Bookstores Become Sites of Subtle Protest Against Xi Jinping
Chinese bookstore shelf arrangements rarely go viral—that is, unless they contain a hidden message...
publishing
Netflix’s “3 Body Problem” Sparks Debates About Censorship, History, and Cinematic Adaptations
Film censorship has long plagued China’s creative arts industry and stifled foreign products seeking domestic Chinese audiences. The shrinking space for artistic expression, along with rising nationalism, has exposed artists and...
Party-State’s Omertà on History Mutes Popular Book Series, Academic Discourse, and Genghis Khan
Some recent restrictions placed on historical books, museum exhibits, and academic discourse have brought renewed attention to the Chinese Communist Party’s attempts to rewrite history, control the historical narrative, and...
Lit Mag Announces Sudden Closure After Cover Seemingly Satirizes Xi Jinping
A popular periodical featuring essays and nonfiction writing announced that it is suspending operations after 35 years. The announcement followed online chatter that the December cover was an oblique criticism of Xi Jinping. Xi...
Xi Parallels Suspected Behind Withdrawal of Book on Ill-fated Chongzhen Emperor
On October 16, it was reported online that a recent reprint of the historical biography “The Chongzhen Emperor: Diligent Ruler of a Failed Dynasty” (《崇祯：勤政的亡国君》Chóngzhēn: Qínzhèng de Wángguó Jūn, ISBN 9787549640775)...
New #MeToo Cases Showcase Enduring Tenacity of Chinese Feminist Movement
At least 12 women have accused famed screenwriter Shi Hang of sexual harassment. The accusations are the latest major #MeToo case to roil the Chinese intelligentsia. At Sixth Tone, Yang Caini reported on the accusations against...
Translation: The Women of “Salt Town”
This year, the United Nations’ theme for March 8 International Women’s Day was “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.” In China, people marked the holiday with a variety of thought-provoking and creative...
Former Chinese Bookseller’s Wife Held Under “Exit Ban”
The wife of a prominent former Chinese bookseller is being prevented from leaving China until her husband returns to the country to answer questions about his alleged political writings. Yu Miao ran Shanghai’s famed liberal...
Latest Targets of Hong Kong Censorship Include Films, Publishers, and Pro-Transparency Social Media Pages
Over two years after the National Security Law went into effect, government censorship continues to stifle free expression in Hong Kong. Authorities have recently taken measures to conceal from the public various books, films,...
Translation: Wei Zhou Explains, “Why Did My Comment Disappear?”
Popular online writer Shen Maohua, who writes under the pen name Wei Zhou, is known for his trenchant and often humorous essays, lively social media comments sections, and occasional brushes with platform censors. In this...
Lessons to be Drawn From China’s Textbook Controversy
China is set to investigate school textbooks after illustrations deemed to be sexually suggestive or politically inappropriate caused an uproar on social media. On Monday, the Chinese Ministry of Education ordered a nationwide...
Farewell Letters: A Tribute to the Civil Society Groups, Bloggers, and Media Outlets We Lost in 2021
CDT Editor’s Note: As we enter 2022, CDT has compiled a special series of features for our readers, offering a look back at the people, events, controversies, memes and sensitive words that defined the past year. Some of this...
Activist Supporter Geng Xiaonan Sentenced to Three Years in Prison
Geng Xiaonan, a Chinese businesswoman who made her fortune publishing lifestyle and cooking books while supporting prominent dissidents in her personal capacity, has been sentenced to three years in prison for “illegal...
Activist Supporter Geng Xiaonan’s Detention Showcases Authorities’ Siege Tactics
Beijing-based publisher and film producer Geng Xiaonan was detained along with her husband and business partner Qin Chen on September 9 for suspected "illegal business operations." Geng had been an outspoken advocate...
Hong Kong Election Delayed After Disqualifications, Arrests, Professor’s Firing
Hong Kong’s government announced on Friday that September’s Legislative Council elections would be postponed for one year, confirming earlier reports and signals from establishment figures. The move was ostensibly...
Beijing Censors Foreign Books Printed in China
Chinese government censorship is adversely impacting Australian publishers as local Chinese...
Media, Film, Publishing Put Under Direct CCP Control
As part of a major government restructuring plan that consolidates a number of ministries and...
Beijing Hinders Free Speech Abroad
At The New York Times, Wang Dan, a former leader of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, looks at...
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