Government/Politics - 224. page

On September 3, 2013, People’s Daily published an article titled, "The “Big V” Label Is Not a Shield to Cover Illegal Activity.” According to the article, the “Big Vs,” no matter how many charitable projects they have completed or how many fans they have, do not have the privilege of avoiding legal punishment for their wrong doings. The article called on the “Big Vs” to hold to the legal bottom line and promote “positive energy” to "move the progress of society forward."

[Editor’s note: A “Big V” means a well-known blogger who has more than 500,000 followers. The “V” at the end of a blogger’s name signifies that his profile has been “verified” as genuine and his post therefore commands more trust.]

Source: People’s Daily, September 3, 2013

http://opinion.people.com.cn/n/2013/0903/c1003-22781702.html

On September 16, 2013, Qiushi Theory, a periodical on political theory run by the Chinese Communist Party Central Party School and the CCP Central Committee, cheered because China’s Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procurator issued a joint Internet control guideline. According to the guideline, those who spread “defamatory” information on the Internet face up to three years in prison if their posts are viewed 5,000 times or are forwarded 500 times.

“Currently, the Chinese government’s performance is highly acclaimed around the world. This is a fact that even the public opinion in the West has difficulty denying. Excessive criticism against the government is contrary to reality.”

Source: Qiushi, September 16, 2013
http://www.qstheory.cn/zxdk/2013/201318/201309/t20130912_270563.htm  

On August 29, 2013, People’s Daily published an article calling for the “fire” of rumors on the Internet to be extinguished. The article referred to the frequent users of the Internet who have recently been imprisoned as "the mice running on the streets that everyone wants to whack with a stick. According to the article, those who spread “rumors” frequently on the Internet create chaos in the name of “anti-corruption,” “fairness,” and “freedom.”

"What they talk about is sanctimonious, but what they do is dirty and shameful."

Source: People’s Daily, August 29, 2013
http://opinion.people.com.cn/n/2013/0829/c1003-22728992.html
 

On September 9, China’s Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, issued a joint guideline defining the criteria for convicting and sentencing persons who use the Internet to defame, provoke and instigate, blackmail, or engage in illegal business. Under the guideline, these activities are defined as criminal offenses punishable by imprisonment. 

Xinhua published a commentary on the discourse right stating that the discourse right is a key indicator of a country’s soft power. It is a critical aspect in formulating ideology work. According to the commentary, gaining the discourse right in the media battlefield should be established as an important goal for ideology work. The commentary also quoted Xi Jinping’s speech given on August 19. Xi emphasized that Marxist ideology is the foundation for the Party and (the Party) should be proactive when dealing with key issues and take control in formulating the Party’s ideology work.

Source: Xinhua, September 7, 2013
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013-09/07/c_117270185.htm

On September 2, 2013, Beijing Daily published a commentary titled advocating ideological education.  Major State media immediately reprinted it under the title “Beijing Daily: Do Not Leave Space for Universal Values.”