Unemployed journalist Li’s report created so much pressure that the official media finally weighed in on the story as well. On Nov. 19, the government-owned television network CCTV contacted Li and asked him to find the garbage collector. On Nov. 20, Universal Children’s Day, state-owned news agency Xinhua published a report that even pointed out the contradiction between the deaths of the five children and Xi’s rousing words.

Now officials in Bijie released the names of the dead boys: Zhonglin, 13, Zhongjing and Chong, both 12, Zhonghong, 11 and Bo, 9, all had the same last name, Tao. They were cousins, the children of three brothers, two of whom were migrant workers in the booming city of Shenzhen, near Hong Kong. The boys had been left in the care of the third brother, who was struggling in the bitterly poor village where he lived. Conditions were so bad there that the boys had run away. The city of Bijie also fired or suspended eight officials, including the director of the elementary school the children had attended, and where they hadn’t been seen in weeks.

But the children weren’t the only victims. While he was doing his research for CCTV, state security officers parked their SUVs on Li’s street and knocked on his door. They told him that things had gone too far, and that the case had been solved and he should delete his blogs and stop working on the story. Li refused. They threw him and his wife into a car, took them to the provincial capital Guiyang and put them on a flight to Haikou on Hainan, a resort island in the South China Sea.

When someone recognized the prominent dissident there, two officials dragged him off to another city. They told Li that the authorities had in fact considered issuing him a passport after the 18th party congress, so that he could visit his son. But that, they added, was now no longer an option. “Assume that you won’t see your son for the next 10 years, and perhaps not even for the rest of your life,” they said. They forced him to write a last blog entry, to the effect that he was traveling for personal reasons, to resolve a “family matter.” After that, Li’s voice fell silent, and he disappeared from the radar for the next four weeks.

Zand and a colleague visited Li in December, getting a first-hand glimpse at his situation and running into trouble of their own while investigating the boys’ deaths. From Part 2 of his report:

When Li told us about his arrest, his research and his abduction, it was with the muffled fury of a journalist who has been repeatedly prevented from reporting on what he knows. When he talked about his son in Ohio, he paused and swallowed. And when he reached the point in his story when the police came knocking on his door, there was another knock on the door. Li placed his finger over his mouth, disappeared for a few minutes, returned and said quietly: “That was one of the neighborhood security men. He had noticed movement.” A few days after his return from Hainan, Li said, outgoing President Hu Jintao was in Bijie, and after that he was no longer guarded as closely as before. But that, he said, would likely change again.

…

When we arrived at the village, neighbors prevented us from meeting with the boys’ family. It was unclear to us whether this was because the family didn’t want to see us, or whether the presence of Zhao and our other escorts intimidated them.

When we returned to the city, one of the police officers from the hotel joined us for dinner. After apologizing for the rude reception on the previous evening, he tried to ascertain what our next plans were. He also suggested that we refrain from reporting too critically on conditions in Bijie, noting that criticism is bad for the investment climate in the region. We remained under observation, and government agents sitting in the lobby filmed us whenever we left the hotel.

…

When we returned at 10:30 p.m., the light was on in my room, the bedspread had been pulled back and the curtains were closed. When I switched on my camera I noticed that my memory card was empty. My iPad had been plugged in incorrectly and I couldn’t switch it on anymore. Water was dripping from the plugs for the headphone and the charger. A mobile phone that I had left in the room had also been submerged in water. All the files on the desktop of my computer — and that of my colleague — had been deleted. Someone had broken into our rooms while we were out and manipulated and destroyed our devices.

See also censorship instructions regarding the incident sent to the media by China’s Central Propaganda Department, part of CDT’s “Directives from the Ministry of Truth” series.

© Scott Greene for China Digital Times (CDT), 2013. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: central propaganda department, Der Spiegel, Guizhou, homeless, illegal detentions, journalists, Li Yuanlong, Ministry of Truth
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Since directives are sometimes communicated orally to journalists and editors, who then leak them online, the wording published here may not be exact. The original publication date is noted after the directives; the date given may indicate when the directive was leaked, rather than when it was issued. CDT does its utmost to verify dates and wording, but also takes precautions to protect the source.

Central Propaganda Department: Without exception, all media will not republish online so-called photos of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s hotel room or items he has used. (December 13, 2012)

中宣部：对网上所谓习近平总书记入住酒店房间及使用过的物品等照片，各媒体一律不转载。

© Anne.Henochowicz for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: censorship, central propaganda department, Directives from the Ministry of Truth, Internet censorship, media censorship, Ministry of Truth, propaganda, Xi Jinping
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National Energy Administration head Liu Tienan in Japan, 1998. Caijing editor Luo Changping has reported him for disciplinary inspection.

