Skip to content

Government/Politics - 132. page

Liu Xiaobo’s Ashes Cast into Ocean; Family Members “Thanked” Party at the Press Conference

According to articles that Radio Free Asia and Voice of America published, the body of Nobel Peace Prize Winner Liu Xiaobo was cremated on the morning of July 15 and his ashes were cast into the ocean right after the cremation. Six of Liu’s family members were at the funeral, including his wife. None of Liu’s friends were present. At 4:00 p.m. on the 15th, during the press conference that the Shen Yang Municipal office held, Liu’s brother read a written statement. He “thanked” the party and the government twice in his speech and also explained why they “chose” to cast Liu’s ashes into the ocean. Liu’s wife was said to be too weak to be at the press conference. Liu’s brother left after he finished reading the statement and didn’t answer any questions from the media. Liu’s wife and many of his friends received a warning from the security bureau not to attend the funeral. The photo taken at the funeral showed that most of the people at the funeral were government officials and members of the public security bureau. On the day prior to the funeral the spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told reporters that China was against the Noble Peace Prize being awarded to Liu and asked the media not to make any prediction as to whether Liu’s wife will be allowed to travel to Norway to pick up the Nobel Peace Prize that Liu received in 2010. The Nobel Peace Prize committee chairman applied for a visa to come to China to attend Liu’s funeral. Her application was denied because she didn’t receive the invitation from Liu’s family. Ms. Anderson stated that Liu had passed away and she was not able to reach Liu’s wife.

Sources:
1. Voice of America
https://www.voachinese.com/a/liu-xiaobo-ashes-spread-at-the-sea/3945404.html
2. Radio Free Asia, July 15, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql1-07152017101602.html

Zhejiang Police Use Fake Communication Tower to Gather Mobile User Information

Radio Free Asia reported that the police from Zhejiang Province were found to have set up a fake mobile communication tower to gather mobile user’s information. The fake tower used a high power wireless signal transmission to force mobile devices such as mobile phones to register with it. This allowed the police to obtain mobile user’s information.

A former railroad policeman from Changsha, Hunan Province, commented that the police have long been using communication equipment to gather people’s information. The difference this time is that the police are doing it themselves, instead of going through telecom companies.

Another commentator indicated that it is a nationwide practice for the regime to use similar equipment to gather, monitor, analyze, and extract “useful” information from the general public.

Source: Radio Free Asia, July 2, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/control-07022017100526.html

SARFT Banned Some TV Show Categories before Communist Party Conference

China.com recently reported that the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) just sent out notifications on guidelines for TV contents suitable for the upcoming 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party and the Ninetieth Anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The guidelines listed 42 TV shows as recommended for celebrating the party conference and 26 shows for the PLA. SARFT required that the Central Television and provincial satellite TV stations air the recommended shows during the peak hours of the “celebration season.” The guidelines also banned shows that fell into the category of ancient costume plays and the category of idol dramas. These categories were considered “too entertaining” and not “suitable for the serious atmosphere.” SARFT also asked provincial news, publication, film, and television administrations to take action to ensure the “proper” shows are aired on time and other categories of shows that may be “too entertaining” are taken out as well. The “official” TV stations are urged to purchase the shows on the recommended list quickly.

Source: China.com, July 7, 2017
http://news.china.com/domestic/945/20170707/30932551_all.html#page_3

BBC Chinese: 6-Month Implementation of China’s New NGO Law Brought Disruption

BBC Chinese recently reported that China’s new NGO (Non-Government Organization) law that went into effect on January 1 resulted in disruption. A large number of NGOs suspended operations, cancelled activities, or lost sponsorship. The new law required that all NGOs, including those dedicated to environmental protection and charitable activities, must register with the police before they can operate. The police maintain a list of organizations that help overturn the government or support separatists. Financial and operations audits are needed before registration. It is estimated that there were around 1000 permanent NGOs in China and around 6000 NGOs working on short-term projects. So far only 139 NGOs have officially registered. Many NGOs refused media interviews, citing concerns about blockage from the police. Some anonymous NGOs mentioned “major bureaucracy” in the registration process. China’s Ministry of Public Safety refused to comment on this matter.

