Official China Discussion Thread

https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/asia/item/25946-communist-china-using-interpol-to-hunt-down-its-enemies-abroad#

I think it's hyped up, but I'm not surprised that this tactic is used.

PS - Aware that it seems biased, but this just broke out.

edited 16th May '17 12:25:33 AM by Ominae

...I'd suggest choosing a different source for that story. After looking at the other articles on that site, it's...kind of biased, to put it lightly. And it takes certain liberties with facts.

And I say this as someone who does not like the CCP and thinks it's totally believable they would take advantage of Interpol to track down people who threaten their power.

edited 17th May '17 2:14:12 AM by M84

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/beijings-weapon-economic-war-chinese-tourists-031202899--finance.html

Relevant in the wake of China's supposed threats against Duterte that war can happen if he tries to bring up the Hague ruling.

https://ph.news.yahoo.com/men-probing-ivanka-trump-supplier-215322123.html

Public Security Police made arrests on some men conducting an investigation on work conditions on Ivanka Trump's supplier.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-40256499

China is now recognized by Panama.

I just know this is somehow Tsai Ing-wen's fault.

...Okay in all seriousness it's almost certainly economic pragmatism. But because I hate Tsai Ing-wen and think she's a moron who is doing a good job of handing the KMT the next election on a platter (and they in turn will effectively hand Taiwan on a platter to Beijing), my first instinct when I hear bad news for Taiwan is to blame Tsai Ing-wen these days.

Ugh, another country decides to validate the glorified usurpers...

edited 12th Jun '17 10:39:52 PM by M84

If the discussions about the British Tories and the American GOP in regards to their relationship with national healthcare on this forum are any indicators, I wouldn't be surprised if the Kuomintang utilized their deep influence on the ROC's institutions in order to purposely sabotage the DPP's activities in order to "prove" that the latter's initiatives are "failing".

It's worth saying that Taiwan is unique among post-dictatorship democracies in that the party that was once the only one allowed to exist and possessed the power to whisk people away to an Island Prison continues to operate as a legitimate and widely supported political body in elections. You don't see the same in Eastern Europe with their communist parties, who remain isolated to the fringes of their country's legislatures.

Except in both cases the saboteurs had official government power too. Tories had a majority in Parliament, and the GOP has had Congress for years.

The KMT lost in a landslide when Tsai Ing-wen and the DPP won. For better or for worse, Tsai and the DPP have to own the results. And so far I am not impressed. And neither are people in general in Taiwan, given Tsai's drop in approval over the past year or so in office.

On another Taiwan-related note, how did journalism there degrade to the point where even The Sun almost looks legitimate in comparison to the garbage spouted on it? I felt that I was becoming dumber every second I was tuned in to a variety show once, but Taiwanese "news" seems to be in a league of its own.

In exchange for that, I offer this:

Here's one article on the issue of Taiwan media.

The article notes that Taiwan only had a "free" media starting around 1987. Before that it was very much not free.

You know how some people are forced to live boring and restricted lives under their parents only to go completely nuts when they get a whiff of freedom in college or something? That's what Taiwan media has been like from 1987 onwards.

The article also points out that China isolating Taiwan makes it harder for Taiwan's journalists to cover international matters. It's just so much easier to go for the juicy local scandalous stuff.

That looks a lot more harmless, journalism-wise, than what the Sun (or Correio da Manhã here, which is the Sun + TMZ combined), though.

edited 14th Jun '17 6:37:28 AM by Quag15

http://shanghaiist.com/2017/04/10/foreign_spies_reward.php

Interesting way to catch spies in China.

I get the feeling that's going to get abused to hell and back.

Indeed:

Imagine some Chinese dude getting jealous/petty due to a Chinese girl choosing to date some foreign dude.

Also, can someone translate what these two characters◊ (which is presumably from some government brochure on foreign male spies and Chinese women) are saying?

From 1:22 onwards

I feel that the MSS should've done a better approach. It's kinda funny and all...

Man: Dear, is there a need to keep secrets from me? I'm only borrowing the document to write an essay. Woman: Oh, alright then.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20170712_31/

Liu Xiaobo is in critical condition and his family wants him to get treatment overseas, but Beijing refused since he was convicted for calling for political reforms due to the CCP being a one-party rule.

The CCP being spiteful petty assholes as usual.

He passed away in his bed a while ago.

Global Times mentioned that Chinese doctors did their best to save Xiaobo's life, but criticized the West and human rights group for making things complicated by putting politics in it.

Oh sure, it was the West and human rights groups who made it political! This shit was already political since the main reason he wasn't allowed treatment was because he was a political enemy of the CCP!

edited 13th Jul '17 10:51:08 PM by M84

This is normal. The CCP has always had an extreme separation between internal and external politics. One of the reasons they are loathe to intervene anywhere. Or allow anyone to say anything about their internal affairs.

The CCP is now censoring emojis online to anyone paying tribute to Xiaobo.