Earthquake in Sichuan Province, 5.12.08: CCP reaction

After the recent 7.9-magnitude earthquake in central China this month, I decided to pay close attention to the Chinese government's response to this tragedy, considering the Communist Party's reaction to another event that brought the country worldwide attention not too long ago: SARS. I began searching for news articles and columns, looking for a detailed description of how the CCP was currently reacting to the aftermath in Sichuan Province. I found what I was looking for in this article published by The National Post, a Canadian news source.

Peter Goodspeed, the author of the article, notes that

Just two years ago, Chinese officials drew up a draft of a new Emergency Response Law that would have given local governments the right to "manage news media reports" about emergencies. The proposed legislation recommended fines of US $12,000 for unauthorized reports on natural disasters, accidents, public health incidents and public disturbances that could be deemed misleading or harmful to China's harmonious social order.

However, because of the enormous number of casualties, which continues to grow today, and the long road towards recovery that lies ahead, Goodspeed adds:

Chinese officials finally seemed to have recognized that being open and honest could win them public support...that could change abruptly the moment there is a shift in the news that might damage the image of the Communist party. But for now, China is experiencing a brief breath of journalistic freedom.

Some of that "journalistic freedom" Goodspeed is referring to may be the home videos and security camera footage of the earthquake that can be found online. The video above, filmed in a dormintory by a Chinese student at Sichuan University, posted on YouTube.com, was the opening clip for the first report of the earthquake that aired on my local news station here in Chicago. As mentioned in my post on China's response to the Tibetan protests in March, international news is now relying on the internet and new forms of communication for information.

On a final note, I believe there is a connection to the cyclone disaster that struck Myanmar several weeks prior to the earthquake in China; the isolationist junta's response caused an uproar globally. With the Olympics looming and the damage from the earthquake so widespread, China's image clearly lay in the hands of the government in the hours following the quake.

I look forward to your thoughts and comments.

Tibetan protests, March 2008

In light of the recent protests by Buddhist monks in Lhasa, Tibet (BBC news article and Spiegel.de report), a French YouTube user recently posted a clip from CNN featuring international journalist Ralitsa Vassileva explaining to viewers the censorship that the Chinese government imposes when a controversial topic like Tibet emerges in the media.



Vassileva mentions the new forms of communication used by international journalists: anonymous dissidents, blogs and websites on the internet, et cetera. While not directly mentioned in the video, it is known that the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) is slowly losing its supposed totalitarian control over its people as the country is introduced to the age of instant communication. Such circumstances must be taken into account as protests against the treatment of Tibet, among other human rights abuses, gain momentum and widespread attention. It is once again pertinent to consider China's actions with the 2008 Summer Olympics in mind: China had actually granted foreign media certain rights as part of their deal with the IOC (International Olympic Committee), but with the international news media still criticizing the government's actions, that "progress" appears to be questionable.

With the international news media blatantly criticizing the Chinese government, what will the CCP do to ensure that their public image is not tarnished any further?

beginnings

With the advent of new technology and a new era of globalization, news spreads much more quickly than it did before. However, even in light of this, freedom of speech and the press may not be as widespread as people believe.

As the People’s Republic of China emerges as a key player in 21st century interactions, it must come to terms with its controversial government’s control over the news and media, in addition to other human rights and social issues that continue to haunt the country as it enters the global spotlight. Chinese media reform is occurring, perhaps under pressure from others. However, the true extent of liberalization remains unclear. With China appearing in the news more frequently, especially with the upcoming 2008 Olympics in Beijing, how will its government leaders respond?

It is equally important to investigate censorship in America, a democracy that prides itself on its freedom of speech and press. Yet because of current censorship today, mostly involving the fight against terrorism overseas, the American press, one can argue, has shifted its focus to more frivolous, gossip-oriented news. It is an extreme viewpoint, but conceivable. As the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq continue, it becomes important to reexamine the role of the media: do Americans get all the information they need, enough for their future generations to continue the country’s role as a world power?

The cultural implications of these differences—one trying to fit in with the crowd, the other shifting focuses—may play a significant part in determining future roles in global relations. It is important to question the role censorship plays in our everyday lives:

• How much of America's news is censored, and has celebrity news been replacing newsworthy stories? How does news from the front lines of the war against terrorism reach our television sets and newspapers at home?
• What role does the American government play in the news media?
• What does corporate ownership of news sources mean for America?
• How is China responding to controversial news topics, especially considering recent coverage of SARS, Avian Bird flu, and lead paint in toys?
• Is China under pressure to lessen the amount of censorship it imposes on its people?