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Pacific News Minute: Party Critic Becomes the Latest Victim in China's Crackdown of Free Speech

bfishadow / Flickr
bfishadow / Flickr

Last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the three big state media outlets in Beijing to demand absolute loyalty to the Communist party.  He delivered that message to China Central Television, the People's Daily newspaper and the Xinhua news agency.  But this week it became clear that the party won't tolerate dissent on new media either.  We have more, from Neal Conan in the Pacific News Minute.

After President Xi's lecture to the media, China's biggest celebrity blogger posted a message on WeiBo - the Chinese equivalent of Twitter. "When did the People's government turn into the Party's government," Ren Zhiquang asked his 38 million followers. "Once all the media is part of one family and stops representing the interests of the people, " he added, "then the people will be cast aside and left in some forgotten corner." 

On Sunday, China's top internet regulator closed his account.  An explanation declared Ren's blog "vile" and added that Internet celebrities, "must correctly use their influence, exemplify obedience to laws and regulations, shoulder social responsibility and actively spread positive energy."

The Washington Post quoted a spate of attacks on Ren in party controlled media, for daring to question the unity between the party and the people, for questioning the party's legitimacy and for trying to advance Western Constitutional democracy. Those posts are still up.

Ren Zhiquang is himself a party member, a former soldier and a retired real estate tycoon said to be worth 22 million dollars. His provocative opinions earned him the nickname "the Cannon," but he was thought to be protected by his long friendships with top party officials. Many analysts described his sudden public disgrace as a chilling reminder of Mao Tse Tung's Cultural Revolution.

Over 36 years with National Public Radio, Neal Conan worked as a correspondent based in New York, Washington, and London; covered wars in the Middle East and Northern Ireland; Olympic Games in Lake Placid and Sarajevo; and a presidential impeachment. He served, at various times, as editor, producer, and executive producer of All Things Considered and may be best known as the long-time host of Talk of the Nation. Now a macadamia nut farmer on Hawaiʻi Island, his "Pacific News Minute" can be heard on HPR Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
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