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The International Herald Leader on Internet Nationalism

As seen in the loud protests before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, many Chinese have truly demonstrated anti-US sentiment and nationalism both in China and abroad. For the Western world, an increasingly powerful China is also an increasingly expanding and arrogant nation. Since the future leaders of China are among them, this is an issue that will have an influence on world peace. The following is an article from the International Herald Leader [1], a newspaper under the Xinhua News Agency, the Chinese official media.

The Internet creates three "new precedents;" Internet nationalism blows a new horn

Five years ago, the International Herald Leader published an article that claimed that Internet nationalism had opened a new page in Chinese nationalism. Five years later, in the spring of 2008, Chinese Internet nationalism completed a real evolution in virtual space.

Immediately after the serious violent incident in Lhasa on March 14, some websites were created to criticize the Western media’s biased and distorted reports, calling people to go to the streets, using their flesh bodies to defend the Olympic torch. In March, with the help of the Internet, in China and abroad, tens of thousands of ordinary Chinese coincidentally showed the world what the true public opinion of the Chinese nation really is. Some western media have had to admit that "the outburst of China’s nationalism is not from top to down," but it also a reflection of a prevalent "new patriotism" among the Chinese people.

About five years ago, International Herald Leader wrote an article, asserting that Internet nationalism had opened a new chapter in Chinese nationalism, predicting, "Internet nationalism is a new starting point, not an ending point." This music chapter was played again this spring, with three new "precedents;" it confirmed the former prediction. Chinese Internet nationalism has completed its real evolution in virtual space, and has blown the horn to march forward.

Three new precedents

After the March 14 incident in Lhasa, a considerable number of Western media blatantly distorted the truth. They completely showed their sinister intentions and their attitude of arrogance. At the same time this also demonstrated their poor methods. In their report, the police from Nepal and India became Chinese police and emergency vehicles became China’s vehicle to ship prisoners. The liars used such a simple way to deceive the public. Thus Chinese Internet users in China immediately brought out the truth.

The Western media, which has a monopoly on television, newspapers and other traditional media, did not realize that the Internet’s subversive impact on traditional media occurs not only in Europe and the United States, but also in China. This time, due to the rise of Chinese nationalism, this revolutionary means of using the Internet as a media and communications tool created three new "precedents” in Chinese Internet nationalism.
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First, the broad geographic is unprecedented. From Beijing to San Francisco, from London to Paris, in such a short period of time, the Chinese around the world combined their resources and not only broke through the Western mainstream media’s language barrier, but also successfully launched a large-scale counterattack. They exposed the lies of the Western media, and immersed those waving the rag a few call ”Tibet independence” amidst an ocean of people waving the five-star Chinese flag. The Internet, as a low-cost communications tool, played a decisive role. Without the help of the Internet, it would have been inconceivable to get so many overseas Chinese to act together.

Secondly, the amount of agreement was unprecedented. Earlier, Chinese in China and overseas, could all feel they were separated by territory and by administrative power. Although the subjects of Chinese people’s attention are similar, their views are quite different. The cursing and fighting on the Internet has become a common phenomenon in Chinese forums worldwide. But this time, the voices of Chinese all over the word were shockingly similar. This indicates that, for the issues that involve the fundamental interests of a country or nation, the Chinese people are capable of reaching a high degree of consensus.

Third, the significant effect is unprecedented. The anti-US sentiment and nationalism of Chinese in China and overseas, were fully displayed. Although not all western media that lied were compelled to change their attitude as a result of pressure from Chinese Internet users, and even fewer apologized, still to be able to have the western media bow to Chinese people’s opinions is itself a landmark since Chinese Internet nationalism was formed. With the nature of Internet’s nature, the Chinese Internet users supervise the western media. This represents a model for a vulnerable nation breaking through the western soft language hegemony.

Endnotes:
[1] International Herald Leader, April 15, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-04/15/content_7979309.htm

Hu Calls on Chinese Youth to Steadfastly Follow the Party

This Xinhua commentary article, titled “Soundly Blow the Strong Note of Patriotism”, quoting a speech by Party General Secretary Hu Jintao given during a recent visit to Beijing University, urges Chinese youth to carry on the glorious tradition of patriotism and steadfastly follow the Party down the socialist path with Chinese characteristics. The article calls on Chinese youth to strongly persist with patriotism and the socialist [path] and unite with solidarity around the core leadership of Hu Jintao to realize the great goal of the country’s revival.

Source: Xinhua, May 5, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-05/05/content_8109927.htm

Beijing: New Policy Starts Random Security Searches around Tiananmen Square

A new security regulation, announced yesterday by Beijing’s municipal government, goes into effect today that all persons and vehicles entering the Tiananmen Square are subject to a random security search. The new regulation also adds a list of illegal items forbidden to be brought into the area, including guns, ammunition, knives, explosive and radioactive items, drug and adult materials, and other hazardous articles that can disrupt social order and endanger public security. Security searches around Tiananmen Square will become a routine that will stay in effect all year long, according to one official from the municipal government. Under the old regulations, security searches around the square were performed only during times of special events and major holidays.