The following examples of censorship instructions, issued to the media and/or Internet companies by various central (and sometimes local) government authorities, have been leaked and distributed online. Chinese journalists and bloggers often refer to those instructions as “Directives from the Ministry of Truth.” CDT has collected the selections we translate here from a variety of sources and has checked them against official Chinese media reports to confirm their implementation.

Since directives are sometimes communicated orally to journalists and editors, who then leak them online, the wording published here may not be exact. The original publication date is noted after the directives; the date given may indicate when the directive was leaked, rather than when it was issued. CDT does its utmost to verify dates and wording, but also takes precautions to protect the source.

Central Propaganda Department: With regards to reports of the investigation of officials for breach of discipline in all locales, strictly publish and broadcast according to the contents issued by supervisory bodies. Do not put this news on the front page or draw readers to it. Do not investigate, report, or comment voluntarily. (December 3, 2012)

中宣部：最近关于各地官员违纪被查处的报道，严格按监察部门发布内容刊播，不上头版和导读，不自行采访报道和评论。

Central Propaganda Department: On the morning of December 4, the People’s Court of Gaozhou City, Maoming Municipality pronounced judgement on Tan Shizhi with regards to his involvement with gangsters. If reporting on his case, please publish and broadcast according to the wire copy provided by the court, and do not play up the story. (December 4, 2012)

广东省委宣传部：4日上午，茂名高州市人民法院对谭世治涉黑团伙案进行宣判，如报道请按法院提供的通稿刋播，不炒作。

Central Propaganda Department: We reiterate that it is not permitted to voluntarily report or comment on the investigation of officials for suspected breach of discipline. In particular, do not produce collections of links [to stories]. When publishing wire copy from authoritative bureaus, do not put these reports on the front page or lure readers to them. (December 4, 2012)

中宣部：重申有关官员涉嫌违纪被查及相关问题不得自行报道评论，尤其不得作集纳式链接，刊发权威部门通稿不上头版导读。

Central Propaganda Department: Regarding personnel changes and the disclosure of personal finances of officials at the provincial level and above, without exception employ Xinhua wire copy, do not change headlines, and do not independently produce other reports or commentary. (December 4, 2012)

中宣部：对省部级以上官员工作岗位职务变动以及官员财产申报相关问题，一律采用新华社通稿，不改标题，不自行作其他报道评论。

Central Propaganda Department: Public security organs are currently investigating the case of a former employee of the Jiading branch of Huaxia Bank in Shanghai, surnamed Pu, who is suspected of secretly selling third-party financial products. All media are to cease reporting and commenting on this case for the time being. (December 4, 2012)

中宣部：华夏银行上海嘉定支行离职员工濮某涉嫌私卖外单位理财产品一案，公安机关正在侦查中，各媒体暂不再作报道评论。

Central Propaganda Department: In covering international issues, especially those involving Japan and North Korea, strictly adhere to the approach of Xinhua wire copy and declarations by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Do not voluntarily investigate or comment. (December 4, 2012)

中宣部：对国际问题特别是涉日、朝的报道严格按新华社通稿和外交部对外表态口径刊播，不自采自评。

Central Propaganda Department: All media will not republish, report, or comment on the online rumors concerning National Energy Administration director Liu Tienan. (December 6, 2012)

中宣部：对网传国家能源局局长刘铁男相关问题，各媒体不报道不评论不转载。

Through several Weibo posts, Caijing Magazine Assistant Editor-in-Chief Luo Changping reported Liu to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection for fabricating his academic credentials and forming business alliances while in office. She also posted images corroborating documents, such as Liu’s certificate from his studies in Japan [zh]. The National Energy Administration states that Luo’s accusations are “pure slander and rumor-mongering” (纯属污蔑造谣) [zh].

Central Propaganda Department: In reports concerning the Party and national leaders, strictly and without exception publish and broadcast in accordance with Xinhua wire copy. Do not quote from foreign media or online sources. (December 6, 2012)

Central Propaganda Department: Sichuan Party Secretary Li Chuncheng has accepted investigation by the Commission for Discipline Inspection. Except for printing and broadcasting Xinhua wire copy, do not play up the news, and do not employ other sources of information. (December 6, 2012)

中宣部：四川省委副书记李春城接受纪检部门调查，除按新华社通稿刊播外，不炒作，不采用其他来源信息。

Li is under investigation for graft.

