It’s a Whopper!
Posted by MyLaowai on Thursday, November 27, 2008
Cai Wu, China’s information minister, said at an event sponsored by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies think tank, that international claims that his country tramples internet and media freedoms stem from a cultural misunderstanding of the role the press plays in Chinese society, where news media must work with the government.
In his view, Chinese websites “offer probably the freest forum for opinion in the world”. Hence, Mr Cai rejected the US State Department’s annual global human rights report which accuses China of clamping down on print, broadcast and electronic media and censoring internet content.
– RFC
Wo Shi Laowai - Wo Pa Shui 
justrecently said
It wouldn’t be scientific without probably. Mr. Cai has made a convincing case. Why didn’t he enlighten us earlier?
Neddy said
Pity this news is 2 years old! Nothing wrong about that, of course, but are you sure that comrade Cai has not since been arrested for divulging state secrets, or something?
justrecently said
Maybe this was from his private diary, and some RFA hackers found it there? As happened to Bi Hua?
MyLaowai said
Yeah, but hey – too funny not to post, old or otherwise.
justrecently said
Talking about old stuff… I think you have a nice commenter over there. I’d put a “recent comments” column to the right of this blog if I were you. A lot of high-quality content will go unnoticed without it.
Neddy said
Nice catch, justrecently! Think of how much fun MyLaowai has behind our backs… Alright, sometimes you can guess at new comments to older posts, like when an older article suddenly pops up in the “Top Posts” list. But yours is a good suggestion.
MyLaowai said
Your merest suggestion of a wish is my command, Justrecently. New layout, hopefully easier, and with a ‘Recent Comments’ section – you approve?
justrecently said
Yeah, I definitely approve. I won’t take your wishes for commands as unconditionally as you do, but as for the blog voting, I’ll cast my vote according to your ultimatum on December 1. Consider it done.
Neddy said
Excuse me for interrupting, but since the topic of this post is the “internet freedom with Chinese characteristics” clanger, you may find this interesting.
It’s Rebecca MacKinnon’s post “Studying Chinese blog censorship”
http://rconversation.blogs.com/rconversation/2008/11/studying-chines.html
My only remark would be: “What *cough* censorship?” And don’t tell Hermit the (angry) Taoist Dragonfly about it.
MyLaowai said
There ain’t no censorship on this blog. Unless I disagree with you, that is.
justrecently said
You can’t get a blogging prize from such a racist org and expect to simply get away with it, can you?
Neddy said
Mmm… My heart is bleeding for the China government. Yes, even morons have something to say, but life’s too short to waste time listening to them, let alone engage them. My swapping bad jokes on MyLaowai’s blog may be an equal waste of time, but at least I enjoy it! Just saying…
I think I need a drink of Johnny Worker’s ‘Red Labial'(TM).
MyLaowai said
It’s better than the American equivalent: Red Libel
MyLaowai said
Or the one from the Greek islands: Red Labia
Neddy said
Hey, guys, that was quick! But I wa snot joking; has any of you noticed the link I posted on Top Gear?
An while I am on my soapbox: What was that title you claimed on your Wet Pussy (August), JR? “Dr Dr h.c.”… Enlighten us ignorami; all I know is PhD=piled higher and deeper.
MyLaowai said
Yes Neddy. That’s where all these bad puns are coming from.
Stranded Mariner said
Yeah, cool. The ‘freest forum for opinion in the world’ just took me 3 fucking hours to upload one post with pictures to my blog, via TOR. What a great achievement. Bunch of cynical fascist cunts.
MyLaowai said
Mate, you really need to learn to say what you really feel – don’t keep bottling it up inside. You’ll only develop neurosis in later life.
Try this for a proxy, and let me know how you get on:
http://www.zend2.com/
Worldwatcher said
In a speech former US Ambassador to China, Amb Stapleton Roy thinks that China’s future is bright and US should learn to deal with it.
http://tinyurl.com/6qvta9
MyLaowai said
I agree that the US needs to learn how to deal with China. I further reckon they should brighten China’s future with 20 megatonne lightbulbs, but that’s just because this is the Christmas Season.