Source: Xinhua, May 6, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2008-05/05/content_8106559.htm

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Opposes US Religious Freedom Report

China "firmly” opposes the “arrogant criticism” by a U.S. report on the religious situation in China. The annual report, released by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, constitutes a “malicious attack” on China’s policies on religious and ethnic minorities and is “gross interference” in China’s internal affairs, according to Qin Gang, the Foreign Ministry spokesman. It is a “fact and reality” that Chinese citizens of all ethnic groups enjoy full freedom of religion protected by Chinese law, the spokesman said, adding that the US report undermines China-US relations.

Source: Xinhua, May 6, 2008
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/2008/05-06/1241094.shtml

Soft Spread of the Chinese Language Is a National Strategy

Xu Lin, director of China’s National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, talked about the international spread of the Chinese language in an interview with Xinhua’s publication Outlook Weekly magazine. Xu said that the international spread of the Chinese language was a national strategy. To accomplish such a great venture, it must be done through the combined efforts of various departments of the government as well as the whole society. Xu emphasizes that the most pressing issue is to improve the ability for the Chinese language to spread [beyond the country]. China’s National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language was established in 1987. It is made up of officials from 11 departments of the State Council. Its mission is to coordinate various ministries, treat the international spread of Chinese as a national issue, and spread it in a quiet manner. The headquarters of the Confucius Institutes established later is another face of the same office.

Source: Sohu, May 5, 2008
http://news.sohu.com/20080505/n256668069.shtml

Aba Autonomous Prefecture Government Mandates Lawyers to Be in Solidarity with the Party

On April 29, the Judicial Department of Aba Prefecture [Aba is the second largest Tibetan ethnic group in Sichuan Province] held a lawyers’ professional training conference. All 55 practicing lawyers in the region attended the training. During the conference, the lawyers were required to be in solidarity with the Party’s Unified Plan both in thought and action, to be sober-minded about the [political] climate, and to counter-attack the Dalai clique’s separation with concrete actions.

Source: Boxun, May 4, 2008
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/china/2008/05/200805040315.shtml

Ignorant Coordinator for Tibetan Issues

Chinese citizens’ reactions to western media reports on Tibetan issues have surprised many western people. Chinese people’s global protests of western media and western governments reflect the Chinese government’s long-term influence. During this movement, the official state-run media attack from China along with the criticism of individual top officials from Europe and the U.S. encouraged Chinese citizens’ sentiments of nationalism and boosted anti-American feelings. Below is an article from the Xinhua website criticizing Paula Dobriansky, the U.S. Undersecretary of State [1]

Ignorant “coordinator for Tibetan issues” [2]

The Washington Post on Monday, April 21, published an article titled “The Way Forward in Tibet” by Paula J. Dobriansky, the Undersecretary of State for democracy and global affairs in the U.S. State Department, and her capacity was specifically labeled at the end of the article as the “U.S. special coordinator for Tibetan issues.”

First of all, her role as a coordinator invites some questions. Common knowledge tells us that a coordinator has to be accepted or approved by both parties in a dispute, whereas the capacity of Dobriansky here is the outcome imposed by the U.S. government, a third party from the outside, and the Chinese government has never recognized her as she has wishfully imagined or thought of.

Secondly, as a coordinator, one should keep to an uninhibited, impartial and just stance, whereas Dobriansky not only listens to and believes in one side, but openly shields one party and blames the other party, without any fairness to speak of.

Thirdly, a coordinator should have an in-depth understanding and make rather extensive studies on the problems that are to be dealt with. If one has a smattering of hearsay knowledge, makes frivolous comments and talks a lot of nonsense, he or she will make himself or herself a laughing stock. Apparently, Dobriansky has made such a ridiculous error.

Then, let us first look at her knowledge of Tibet. By relying solely on, or basing herself on, distorted reports from a few Western media and briefing reports from the U.S. embassies and consulates, she citied the March 14 Lhasa incident as “peaceful protests” and demanded for China to release people. How could you demand this so harshly, if it is not out of an ill intention? So many video scenes recorded by both Chinese and foreign cameramen obviously show “Tibetan independence” protestors setting fire to stalls, attacking schools, killing or hacking to injure innocent civilians, and how can such obvious violence be said to be “peaceful protests” or demonstrations?
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Moreover, the riots in Tibet are caused by a few “Tibetan independence” protestors with an aim to capitalize on Beijing’s summer Olympic Games to divide China and seek Tibetan independence at the very instigation of the Dalai Lama. Even the Western media have not made any denial of this evidence.

