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Censorship concerns arise as Lianhe Zaobao’s article of Biden’s remark on Xi blocked in Hong Kong

Censorship concerns arise as a Lianhe Zaobao’s article calling Xi Jinping a “dictator” is allegedly blocked in Hong Kong, along with Tiananmen massacre-related content.

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1 year ago

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An article published by the Singapore Chinese media outlet Lianhe Zaobao has reportedly been blocked in Hong Kong, leading to internet users in the region being unable to access it.

The article in question discusses U.S. President Joe Biden referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping as a “dictator,” raising concerns of possible censorship.

Readers from other regions have had no issues accessing the article, which was published on Lianhe Zaobao’s official news site on Wednesday (21 June).

However, Radio Free Asia (RFA), a U.S. government-funded news agency, reported that the same article was allegedly inaccessible in Hong Kong, displaying an error message stating, “The page you are trying to access does not exist.”

Even attempts to search for the article within Lianhe Zaobao’s real-time news section and its official website resulted in the article appearing to have been removed or made unavailable.

TOC has verified the allegation using VPN that it is the case when accessing the said article from Hong Kong.

Additionally, RFA revealed that articles mentioning the anniversary of the June 4, 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and the recent arrests of Hong Kongers commemorating it in public were also allegedly unavailable to Hong Kong readers on Lianhe Zaobao’s website, while those same articles were easily accessible from outside Hong Kong.

Other content on Zaobao, unrelated to the article, such as topics covering Xi Jinping, the Hong Kong extradition bill protests, and Jimmy Lai, remained visible and accessible in Hong Kong.

Zhou Shuguang, a network engineer and citizen journalist living in Taiwan, investigated the technical aspects of the webpage and suggested that the blockage likely occurred within the Hong Kong-based servers hosting Lianhe Zaobao’s content.

He explained that servers in different locations worldwide, including Hong Kong, Osaka (Japan), and the United States, are used to ensure faster content access for readers.

However, servers in Hong Kong are subject to the jurisdiction of the Hong Kong National Security Law or the local government, which may contribute to access restrictions.

“Servers in Hong Kong are governed by the Hong Kong National Security Law, or the Hong Kong government,” Zhou said.

Zhou also considered the possibility that Lianhe Zaobao engaged in self-censorship to gain access to readers in mainland China.

RFA noted that an employee of the Lianhe Zaobao who responded to a query about the issue from RFA on Wednesday said: “We are looking into it.” However, no further response had been received by the time of writing.

When approached, an official from the Hong Kong government’s Innovation, Technology, and Industry Bureau stated that the issue does not fall within their jurisdiction.

The Zaobao article quoted report from Reuters, mentioning “Biden Calls Xi Jinping a Dictator”

The news article titled “Biden Calls Xi Jinping a Dictator,” quoted a report from Reuters stating that during a recent meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, President Biden openly referred to Xi Jinping as a “dictator.”

According to the Reuters report, during a fundraising event in California, Biden mentioned the incident when a Chinese hot air balloon carrying spy equipment was shot down by the U.S. military.

He stated, “When I decided to shoot down that balloon full of spy equipment, Xi Jinping was very upset because he didn’t know where the balloon was… Once you lose control of a situation, it becomes very embarrassing for a dictator.”

Biden also mentioned that China is going through an economic difficulty.

Lianhe Zaobao helped to China govt to paint a positive image of its Xinjiang concentration camp in 2019

In fact, Zhou’s concerns about the possibility of Lianhe Zaobao engaging in self-censorship to gain access to readers in mainland China could be valid. Zaobao is one of the few foreign-owned Chinese-language media outlets that can be accessed online in China.

Additionally, Zaobao is the sole Chinese-language overseas newspaper available for purchase in major cities across mainland China.

Readers can verify on Lianhe Zaobao’s official website in the “contact us” section, where it is mentioned that the paper is distributed in Beijing and Shanghai.

Regarding its editorial stance on China, the paper was invited in April 2019 by the Information Office of the State Council of China to present a favorable image of the concentration camps in Xinjiang.

This invitation was extended to eight overseas media outlets, including BBC and Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao, with the intention of portraying a positive image of Xinjiang’s Muslim Uighurs.

Previous criticisms from human rights organizations and some Western media regarding the Chinese government’s suppression and surveillance of Uighurs prompted this response.

As such, the Chinese government wanted to change the world’s perspective of these “schools” and organised a media trip to show the current status of these “re-education camps”.

Although BBC took a bold move to showcase the darker side of Xinjiang and its “re-education” camps, but other invited foreign media outlets, including Lianhe Zaobao, took a less harsher route despite trying to “uncover the mystery of the Xinjiang Education and Training Centre”.

Singapore ranked second most influenced by China in the world

According to the China Index 2022 by Taiwan-based research outfit Doublethink Lab, Singapore has ranked second globally, preceded by Cambodia and followed by Thailand, in terms of China’s growing influence on countries.

