On the question of the Chinese gymnast He Kexin’s age, one fact is certain, that is, there is an inconsistency between the local athletic bureau and the central athletic bureau. So, is it that:
1. The local athletic bureau is correct, and the central athletic bureau changed her age to older?
OR
2. The local athletic bureau falsified, and changed her age to younger?
Aug 21
Has He Kexin’s age been changed to older or younger?
Written by: Nimrod | Filed under:Analysis, culture, News | Tags:age fixing, featured, gymnastics, He Kexin, olympics
231 Comments » newest
231 Comments » newest
Even though Buxi isn’t back, why don’t we return to a fine tradition of this blog? This post from Niubo (牛博), a Chinese forum often filled with discontent with how things are, has something interesting to add about the age of Olympic gymnast He Kexin. Translation below:
Aug 14
(Letter) Chinese gymnasts age controversy
Written by: guest | Filed under:culture, Letters, News | Tags:age fixing, gymnastics, olympics
1 Comment » newest
1 Comment » newest
Last night after the women’s gymnastics team final, NBC announcer Bella Caroli commented that the Chinese team cheated with underage athletes, and their passports were doctored by the Chinese government.
After some digging, it seems the age allegation had surfaced some time ago, but was quelled after passports and birth certificates where produced to the satisfaction of the gymnasts federation in charge.
Have not seen much of this since, except the NBC commentator and some 2nd tier reporting from NYT.
The reporter mentioned that there were some government documents on this, so I set out to find them. Here’s what I found while searching the gov.cn domain:
Continue reading »
Aug 13
The cruelest insults come from ones pretending to speak as the righteous
Written by: DJ | Filed under:media, News | Tags:featured, Lin Miaoke, media, olympics, Opening Ceremony, Yang Peiyi
183 Comments » newest
183 Comments » newest
[UPDATE]
At the risk of being seen as running an excessive self and cross promotional campaign, I highly recommend all interested readers to check out ESWN’s take on some of the irresponsible media reports in this case, particularly the collection of quotes from various medias, and the latest comment on the “uneven teeth” meme such reports created. Roland is very gracious in claiming only to frame this very post, but I think his “re-framing” does a very effective job in making the point.
I should also point out some subtle but extremely damaging distortions introduced and propagated by the media reports that earned my ire. As reflected by a Chinese blogger on his second posting on this matter after listening to the entire interview of Chen (H/T to ESWN again):
陈音乐总监的说法被媒体断章取义了，或者说歪曲了。第一，陈没有说杨小朋友的形象不好，只是说林小朋友的形象最好；第二，陈说到国家利益，是指作出用最好的形象和最好的声音这样一种“双簧”的安排更符合国家利益，并不是指不让杨小朋友出镜是“国家利益”。
The words of Chen Qigang are used by the media out of context and are distorted. First, Chen did not say that Yang Peiyi was considered not good in appearance. He merely pointed out that Lin Miaoke was considered to have the best image. Second, when Chen talked about national interest, he was claiming that the national interest was served by combining the best stage presence with the best singing voice [to present the best perceived performance]. He did not mean that it was a matter of “national interest” to hide Yang Peiyi from the camera.
Aug 12
An imperfect perfection
Written by: DJ | Filed under:media, News | Tags:China, featured, Lin Miaoke, olympics, Opening Ceremony, singing, Yang Peiyi
237 Comments » newest
237 Comments » newest
Note: an update is inserted at the end.
The Beijing Olympics opening ceremony was, by most accounts, a brilliantly choreographed and spectacularly executed performance worth of a gold medal of its own. There were a fair number of notable highlights, and many journalists certainly were not shy from exhausting all the synonyms of the word “stunning” in the thesaurus in describing those scenes.