© Anne.Henochowicz for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: censorship, central propaganda department, Directives from the Ministry of Truth, discipline inspection, media censorship, Ministry of Truth, official corruption, propaganda
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Since directives are sometimes communicated orally to journalists and editors, who then leak them online, the wording published here may not be exact. The original publication date is noted after the directives; the date given may indicate when the directive was leaked, rather than when it was issued. CDT does its utmost to verify dates and wording, but also takes precautions to protect the source.

Central Propaganda Department: Regarding personnel changes and the disclosure of personal finances of officials at the provincial level and above, without exception employ Xinhua wire copy, do not change headlines, and do not independently produce other reports or commentary. (December 4, 2012)

中宣部：对省部级以上官员工作岗位职务变动以及官员财产申报相关问题，一律采用新华社通稿，不改标题，不自行作其他报道评论。

Central Propaganda Department: In covering international issues, especially those involving Japan and North Korea, strictly adhere to the approach of Xinhua wire copy and declarations by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Do not voluntarily investigate or comment these issues. (December 4, 2012)

中宣部：对国际问题特别是涉日、朝的报道严格按新华社通稿和外交部对外表态口径刊播，不自采自评。

Central Propaganda Department: Follow previous notices and requests in reporting on Mo Yan’s trip to Sweden to receive the [Nobel] prize. Utilize copy from Xinhua, CCTV and similar major media outlets. Do not reuse related information from online sources or foreign media. (December 7, 2012)

中宣部：对莫言赴瑞典领奖的报道按此前通知要求，采用新华社、央视等中央主要媒体的稿件，不转载网上和境外媒体相关消息。

Central Propaganda Department: All media are not to republish, report, or comment on the report issued by the civic group Beijing Xing which says 90% of migrant workers in the construction industry do not have contracts or insurance. (December 7, 2012)

中宣部：对民间组织北京行发布报告称九成建筑业农民工无合同无保险，各媒体不转载不报道不评论。

Central Propaganda Department: All media are not to republish, report, or comment on the online rumor that Beijing Traffic Management Bureau Director Song Jianguo has been investigated. (December 7, 2012)

中宣部：对网传北京交管局长宋建国被调查，各媒体不转载不报道不评论。

© Anne.Henochowicz for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Beijing, CCTV, censorship, central propaganda department, Directives from the Ministry of Truth, Japan, media censorship, migrant workers, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Truth, mo yan, Nobel Prize, North Korea, personal finances, propaganda, Song Jianguo, Xinhua
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“May the radiant sun General Kim Jong-un shine forever!”

Since directives are sometimes communicated orally to journalists and editors, who then leak them online, the wording published here may not be exact. The original publication date is noted after the directives; the date given may indicate when the directive was leaked, rather than when it was issued. CDT does its utmost to verify dates and wording, but also takes precautions to protect the source.

Central Propaganda Department: Use only Xinhua wire copy in reporting North Korea labelling Ri Yong-ho a counter-revolutionary. Do not make other reports or commentary. (November 26, 2012)

中宣部：对朝鲜将李英浩定性为反革命分子，只用新华社通稿，不作其他报道评论。

Central Propaganda Department: Use only Xinhua wire copy with regards to Vietnam passing an anti-corruption bill. Do not make other reports or commentary. (November 26, 2012)

中宣部：对越南通过反腐法案，只用新华社通稿，不作其他报道评论。

Central Propaganda Department: Use only Xinhua wire copy with regards to the reopening of the investigation of the cheap sale of Wu Ying’s property. (November 26, 2012)

中宣部：对吴英财产贱卖案重审及相关问题只采用新华社通稿。

Once one of China’s richest business people, Wu Ying was detained in 2007 and eventually convicted of illegal fundraising. Sentenced to death in 2009, a retrial in May changed this to a two-year commuted death sentence, a punishment which often ends with the convicted averted execution. Meanwhile, Wu Ying argued for herself in court on Tuesday concerning the cheap sale of 14 of her companies’ properties, which she claims was fraudulent [zh].

Central Propaganda Department: Do not reprint, report, or comment on the female Heilongjiang TV anchor reporting a People’s representative to the authorities. (November 27, 2012)

中宣部：对黑龙江女主播举报人大代表一事不转不报不评。

On November 23, anchor Wang Dechun revealed that she has been sexually assaulted by a representative of the National People’s Congress.

