From Radio Free Asia, Netease, etc. (you will be wowed!!!):
A Chinese senior propaganda official said recently in meetings, including during a visit to Washington last month, that China’s Internet is the world’s most free and that China is more progressive than Korea and UK, despite China’s bottom-hitting ranking in a latest world wide survey about media freedom by Reporters Without Borders.
Over a breakfast function hosted by a US think-tank, Cai wu (Ëî°Ê≠¶), minister of the State Council Information Office, China’s new media watchdog, disputed charges that China exercises information and Internet controls. “There’s no country that does not control news and the media,” Cai argued. “China’s Chinese language Internet is the world’s most free platform.” The remarks of the law PhD and former professor at Beijing University left participants shocked, and speechless.
According to his Office’s survey on more than 20 countries in the world, Cai made the case in a Asia-Pacific media and technology forum that Chinese netizens enjoy the greatest freedom online. “Out of privacy concerns, the UK hasn’t yet opened blogging service, and Korea has also put in place their Internet real-name registration system, which we are just beginning to work on,” Cai notes. Commenting on BBS posts is not allowed in most countries, but it is already ubiquitous in my country, he says.
– See two Chinese posts about Cai’s remarks, from Netease and Radio Free Asia (both in Chinese)
– A comment on Cai’s comparisons: “[he is] drawing a comparison between our deplorably few strengths and others’ equally few weaknesses!”
– Also CDT’s coverage on real name registration