The study revealed that Singapore is particularly vulnerable to Beijing’s influence in areas such as technology, society, and academia, although it is less affected in terms of domestic politics.

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China

Tragic stabbing of Japanese boy in Shenzhen sparks concerns over Sino-Japanese relations

A 10-year-old Japanese boy died after being stabbed in Shenzhen on 18 September, raising fears about strained Sino-Japanese relations. The attacker, a 44-year-old man, was apprehended. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the act, urging Beijing for swift information. This incident follows previous attacks on Japanese nationals, heightening concerns for their safety in China.

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2 weeks ago

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20 September 2024

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CHINA: A 10-year-old boy, a dual citizen of Japan and China, succumbed to injuries after being stabbed while on his way to school in Shenzhen on Wednesday (18 September) morning.

The incident has raised alarms within the Japanese community in China and could further strain already tense Sino-Japanese relations.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the boy was attacked in the abdomen near a Japanese school and was transported to a hospital for emergency treatment.

Despite efforts to save him, he died of his wounds early Thursday.

The assailant, a 44-year-old man, was arrested by police near the scene.

The motivations behind the attack remain unclear, and it is uncertain whether the boy was specifically targeted due to his nationality.

A local Japanese businessman expressed concerns for the safety of the community, advising vigilance and caution when speaking Japanese in public spaces.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the stabbing as an “extremely despicable crime” and called for prompt information sharing from Beijing regarding the investigation.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry, represented by spokesman Lin Jian, expressed condolences and emphasized the commitment to protecting foreign nationals in China.

Lin noted that such incidents could occur in any country and downplayed the potential impact on bilateral exchanges.

Eyewitness accounts described the chaotic scene, with the boy receiving immediate medical attention from passersby.

His mother was present during the attack.

This incident follows a similar knife attack in Suzhou in June, which left a Japanese mother and child injured.

In response to both attacks, Japanese officials have reiterated their demand for enhanced safety measures for their nationals in China.

Wednesday also marked the 93rd anniversary of a significant historical event—Japan’s bombing of a railroad track near Shenyang, which contributed to the Manchurian Incident and subsequent occupation of northeastern China during World War II.

In light of this, Japan had previously requested the Chinese government to bolster security at Japanese schools.

In mourning, Japan’s Ambassador to China, Kenji Kanasugi, ordered the national flag at the embassy to be flown at half-staff and planned to visit Shenzhen to meet the victim’s family.

The Japanese consulate in Guangzhou reported that local government officials had also extended their condolences.

Community responses in Shenzhen reflected a mix of shock and sorrow, with residents leaving flowers at the entrance of the Japanese school.

One local expressed shame over the incident as a Chinese national, while another voiced concern over the implications for Sino-Japanese relations.

As diplomatic tensions have already been heightened by issues such as espionage allegations against Japanese nationals and trade disputes, including a ban on Japanese seafood following the Fukushima disaster, this tragic event may exacerbate existing challenges.

The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China has urged both governments to ensure the safety of Japanese citizens and seek clarity on the incident.

The investigation into the stabbing continues, with officials pledging to hold the perpetrator accountable under Chinese law.

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Animals

Panda knocks down zookeeper in Chongqing zoo, both unharmed

A panda named Ding Ding knocked down a zookeeper at Chongqing Zoo on 19 September, sparking concern after a video surfaced online. Both the caretaker and the panda were unharmed, and the zoo has continued normal operations.

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2 weeks ago

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20 September 2024

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CHINA: On Thursday (19 September), a social media user shared a video showing a giant panda named Ding Ding (丁丁) knocking down a zookeeper at Chongqing Zoo.

In response to inquiries, zoo staff confirmed that both the zookeeper and the 9-year-old panda were unharmed and that Ding Ding continues to be exhibited as usual.

The video, circulated on Chinese social media platform Weibo, shows a zookeeper noticing that Ding Ding was attempting to escape through a partially open gate. The zookeeper rushed to close the gate, which produced a loud noise.

However, the gate wasn’t fully secured, and Ding Ding can be seen trying to open it again.

Visitors alerted the zookeeper, who rushed back to shut the gate.

This action seemingly agitated the panda, who then turned its attention toward the zookeeper.

During a brief chase, Ding Ding knocked down the zookeeper.

In the footage, some visitors can be heard advising others to stay calm and avoid shouting.

This is not the first such incident at the zoo.

In April 2024, another panda knocked over another zookeeper.

The zoo’s management reported that on 23 April, at around 2:00 PM, a zookeeper was guiding two pandas, Yu Ke (渝可) and Yu Ai (渝爱), to a feeding area when they chased and knocked the zookeeper down.

Fortunately, neither the zookeeper nor the pandas were injured.

Following that event, the zoo held a safety meeting and implemented stricter feeding protocols to prevent similar incidents.

Chongqing Zoo is home to 23 giant pandas.

According to Chongqing Daily, the panda enclosure, which has undergone three rounds of expansion and renovation, now covers nearly 20,000 square meters and is one of the earliest panda breeding centers in China.

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