Source: BBC Chinese, July 7, 2017
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-40528289

Frequent Appearances of Former Prime Minister Suggests Rally behind Xi for the Upcoming 19th National Congress

According to an article in the Epoch Times, the recent frequent appearances of former prime minister Wen Jiabao suggests that Wen is trying to rally behind Xi for the upcoming 19th National Congress. The article reported that, on July 6, Wen was spotted visiting the China University of Geosciences. In April Wen went to Lu Liang of Shanxi Province. A couple of months later, in June, Xi Jinping also visited Lu Liang and a poverty stricken village in the region. Xi’s visit was interpreted as his using Wen’s political power to extend the influence of his new leadership. According to the article, Wen and former President Hu Jintao are considered Xi’s major allies. Wen assisted Xi in taking down a number of political opponents who are part of former President Jiang Zemin’s faction. Wen and Hu Jintao have often appeared in public during the critical timing when Xi took down members of Jiang’s faction during the campaign to combat corruption.

Source: Epoch Times, July 8, 2017
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/17/7/8/n9369270.htm

Noble Prize Winner Liu Xiaobo Still Wishes to Leave China to Receive Medical Treatment Overseas

According to an article that Radio Free Asia (RFA) published, Nobel Prize winner Liu Xiaobo is in critical condition because he has reached the late stage of liver cancer. Both Liu and his wife have continued to express their wishes to leave China to receive medical treatment overseas. Liu was sent to the hospital from Jinzhou prison where he was serving an 11 year jail sentence. Since June 7, he has been hospitalized at the First Hospital of China Medical University in the city of Shen Yang, Liaoning Province. On June 26, 2017, he was granted medical parole after being diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. The daily updates that the hospital has issued have never mentioned the family’s intent to have him seek treatment overseas. Based on an interview with RFA, a close friend of Liu’s wife told RFA that the official news release from Liu’s family has been strictly controlled by the officials; they could only say whatever the officials wanted them to say. The article also mentioned that Liu’s medical condition took a sharp turn in April after his wife disclosed the latest situation of his family members to him: his wife has been suffering from severe depression and her brother was sentenced to 11 years in jail.

Source: Radio Free Asia, July 7, 2017
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/renquanfazhi/ql1-07072017101142.html

Hong Kong Military Parade Soldiers Responded “Greetings, Chairman”

There was a change at the military parade in Hong Kong. When Xi Jinping greeted the parade block as “Greetings, Comrade,” the soldiers responded “Greetings, Chairman.” In the past, the Communist regime has always used the response of “Greetings, Leading Cadre.”

The soldiers’ new greeting to Xi in Chinese is “主席好.” “主席” can refer either to the title of Central Military Commission (CMC) Chairman or the title of President of China. Xi holds both titles.

Lianhe Zaobao gave two interpretations: One was that it showed that Xi had obtained absolute power over the military, so he preferred to be called by his title “Chairman” (of the CMC).

Another interpretation was that “Chairman” is much easier for Hong Kong people to accept than the term “Leading Cadre.” “Leading Cadre” is a word used in Party culture.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, June 30, 2017
http://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20170630-775429

Oriental Network: Xi Jinping’s Three Major Campaigns in the Past Five Years

Hong Kong Oriental Network published a commentary on three major campaigns that Xi Jinping has conducted in the past five years since he took the top leadership role in China. All these battles were against established interest groups and were met with many objections; yet Xi has been able to carry on the fight.

The first one was whether the (head of the) Party directs the “gun” or the “gun” directs the Party. During Hu Jintao’s era, Hu did not have control over the military or the police and the legal system. Guo Boxiong, Xu Caihou (two Vice Chairmen of the Central Military Commission) and Zhou Yongkang (head of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee) had the real power and ignored Hu. Xi fought several fierce battles to take them down and reclaim control.

The second one was whether the (head of the) Party directs the “money” or the “money” directs the Party. Though huge wealth has been generated in China, it has largely been concentrated in the hands of the families of high-ranking officials. For example, businessmen Che Feng (the son-in-law of Dai Xianglong, former Central Bank Governor and Tianjin Major), Xiao Jianhua (said to be linked to former top official Zeng Qinghong’s son Zeng Wei), Wu Xiaohui (ex-husband of Deng Xiaoping’s grand granddaughter and said to have connections with Zeng Qinghong), and Huang Rulun (said to have a good connection with a former top official Jia Qinglin) have, through their political connections, not only accumulated huge wealth, but also a lot of political power.

The third battle is whether to let the people have money or to let officials have money. Before Xi, it was the officials, not the people, who accumulate a lot of wealth. Xi has been trying to limit the officials’ power and has asked them to report their wealth.

Source: Oriental Network, June 26, 2017
http://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/commentary/20170626/bkn-20170626000914761-0626_00832_001.html