the moral ambiguity and devalued emphasis on family and tradition such as what we are experiencing in the west, particularly in the USA where I am a citizen. I live in China part of the year, and I must tell you all something: I have NEVER felt safer and more secure. Give it time people, the Chinese government is, despite it's shortcomings, moving with positive reform...they are just pragmatic and prudent as to not repeat the aftermath as the case of the former soviet union. flippertie @ 2009-10-13 13:35:05
The self-censorship of the local media in Hong Kong (as a result of Beijing's pressure) is getting more noticeable all the time. Normally we hear at least something about Taiwan's national day (October 10th) even if the stories are negatively slanted. This year with all the noise about the CCP's 60th anniversary none of the local media (English language) even mentioned the event. Given the proximity of the two dates you can be sure that some of the usual suspects would have been doing their best to make some noise about the 'double 10th' but you'd never know it from the papers or television Alexander Lugg @ 2009-10-13 12:41:59
A similar event occurred in Melbourne, where the Melbourne International Film Festival was pressured to drop the film '10 Conditions of Love' with the
http://www.feer.com/politics/2009/october54/Chinas-Export-of-Censorship
Page 3 of 4
Far Eastern Economic Review | China's Export of Censorship
09-11-03 9:43 AM
threat to withdraw all Chinese films. The director of the festival refused to cave. More interesting is the context in which this happened. At the same time, Australian Stern Hu, an executive with mining company Rio Tinto, was detained by Chinese police for an alleged fraud. When the Australian government attempted to intervene they were told not to meddle in Chinese domestic affairs. I understand that several businesses are now reviewing their engagement with China as a result. Combined, what these two events show is that just as the world depends on the Chinese market to sell and manufacture goods, so too does China rely on the rest of the world for other resources. The exportation of authoritarianism can be prevented, but it requires principled action. Duke Togo @ 2009-10-12 15:05:26
Regardlessly, as a long term strategic economic force, China should consider herself owing a duty to act responsibly in any and all endeavours. Without doubt, her rise is not without difficulties and all too often would attract just the kind of disruptive jealousy and irrational behaviours to which her rightfully strong reactions are labeled as censorship or worse. All the same while needing to demonstrate tolerance for constructive criticism, sound judgement should also be exercised over say the rather enthusiastic army of image consultants and media practitioners in her employ. It is perhaps ironic that in view of its nature, no formally recognised guideline concerning censorship of free expression have yet been agreed, how far is enough. There is simply ample room for abuse and misunderstanding which can obscure and even nullify the best of intentions. She should be mindful, too, of examples set for less genuine countries which are all suppression and little else, and which are enboldened by all the fast and foot loose rebranding and all too easily shifting etymologies.
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