Paula J. Dobriansky, however, alleged in her article that “underlying these tragic events is China’s long-standing repression of religious, cultural and other freedoms for the Tibetan people.” She is simply telling a bare-faced lie!

Any people who have been to Tibet or those with the slightest interest in Tibet know that the Lamaseries and Buddhist temples across the region are resounding with the chanting of Buddhist sutras and the freedom of Tibetans in their religious belief has never been subjected to government interference. The Chinese central government has, on a couple of occasions, made huge appropriations for overhauling or repairing temples and Lamaseries, preserving cultural relics, or sifting classic Tibetan works; these are facts there for all to see. Why does Dobriansky turn a blind eye to all these things? And is this the little, pitiful Tibet-related knowledge the so-called coordinator possesses on Tibetan issues?

Both Dobriansky and the U.S. Congress have honored the Dalai Lama as a “man of peace” who has advocated a “middle way” that embraces “autonomy for Tibet” within China and “rejects seeking independence” and they even said he “has publicly come out strongly against the violence” and “indicated his support for holding the Olympic Games in Beijing.” A host of ironclad facts so far unveiled have long proven that the Dalai Lama is a man who never means what he says. He utters beautiful, high-sounding words before the scene on one hand and, on the other hand, he masterminds violence behind the scene. So, it is not inappropriate to depict him as the most hypocritical person in the world.

It was reported that Dobriansky attended the fifth “International Tibet Support Groups Conference” in Brussels in May 2007. It was at this conference that the “Tibet independence” organization adopted a strategic plan as well as the related plan of action to take the Olympic Games in Beijing as the main target of assaults in the coming 15 months, and the commander to organize such “Tibetan independence” activities sits right there inside of the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C..

Does the “special coordinator for Tibetan issues” who had been at that conference really not know any moves of the Dalai clique to sabotage the Beijing Olympic Games? She still cites that “he is supportive of the Olympic Games in Beijing”? Is this “coordinator” cheating herself or deceiving others?

Endnotes:
People’s Daily, April 23, 2008
[1] http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2008-04/23/content_8032052.htm; (original Chinese article)
[2] http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90780/91342/6397699.htm

An Overview of Verdicts on Individuals Imprisoned in the Shanghai Social Security Fund Scandal

On March 25, 2008, Chen Liangyu, the former Shanghai Municipal Party Committee Secretary was sentenced to 18 years in prison, marking the end of the long lasting Shanghai social security fund investigation. People are still speculating on its impact and the turmoil it has caused to party’s top level; it is obvious that this case deals not merely with financial fraud but rather with the power struggle within the party. The following is a description of the verdicts that some of the individuals imprisoned in the Shanghai social security scandal received. [1]

According to an analysis done by some Hong Kong media, the conviction of Chen Liangyu, the former Shanghai Municipal Party Committee Secretary, of 18 years in prison for bribery and the conviction of Chen Xitong, the former Beijing municipal party committee Secretary of 16 years in prison for embezzlement are both indeed "political crimes" and should not be viewed simply as crimes of bribery and corruption.

According to those media reports, the CCP is accustomed to using financial fraud charges or personal scandals as a cover for the political motive behind the matter.

Among those who were linked to the Shanghai Social Security fund scandal in 2006, were Chen Liangyu, 20 other local high-ranking officials, and prominent figures from the business circle allegedly involved.

Due to scale of the case, the defendants were split up and sent to three different locations in Shanghai, Jilin, and Anhui Provinces for trial.

The most recent verdict was on April 7 in Jilin Province when Zhang Rongkun was sentenced to 19 years in prison and 1.3 billion yuan of personal assets were confiscated. The verdict was viewed as a benchmark for Chen Liangyu’s sentence.

Zheng Enchong, a prominent Shanghai rights lawyer stated that, "this (Shanghai Social Security fund scandal) is the result of a power struggle within the party." He said, "Jiang Zemin is Chen Liangyu’s big brother. Jiang was aware of Chen’s misconduct as early as when Chen was the party secretary for the Shanghai Huangpu district all the way until he was promoted to the position of Municipal Party Committee Secretary. Jiang hand picked and promoted Chen. The current circumstances suggest that the CCP high level authorities only wanted to use Chen Liangyu’s trial to call an end to the investigation."

Zheng Enchong said, "There is an internal agreement that no one will expose anything that is related to Jiang Zemin and Huang Ju."

Zheng continuted, "I am extremely disappointed! On Chen Liangyu’s case, we have waited for a total of ten years for this date! More than 200 people have been persecuted to death and more than 2,000 people are still imprisoned. This day has finally come."