Central Propaganda Department: In reports and commentary on the mine explosion in Xiangshui, Guizhou, do not implicate the political system. (November 27, 2012)

中宣部：对贵州响水煤矿爆炸事故的报道评论不联系体制。

Central Propaganda Department: Do not reprint, report, or comment on the paean to Kim Jong-un carved into a mountainside by North Korea. (November 27, 2012)

中宣部：对网上有关朝鲜刻写歌颂金正恩大幅标语一事不转不报不评。

A 548-meter slogan in praise of Kim Jong-un has been carved into a mountain in North Korea. Each word is 20 meters high, spelling out the slogan, “May the radiant sun General Kim Jong-un shine forever!”

Central Propaganda Department: With regards to online discussion of the vulgar Chongqing photos implicating six other officials, use on information issued by authoritative departments, and do not exaggerate. (November 27, 2012)

中宣部：对网传重庆不雅照还涉及其他6名官员，只采用权威部门发布的信息，不炒作。

Central Propaganda Department: All media are to maintain a positive spin on the national civil service examination. Do not independently report or comment on the situation surrounding test-taker Xuan Hai (who is visually impaired). (November 27, 2012)

中宣部：对国家公务员考试，各媒体要坚持正面宣传，对考生宣海（视力有障碍）参加考试相关情况，不单独报道评论。

Central Propaganda Department: Traditional media are not to reprint, report, or comment on online rosters of CCP Central Committee member posts. (November 28, 2012)

中宣部：网上关于中央委员现任职务的盘点，传统媒体不转载不报道不评论。

Central Propaganda Department: Do not reprint or report on Larry Hsien Ping Lang’s idea of China’s economy facing eight major crises [zh]. (November 28, 2012)

中宣部：对郎咸平有关中国经济面临八大危机的观点不转载不报道。

Central Propaganda Department: All media are not to report, reprint, or comment on the State Council “plan for organizational reform” spread online [zh]. (November 28, 2012)

中宣部：对网传的国务院机构改革方案，各媒体不报道不转载不评论。

Central Propaganda Department: All media are to report in accordance with the scope of Xinhua copy the death of J-15 Chief Designer Luo Yang. (November 28, 2012)

中宣部：对歼-15飞机总设计师罗阳逝世一事，各媒体按新华社稿的口径报道。

© Anne.Henochowicz for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: CCP Central Committee, censorship, central propaganda department, Chongqing, civil service, civil service examination, Directives from the Ministry of Truth, Heilongjiang, Kim Jong-un, Larry Hsien Ping Lang, media censorship, Ministry of Truth, North Korea, propaganda, Ri Yong-ho, State Council, Vietnam, Wu Ying, Xinhua, Xuan Hai
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The following examples of censorship instructions, issued to the media and/or Internet companies by various central (and sometimes local) government authorities, have been leaked and distributed online. Chinese journalists and bloggers often refer to those instructions as “Directives from the Ministry of Truth.” CDT has collected the selections we translate here from a variety of sources and has checked them against official Chinese media reports to confirm their implementation.

Central Propaganda Department: With regards to reports on Prime Minister Wen Jiabao’s foreign visit, strictly and without exception adhere to Xinhua wire copy. (November 21, 2012)

中宣部：有关温家宝总理出访的报道一律严格按新华社通稿刊播。

Central Propaganda Department: Do not republish, report, or comment on the essay “Border Province Governor Liu Qibao” or related issues. (November 21, 2012)

中宣部：对四川网登载的“封疆大吏刘奇葆”一文及相关问题，不转，不报，不评。

Sichuan Province Party Secretary Liu Qibao has just been appointed head of the Central Propaganda Department. “Governor of a border province” (封疆大吏) is a late imperial term. Its use by the provincial press implies a feudal title, although the intent was probably just to laud Liu.

Central Propaganda Department: With regards to reporting on high-level personnel changes at the national, provincial, and local levels, adopt without exception Xinhua copy. Do not changes titles or contents. (November 21, 2012)

中宣部：对国家有关部门和各省区市等高层人事变动的报道，一律采用新华社稿，不改动标题和内文。

Central Propaganda Department: If reporting on the vulgar video from Chongqing is to appear in print, use authoritative sources, do not make it too big, and do not use pictures. (November 22, 2012)

中宣部：重庆不雅视频报道如果见报，要用权威消息源，不要处理太大，不用图片。

Central Propaganda Department: With regards to the explosion at a hot pot restaurant in Shouyang, Shanxi Province; the explosion in a coal mine in Xiangshui, Guizhou Province; and the vulgar photos of a Chongqing official: if you report on these incidents, follow Xinhua wire copy and the information issued by the authorities in the respective locale. Do not report in depth, do not put the news on the front page or lure readers to these stories, and do not send reporters to the scene. (November 24, 2012)