High on many Chinese viewers’ list of the most moving moments, however, is one that might not be easily appreciated by foreign audiences. Early in the process, China’s national flag was brought into the Bird’s Nest and raised while an young girl in a red dress stood singing “Hymn to the Motherland”. This song is perhaps best explained as the equivalent of “God Bless America” and is similarly considered an unofficial national anthem by many. The simple lyric line
歌唱我们亲爱的祖国，从今走向繁荣富强。 “We sing to our beloved motherland, on her way towards prosperity and strength.”
captures the hope and pride of so many Chinese for so long in merely 17 characters.
Continue reading »
Aug 11
minipost-(Letter) 2nd terrorist attack in Xinjiang
Written by: guest | Filed under:-guest-posts, -mini-posts, News | Tags:terrorism, uigur
No Comments » newest
No Comments » newest
[h/t to Nimrod]
After reports of terrorist attack ahead of the Olympics in Xinjiang, a 2nd attack days after the Olympics has been reported. Continue reading »
Aug 08
One of the interesting things about the Opening Ceremony is the outside world gets to see (or is made to pay attention to) a slice of raw Chinese public opinion on full display.
Besides obviously the home team, Taiwan probably got the loudest cheers from the Chinese crowd at the Bird’s Nest today, a sure head-scratcher to foreign pundits stuck in a brain warp, I’m sure, but no real surprise to Chinese people and those who know China.
As we watch the Opening Ceremony, let’s make a list of the teams that got the loudest cheers from the Chinese crowd today. It is bound to be interesting.
Continue reading »
Aug 07
The evolution of political activisms according to (misused) Gresham’s law
Written by: DJ | Filed under:Analysis, News | Tags:darfur, media, Olympic protest, political activism
19 Comments » newest
19 Comments » newest
I couldn’t help but think of Gresham’s law while reading the twin news of the banner carrying pole climbing protesters in Beijing and the last minute cancellation of Joey Cheek’s visa to go to China.
Aug 07
minipost-(Letter) Wearing Masks During Olympics?
Written by: guest | Filed under:-guest-posts, -mini-posts, News | Tags:environment, olympics
No Comments » newest
No Comments » newest
With the Beijing Games days away, the air quality issue has again surfaced, appearantly above the haze that’s settled on the city in the last couple days: Continue reading »
Aug 06
Four members of the activist group, Students for a Free Tibet, have staged a lamppost protest in Beijing, unfurling a banner that read, ‘One World, One Dream – Free Tibet’, as the Olympic torch relay entered its final stage in the host city on Wednesday 6 August. All four – two British and two American nationals, holding tourist visas – have been arrested and are currently in police custody. In their interviews with the BBC, parents of the two British protesters spoke of their pride and explained that they were otherwise not unduly concerned about their children’s safety. They added that following the arrests the British students had made direct contact with their respective families, confirming that they had been treated well in custody. It is believed that they will now be entered into the deportation process within the coming days, whilst human rights campaign groups, including Students for a Free Tibet, have claimed further protests will follow in the weeks ahead. Continue reading »
Aug 04
minipost-(Letter) Terrorist attack in Xinjiang ahead of Olympics
Written by: guest | Filed under:-mini-posts, News | Tags:terrorism, uighur
35 Comments » newest
35 Comments » newest
BEIJING – Two men rammed a dump truck into a group of jogging policemen and then tossed explosives into their barracks Monday, killing 16 officers…
Jul 30
(Letter) Chinese Bloggers Mourn Death of CMU Professor/Author Randy Pausch
Written by: guest | Filed under:-guest-posts, News |
6 Comments » newest
Randy Pausch, a CMU professor and author of The Last Lecture(波许教授的最后一课), died on July 25.
http://www.sciencenet.cn/blog/Eindex.aspx?typeid=1772&userid=3474
http://www.geocities.com/vicfun2003/Randy_Weblog_Chinese.html
Jul 24
(Letter) Tibet officials issued with Dalai school ultimatum
Written by: guest | Filed under:education, News | Tags:dalai lama, education, tibet
49 Comments » newest
49 Comments » newest
Here is a piece of news on CD.
