| While I think that this post is the most clear statement on this position that I have heard, I think WJS's opinion is only one side of the story.
WJS and the rest of the Chinese webloggers see their world/internet as defined by the boundaries that the government has set for them. Of course, the economic boundaries are loosening so they are excited to expand into new territories (even territories that other countries don't include in their laws, and that China is uniquely able to take advantage of). And when somebody mentions the walls, they see the walls far from where they were before, and get frustrated that the rest of the world is so focused on the limits when there is so much room to expand that didn't exist before. "Take advantage, seize the day!" they say. As for the BBC and the rest of the world, they see the walls expanding too. But from their point of view the Chinese walls still enclose a much smaller space than their own laws, and they themselves are not participants in the new expansion because they are not living in China and because they are more blind--due to language and culture differences--to a lot of the growth and excitement that is going on there, socially, economically and politically. So from their point of view they can only wonder why the WJS, Isaac and the CN Bloggers are reluctant to talk about the limits being too small. Of course, the speed of expansion and consequences for criticizing the walls are also issues, issues that have two sides as well. To Mark Sandell: your program is called "World Have Your Say", so I find it curious that you are reporting *your own* perspective on censorship in China. If the Chinese aren't concerned about it that much, then why not let them say so? Granted your audience is British/international, but I say try challenging them a little... |
BBC's Interview