中宣部：对山西寿阳火锅店爆炸事故、贵州响水煤矿爆炸事故、重庆官员不雅照事件，如报道按新华社通稿和当地权威部门发布的信息刋播，不作深度报道，不上头版导读，不派记者到事发地采访。

© Anne.Henochowicz for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: censorship, central propaganda department, Chongqing, Directives from the Ministry of Truth, Guizhou, Internet censorship, Liu Qibao, media censorship, mining accidents, Ministry of Truth, official corruption, propaganda, Shanxi, Sichuan, Wen Jiabao, Xinhua
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Li Yuanlong, who once worked as a reporter for the state-run Bijie Daily in the city of Bijie in Guizhou province, was taken to the airport along with his wife early Wednesday afternoon and “told to take a vacation” his son, Li Muzi, told China Real Time on Friday.

[…] The Bijie Public Security Bureau could not be reached for comment. A person answering the phone at the Bijie city government propaganda office said Mr. Li was traveling with his wife, citing messages posted to former journalist’s account on the web portal KDnet. “They are very happy now! That’s his own personal matter – why are you asking us?” the person said before hanging up.

[…] Li Fangping, a Beijing-based lawyer who has been keeping track of the situation, said that he had talked to Li Yuanlong when he was on his way to the airport. “I can confirm that he is travelling under control,” the lawyer, who is not related to Li Yuanlong, said.

“This is a way for (the local government) to maintain stability,” he added. “The public still wants more details, even though the local government has already dismissed the relevant people. Because Li Yuanlong is the main information provider, and because he was a reporter who has a lot of friends in the media, they authorities are afraid that people will continue to contact him in search of more clues or that Li might even leak out information about other instances of social injustice.”

Chin had previously explored why this story in particular resonated so deeply with the public. Also from China Real Time Report:

Stories of suffering children are always hard to stomach, but they tend to hit with particular impact in China, where the one-child policy and a strong belief in the family as the most basic unit of society have combined to imbue the young with an aura of unsurpassed importance. In this case, the impact of appears to have been amplified by similarities between what happened to the brothers and the Hans Christian Anderson short story “The Little Match Girl.”

The story, about a poor Danish girl who dies from exposure on New Year’s Eve after running away from her abusive father and trying to sell matches on the street, was once included in Chinese primary school text books as an example of the difficulties faced by the poor in capitalist countries.

[…] Cao Lin, a columnist for the state-run China Youth Daily, [wrote:] “At a time when we’re crowing about the rise of the nation and the creation of a moderately well-off society, to have five children die while seeking warmth in a trash bin is truly bizarre [….”]

Cao Lin was one of many in the state media to ask what had gone wrong, and who was to blame. Eight local officials were swiftly identified and fired. From Lin Xi at Global Times:

Eight local officials including two district chiefs in charge of civil affairs and education were dismissed or suspended from their duties by the Bijie municipal party committee on Monday because of the accident. Some people believe that these boys’ families and society should bear the primary responsibility for the accident instead of the officials. They think that it was the ignorance and indifference from the boys’ relatives and society which caused this tragedy.

However, the officials are not innocent because it is their duty to guarantee every citizen’s safety. The death of the five boys reflects management problems within government.

If the education system was better, these boys would have been taking lessons in warm classrooms instead of leaving school. If the assistance system was more active, they could have been found earlier and may have escaped death. Indeed, governments and officials have done nothing which directly caused this accident. However, it was the officials’ inaction which left the boys to die in the cold.

Many doubted, however that the sacking these eight officials had adequately addressed the root of the problem. From Rachel Wang at Tea Leaf Nation:

[…] As @bll2012 opined: “We are used to finding scapegoats when we encounter problems, then they give you a scapegoat! Then you shut up! You are so pathetic! Why not find the real cause: The failure of the social protection system.” Independent Chinese media Caixin (@财新网) also sounded a note of caution: “The tragedy in Guizhou did not only reflect management loopholes in Bijie alone, but also the defects of the mechanism protecting Chinese children’s rights. China is among the few countries that does not have a professional child welfare department. Administrative systems for child protection and rescue urgently need to be built.”

Therefore, according to the lawyer Li Fangping, Li Yuanlong was detained to prevent the damage from spreading any further. At The Daily Beast, Duncan Hewitt linked his treatment to the cases of Zhai Xiaobing (@stariver) and Ren Jianyu, and suggested—as did Charles Custer at ChinaGeeks—that while local government may be directly responsible, the political climate in which such actions are tolerated and encouraged is one of Beijing’s making:

Li’s detention echoes what is now a common pattern in China, in which sensitive individuals are removed from circulation at sensitive times, and held either under effective house arrest at home, or in what are known as “black [i.e. unofficial] jails.” During the run-up to the recent Communist Party Congress, rights groups say over a hundred people faced such treatment—including the well-known human-rights activist Hu Jia, who was only released from a three-year jail sentence last year.