Party members and public servants working in the Tibet autonomous region were given an ultimatum on July 14 to call back their children within two months from overseas schools and monasteries run by the “Dalai clique”, the International Herald Leader (IHL), owned by the Xinhua News Agency, said Wednesday.
Under a regulation drawn up by the regional Party and government disciplinary inspection commissions, which was released last week, those who fail to do so will be expelled from the Party and removed from their posts, the IHL report said.
Jul 23
Saw on ESPN.com AP reports that
Beijing will set up specially designated zones for protesters during next month’s Olympics … Liu Shaowu, director for security for the Beijing Olympic organizing committee, said Wednesday that areas in at least three public parks near outlying sporting venues have been set aside for use by demonstrators.
Jul 22
minipost-Chinese extremely optimistic about nation
Written by: Buxi | Filed under:-mini-posts, News | Tags:public opinion, statistics, survey
24 Comments » newest
24 Comments » newest
More released from Pew Global Attitudes survey. From the IHT/NYTimes: “Eighty-six percent of the Chinese surveyed said they were content with the country’s direction, up from 48 percent in 2002 and a full 25 percentage points higher than the next highest country, Australia. And 82 percent of Chinese were satisfied with their national economy, up from 52 percent.”
Jul 22
minipost-Add this to your “what if California is a country …” line at the next party
Written by: DJ | Filed under:-mini-posts, News | Tags:California, energy, fuel, global warming
14 Comments » newest
14 Comments » newest
Jul 22
Unity is strength – Shenzhen home-buyers try group buying
Written by: Buxi | Filed under:News | Tags:economy, real estate, shenzhen
11 Comments » newest
11 Comments » newest
There is probably only one other issue capable of challenging the Olympics for national attention in China right now: the collapse of the housing market in China, led by Shenzhen. Home prices in Shenzhen grew very rapidly in recent years (on the order of 50%-100% ), and now appear to be falling just as quickly.
But for some people, it might not be falling fast enough. Two years ago, Zou Tao organized a campaign to fight rising prices in Shenzhen called “Not Buy House” (explanation courtesy of ESWN). The government gave Zou Tao a firm “suggestion” that such mass campaigns were not welcome. Now, he’s back. Courtesy of Southern Metropolis, an article on his new campaign (连接):
Zou Tao organized a “Not Buy House” campaign two years ago. He is now initiating a new campaign: “Housing For Ten Thousand – Group Buying Activity”. He has already established a web platform at www.zoutao.com, and online voting and registration is currently on-going. Zou Tao says that he is doing this voluntarily without any compensation. His goal is to use a group-buying model to push down housing prices, and let those without homes find a place to live.
Jul 21
The emperor has no clothes; South China Morning Post has no what?
Written by: DJ | Filed under:media, News | Tags:media, rumor, SCMP, South China Morning Post, Tom Miller
124 Comments » newest
124 Comments » newest
It has been three days since the sensational title “Authorities order bars not to serve black people” written by Tom Miller showed up in the supposedly reputable South China Morning Post. I used the phrase “supposedly reputable” because I don’t read SCMP and really can’t directly comment on it. However I vaguely remember someone, in one of the many blogs/forums discussing this allegation, commented to the effect of: “It comes from the SCMP, which has a solid reputation. So I am inclined to believe this is true.” Sorry, I seriously intended to quote that comment here, but I somehow just can’t find it. It must be buried in lots of other comments either questioning SCMP’s journalism standard in this case or blaming China for all the wrongs of the universe. Nevertheless, I logically infer that SCMP must have had a solid reputation with at least some readers up until three days ago.
Jul 21
A victory for the rule of law: an untold story in China
Written by: Buxi | Filed under:News | Tags:law, media, reform
63 Comments » newest
63 Comments » newest
Two months ago, major Western newspapers ran stories on laywers Jiang Tianyong and Teng Biao. These two have been working in the “rights defense” (维权) movement in China. Both have received extensive overseas praise and attention for their work defending dissidents and FLG practictioners. Both also offered to defend Tibetans implicated in the March riots.