According to the number released by the National Audit Office last month, the Shanghai Social Security Fund scandal involved 33.9 billion yuan, which is higher than the original estimate of 480 million yuan.
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 Table: Verdicts of Individuals Imprisoned in the Shanghai Social Security Fund Scandal

 Name  Former Post
 Trial Date & Location  Charge  Verdict
 Chen Liangyu  Former CCP Politburo member, and Shanghai Municipal Party Committee Secretary  March 25, 2008. The Second Intermediate People’s Court of Tianjin  Bribery & abuse of power  18 years in prison
 Zhang Rongkun  Former chairman of the Fuxi Investment Holding Company in Shanghai  Dec 27, 2007. The Intermediate People’s Court of Songyuan, Jilin Province  Five charges: bribing officials, company executives, manipulating stocks prices, fraudulent bond issuing and the illegal withdrawal of capital contributions  19 years in prison
 Zhu Junyi  Former Shanghai Labor & Social Security Bureau Chief  Sep 23, 2007. The Intermediate People’s Court of Changchun, Jilin Province  1.6 million yuan in bribes, embezzlement, funding of 1 billion yuan and abuse of power  18 years in prison
 Lu Qiwei  Former Chief of the Department of Pension Funds of the Labor & Social Security Bureau of Shanghai  Sep 23, 2007. The Intermediate People’s Court of Changchun, Jilin Province  1 million yuan in bribes  8 years in prison
 Wu Minglie  Former Head of the Shanghai New Huangpu Group Company (SNHGC)  Sep 23, 2007.The Intermediate People’s Court of Changchun, Jilin Province  Involved in the Huawen and New Huangpu case;10 million yuan in bribes  Life in prison
 Wang Zheng  Former General Vice-President of the Huamen Media Investment Corporation  Sept 23, 2007. The Intermediate People’s Court of Changchun, Jilin Province  Involved in the Huawen buyout of New Huangpu case; 10 million yuan in bribes  3 years in prison
 Han Guozhang  Former Vice President of the Shanghai Electric Group  Sep 23, 2007. The Intermediate People’s Court of Changchun, Jilin Province  Involved in the Shanghai Electric Group case; 6 million yuan in bribes  Life in prison
 Li Songjian  Former Board Director of Shanghai Mingyuan Group & non-executive director of Shanghai Electric Group  Sep 23, 2007. The Intermediate People’s Court of Changchun, Jilin Province  Involved in the Shanghai Electric Group case; the embezzlement of 50 million yuan; 700,000 yuan in bribes  18 months in prison
 Wang Chenming  Former Board of Director of Shanghai Electric  Dec 20, 2007. The Intermediate People’s Court of Changchun, Jilin Province  Involved in the Shanghai Electric Group case; share corruption of 300 million Yuan with Yan Jinbao and Lu Tianming; 210,000 yuan in bribes  Death penalty
 Sun Luyi  Former Director of the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party Shanghai Committee  Sep 25, 2007.  The Intermediate People’s Court of Changchun, Jilin Province  More than 5 million yuan in bribes  15 years
in prison
 Qin Yu  Former chief of Baoshan District in Shanghai  Sep 25, 2007. The Intermediate People’s Court of Changchun, Jilin Province  More than 6.82 million yuan in bribes  Life in prison & Property confiscation
 Wang Guoxiong  Former general manager of Shanghai Industrial Investment Group  Sep 26, 2007. The Shanghai No.1 Intermediate People’s Court    5 million yuan in bribes  5 million yuan in bribes  Life in prison & Property confiscation
 Lin Baoheng  Former director of the Shanghai Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission  Sep 25, 2007. The Shanghai No.1 Intermediate People’s Court  500,000 yuan in bribes  8 years in prison
 Wu Hongmei  Former Deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission  Sep 25, 2007. The Shanghai No.1 Intermediate People’s Court  1.96 million yuan in bribes  11 years in prison
 Han Fanghe  Former chief executive of Hua An Fund Management Co  Sep 26, 2007.  The Shanghai No.1 Intermediate People’s Court  More than 4 million yuan in bribes  18 years in prison 
 Yu Zhifei  Former Chief of Shanghai’s F1 racing track  Jan 3, 2007. The Intermediate People’s Court of Wuhu, Anhui Province  The embezzlement of 1.05 million yuan  4 years in prison
& a 300,000 Yuan fine
 Yin Guoyuan  Former deputy director of the Shanghai Housing, Land and Resource Administration  Waiting for trial  Charged with taking bribes, abuse of power  Unknown
 Chen Chaoxian  Former director of Shanghai’s Changning District  Waiting for trial  Corruption  Unknown
 Wang Weigong  Former vice general manager of Shanghai-based Shenergy Group  Waiting for trial  Received 9.5 million yuan in bribes from Zhang Rongkun  Unknown

Endnote:
[1] The Epoch Times,April 13, 2008.
http://epochtimes.com/gb/8/4/13/n2080475.htm