In some cases the hard line taken against dissidents may be the choice of local authorities rather than necessarily being decreed from the center, says Professor Kerry Brown, executive director of the China Studies Center at the University of Sydney, but he adds that it is nevertheless a sign of the prevailing mood in Chinese political circles:

“The golden rule seems to be that no one gets bad marks for picking on dissidents and others labeled trouble makers,” he says, “while for those who are lenient, on the other hand, the risks if things go wrong are still high.

Furthermore, a Central Propaganda Department directive previously published by CDT suggested that Beijing, while allowing some coverage, had chosen to grant local government considerable control:

[… Y]ou may report moderately on the incident according to Xinhua wire copy and authoritative information released by the local government. Do not put this news on the front page, do not lure readers to the story, do not link to the story, to do not comment on it, and do not dispatch journalists to the scene.

Li, the primary remaining conduit of information on the case, had long been a thorn in the side of local authorities. In 2006, he was sentenced to two years in prison for allegedly inciting subversion in a series of articles posted to overseas Chinese websites. From the Committee to Protect Journalists’ report on his trial in May 2006:

“Like many committed reporters in China, Li Yuanlong began posting his articles online after facing censorship at his newspaper,” CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper said. “He is guilty of nothing more than expressing his criticism of official actions and should never have been brought to trial. We call for his immediate and unconditional release.”

Li reported for Bijie Ribao on rural poverty and unemployment in his native Guizhou province and had frequently been censored in recent years because of complaints by local officials embarrassed by his reports, according to the New York-based advocacy group Human Rights in China and CPJ sources.

[…] Li pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, and his lawyer rejected the notion that his criticism threatened state authority.

“He only criticized wrongdoings of some Communist Party officials or local governments,” the lawyer told Reuters. “The Communist Party and state power is not the same concept.”

At EastSouthWestNorth, Roland Soong translated one of Li’s essays, On Becoming an American Citizen in Spirit, originally posted to exile site Boxun under the pen name Ye Lang (Night Wolf). In it, Li pecked at the raw nerve of China’s ‘crucifixion’ by foreign imperialists, defending former Peking University professor Jiao Guobiao‘s suggestion that it would have been better for the U.S. to “liberate” China from Communist rule at the end of the Korean War:

[…] If America really sent its soldiers to drive for Beijing, then this is more than ‘interfering internal politics of other countries’ and it is really the invasion by the ‘world police.’ I have been pondering why interfering in the internal politics of other countries and being the world police man have become terms of denigration that are natural and indisputable in “our” vocabulary. If your internal politics is a totalitarian regime covered up by dark curtains, then why should not the police in charge of maintaining world peace come and show you? As a common example, I am beating my wife and kids at home and someone else (such as the police) comes to stop me. I yell: “I’m beating my wife and my kids. What is this to outsiders? Why are you entitled to mind my family business?” Is that acceptable? As another example, a Chinese person falls into the river, or his house catches fire. There is an American on the side, but the patriots won’t let the Chinese person accept the help of the American. Instead, the Chinese person must wait for other Chinese to save him. The Chinese person will have to “sacrifice himself for the greater good.” Is this not the modernized version under the cover of patriotism of the old saying “It is a minor matter to starve to death; it is a major matter to lose your chastity”?

© Samuel Wade for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: central propaganda department, china youth daily, Committee to Protect Journalists, Global Times, Guizhou, Hu Jia, illegal detentions, jiao guobiao, journalists, Korean War, Li Fangping, Li Yuanlong, local government, local officials, Ministry of Truth, poverty, poverty alleviation, subversion, vacation-style treatment
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Since directives are sometimes communicated orally to journalists and editors, who then leak them online, the wording published here may not be exact. The original publication date is noted after the directives; the date given may indicate when the directive was leaked, rather than when it was issued. CDT does its utmost to verify dates and wording, but also takes precautions to protect the source.

Central Propaganda Department: As the Politburo undertakes its first collective study session of the implementation of the spirit of the 18th Party Congress, all media will use Xinhua wire copy and report the meeting prominently. Headlines must not be changed. (November 18, 2012)

中宣部：中央政治局就深入学习贯彻党的十八大精神进行第一次集体学习，各媒体用新华社通稿，作突出报道，标题不得改动。

© Anne.Henochowicz for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 18th party congress, censorship, central propaganda department, Directives from the Ministry of Truth, media censorship, Ministry of Truth, Politburo, propaganda, Xinhua
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The dumpster where the bodies of five boys were found last week.