It all culminated in these articles at the beginning of June. I won’t bother quoting from the articles; the titles are pretty self-explanatory:
New York Times: Beijing Suspends Licenses of 2 Lawyers Who Offered to Defend Tibetans in Court
Washington Post: China Shuts Out 2 Lawyers Over Tibetans’ Cases
Toronto Star: Lawyers pay high price for coming to aid of Tibetans
Reuters: China rights lawyers say licenses blocked after Tibet call
The articles largely agree in content, and are basically copied directly from press releases from activist dissident groups: the two lawyers were denied their licenses for political reasons, authoritarian China, no sign of reform, etc, etc…
Well, we’ve learned more about their situations since. However, the Western media doesn’t seem very interested in telling the rest of the story. We’ll just have to discuss it here.
Jul 19
Senior judges discuss “human search engine”
Written by: Buxi | Filed under:News | Tags:free speech, internet mob, legal, reform
6 Comments » newest
6 Comments » newest
As the Internet has gained in influence in China, the “human search engine” and “internet mob” has also made itself increasingly known. We’ve discussed several such stories here, including the case of Wang Qianyuan. In the past, some unknown government bureau might have simply issued an edict banning this behavior… but in a hopeful sign of the maturing legal system in China, senior judges are discussing how to deal with a lawsuit related to one such incident.
ESWN provides background on the case of Jiang Yan, and her husband Wang Fei. Jiang Yan committed suicide in the last few days of 2007, and that’s where the story begins. The full story of her husband’s affair and cruelty was described on numerous internet sites by Jiang Yan’s sister and friends. The human search engine and internet mob went into action, harassing Wang Fei and family at work and at home.
Rather than just disappearing, Wang Fei has filed a lawsuit against three Internet sites and one of Jiang Yan’s friends. I’m not going to get into the titillating details, but here’s an update from the China Youth Daily on the lawsuit (连接):
This reporter has learned that after the third hearing on the “first human search engine case”, the Beijing Chaoyang District Court has called a conference of senior judges. 54 senior judges have begun heated discussions on the topic.
Jul 18
minipost-The danger of categorically accusing others of prejudice
Written by: DJ | Filed under:-mini-posts, media, News | Tags:media, olympics, prejudice, racism, South China Morning Post
66 Comments » newest
66 Comments » newest
Tom Miller of the South China Morning Post has generated somewhat doubtful outrages with an article alleging Beijing ordered bars not to serve blacks. For now, however, Beijing Boyce seems to have seriously deflated the credibility of Tom Miller’s work. (H/T Danwei) Continue reading »
Jul 17
Images from a mass incident in Huizhou
Written by: Buxi | Filed under:News | Tags:huizhou, mass incident, riot, wengan
64 Comments » newest
64 Comments » newest
There appears to have been a clash involving riot police in Huizhou. I will provide these images and early hearsay reports, but I want to remind everyone: be careful with any unconfirmed reports. As the Weng’an riots proved, rumors are not only often wrong, they are also potentially very dangerous. As soon as we have credible media reports (and I expect that we will), I will make sure they are included in this story.
UPDATE: About 12 hours after this post first went up, the Chinese media is delivering the first official version of events, see here. This version is different from the initial rumor in one specific detail: local police confirm the driver died, but insist it was in an accident. Very similar to the Weng’an riots in that sense. I trust we’ll see a thorough investigation from the province; Wang Yang, the party secretary for Guangdong, is known for his liberal take on government and politics.
Huizhou is a city in Guangdong province. The rumors (连接) tell us traffic police blocked a private minivan-bus, and asked for 100 RMB in toll. The driver refused to give any, and a confrontation followed, leading to the driver’s death. Rumors say local police offered private compensation to the victim’s family, but they refused and are demanding public investigation. Subsequently, a group from the driver’s home village in Hunan province, including alleged organized criminal gangs from Hunan, arrived in Huizhou. There are rumors of two police officers killed, in addition to the property damage seen below:
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