Since directives are sometimes communicated orally to journalists and editors, who then leak them online, the wording published here may not be exact. The original publication date is noted after the directives; the date given may indicate when the directive was leaked, rather than when it was issued. CDT does its utmost to verify dates and wording, but also takes precautions to protect the source.

Central Propaganda Department: Concerning the five boys who froze to death in Bijie, Guizhou, you may report moderately on the incident according to Xinhua wire copy and authoritative information released by the local government. Do not put this news on the front page, do not lure readers to the story, do not link to the story, to do not comment on it, and do not dispatch journalists to the scene. (November 20, 2012)

中宣部：贵州毕节5名男童冻死事件可按新华社通稿和当地政府部门发布的权威信息适度报道，不上头版、导读，不链接，不评论，不派记者到事发地采访。

Last Friday, the bodies of five boys between the ages of nine and 13 were found in a dumpster in the city of Bijie, Guizhou, China’s poorest province. Most sources report the children died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a fire they lit inside to keep warm. Their parents had been searching for them weeks before they were found. Several local officials and two school masters have been fired following the incident.

© Anne.Henochowicz for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: censorship, central propaganda department, Directives from the Ministry of Truth, foreign investment in media, Guizhou, Ministry of Truth, Xinhua
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Since directives are sometimes communicated orally to journalists and editors, who then leak them online, the wording published here may not be exact. The original publication date is noted after the directives; the date given may indicate when the directive was leaked, rather than when it was issued. CDT does its utmost to verify dates and wording, but also takes precautions to protect the source.

Central Propaganda Department: During U.S. president Obama’s trips to Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar [Burma], Chinese leaders will simultaneously visit Thailand and Cambodia. Use only Xinhua copy. Do not comment. Downplay Obama’s visit. (November 13, 2012)

中宣部：美国总统奥巴马即将访问泰国柬埔寨缅甸，中国领导人同一时间访问泰国柬埔寨，只用新华社稿子，不评论，低调处理奥巴马访问。

Central Propaganda Department: With regards to the online contents about the story “Beijing Spends 70 Mil Yuan on Heating per Day,” all media are asked not to carry, report, or comment on this. (November 11, 2012)

中宣部：对网上有关“北京一天供暖花费近7000万元”的内容，请各媒体不转载不报道不评论。

© Anne.Henochowicz for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Barack Obama, Beijing, Burma, cambodia, censorship, central propaganda department, Directives from the Ministry of Truth, Internet censorship, media censorship, Ministry of Truth, Myanmar, propaganda, thailand, Xinhua
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Central Propaganda Department: Fully grasp guidance with regards to Mo Yan winning the Nobel prize in literature. Report mainly on his literary accomplishments. Do not compare him to other prize-winners. Avoid politicizing the discussion. (November 6, 2012)

中宣部: 对莫言获诺贝尔文学奖要把好导向，主要报道莫言文学成就，不要把莫言获奖及其他人获奖进行对比，避免政治化。

When Gao Xingjian won the Nobel Prize in literature in 2000, he had already lived in exile in France for a number of years. (Gao became a French citizen in 1997; China does not recognize dual citizenship.) Neither he nor 2010 Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo have been acknowledged by the Chinese government for their awards. Mo Yan’s is the first prize won by a Chinese person which the Chinese authorities have publicly praised.

Just days after winning the Nobel, Mo Yan voiced his hope for Liu Xiaobo’s release from prison.

© Anne.Henochowicz for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: censorship, central propaganda department, Directives from the Ministry of Truth, gao xingjian, Liu Xiaobo, Ministry of Truth, mo yan, Nobel Prize, propaganda
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Since directives are sometimes communicated orally to journalists and editors, who then leak them online, the wording published here may not be exact. The original publication date is noted after the directives; the date given may indicate when the directive was leaked, rather than when it was issued. CDT does its utmost to verify dates and wording, but also takes precautions to protect the source.

Central Propaganda Department: No media will report, comment or republish information on the vice-governor of Jiangxi Province who arrived late for his scheduled flight, causing the flight to leave after its scheduled departure, and who fought with passengers. (October 26, 2012)

中宣部：对网传江西一副省长因迟到致航班延误并与乘客发生纠纷一事，各媒体不报道不评论不转载。

Central Propaganda Department: All media must use Xinhua wire copy in relation to the 70 boats lost in a flash flood in Guangxi Province. Do not sensationalize the story. (October 30, 2012)

中宣部：对广西因山洪爆发致70条船失踪一事，各媒体一律采用新华社通稿，不炒作。

© Anne.Henochowicz for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: censorship, central propaganda department, Directives from the Ministry of Truth, Guangxi, Jiangxi, media censorship, Ministry of Truth, propaganda, Xinhua
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A boy in Ningbo wants to “grow up healthy” and PX-free.

Since directives are sometimes communicated orally to journalists and editors, who then leak them online, the wording published here may not be exact. The original publication date is noted after the directives; the date given may indicate when the directive was leaked, rather than when it was issued. CDT does its utmost to verify dates and wording, but also takes precautions to protect the source.

Central Propaganda Department: Do not report or comment on the PX project in Zhenhai, Ningbo spurring groups to seek audience with officials or related issues. (October 27, 2012)

中宣部：对宁波镇海因PX项目引发群体上访及相关问题不报道不评论。

© Anne.Henochowicz for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: censorship, central propaganda department, Directives from the Ministry of Truth, media censorship, Ministry of Truth, Ningbo, ningbo px, PX
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Since directives are sometimes communicated orally to journalists and editors, who then leak them online, the wording published here may not be exact. The original publication date is noted after the directives; the date given may indicate when the directive was leaked, rather than when it was issued. CDT does its utmost to verify dates and wording, but also takes precautions to protect the source.

State Council Information Office: Without exception, use Xinhua wire copy in reporting on Chinese citizen Liu Qiang throwing a Molotov cocktail at the Japanese embassy in South Korea. Downplay the incident. Do not publish the news above the fold. (November 2, 2012)

国新办：关于我国公民刘强向日本驻韩使馆投燃烧瓶一事，一律采用新华社通稿并淡化处理，不上头版导读。

The Japanese government has asked South Korea to extradite Liu, who also threw an incendiary device at the Yasakuni Shrine last December [zh].

Central Propaganda Department: All media and websites are prohibited from investigating, reporting and commenting on residents obstructing a construction site and blocking the Shenhai Expressway in Xiyang Village, Huahu Town, Huilai County, Jieyang District. (November 2, 2012)

中宣部：揭阳惠来县华湖镇溪阳村村民阻挠一工地施工并堵塞深汕高速公路，各媒体及网站不采访报道评论。

Huilai County is located in Guangdong Province.

State Council Information Office: Without exception, use Xinhua copy in reporting on our fourth-generation fighter jets (J-21 and J-31), and downplay the news. Do not produce in-house reports or commentary. Do not quote from foreign sources or from websites. (November 2, 2012)

国新办：对我第四代战机（歼21、歼31）的报道，一律采用新华社稿并淡化处理，不自行报道评论，不转引境外和网上信息。

State Council Information Office: All media and websites are forbidden from reporting on, commenting on or publishing American Kurt Campbell’s statement on “managing” the Diaoyu Island dispute. (November 3, 2012)

国新办：对美国坎贝尔“管控”钓鱼岛争端的言论，各媒体及网站不报不评不转。

On November 2, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell called on Japan and China to ease the tension over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands which flared in September, saying, “There is recognition that certain problems are so challenging that they can only be managed. They may not be able to be solved.”

© Anne.Henochowicz for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: censorship, central propaganda department, diaoyu islands, Directives from the Ministry of Truth, Guangdong, Internet censorship, Japan, Kurt Campbell, Liu Qiang, media censorship, Ministry of Truth, south korea, State Council Information Office, State Department, U.S. State Department, Xinhua
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真理部 (Zhēnlǐ Bù): Ministry of Truth

The “Ministry of Truth” refers collectively to the Central Propaganda Department, the Internet Affairs Office of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and all other subordinate bodies involved in propaganda controls.

The Central Propaganda Department ensures that media and cultural content follow the official line as mandated by the Chinese Communist Party. Below the Central Propaganda Department is the State Council Information Office (SCIO), which in turn manages the Internet Affairs Bureau, responsible for overseeing all websites that publish news. The Internet Affairs Bureau sends out specific instructions to all large news websites daily, often multiple times per day. These instructions can take several forms: they may be directives to not report a certain event, to restrict reporting to Xinhua News wires or to not “play up” a certain event.

The “Ministry of Truth” has its origin in George Orwell’s novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four, in which Ministry’s mission is to rewrite history and manufacture “truth.”

China Digital Times publishes leaked “directives” from the “Ministry of Truth.”

© Anne.Henochowicz for China Digital Times (CDT), 2012. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: CCP, central propaganda department, Directives from the Ministry of Truth, Internet Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Truth, netizens, State Council Information Office, word of the week, Xinhua
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