Two months ago, major Western newspapers ran stories on laywers Jiang Tianyong and Teng Biao. These two have been working in the "rights defense" (维权) movement in China. Both have received extensive overseas praise and attention for their work defending dissidents and FLG practictioners. Both also offered to defend Tibetans implicated in the March riots. It all culminated … [Read more...] about A victory for the rule of law: an untold story in China
reform
Senior judges discuss "human search engine"
As the Internet has gained in influence in China, the "human search engine" and "internet mob" has also made itself increasingly known. We've discussed several such stories here, including the case of Wang Qianyuan. In the past, some unknown government bureau might have simply issued an edict banning this behavior... but in a hopeful sign of the maturing legal system in … [Read more...] about Senior judges discuss "human search engine"
Guiyang party secretary selection has a democratic flavor
Southwestern Guizhou province is again in the news, but this time for a good reason. Roland at ESWN translates a Xinhua article on China's on-going experimentation with political reform as seen in the city of Guiyang. Guiyang is trying to appoint party secretaries to four districts and counties, and chose to do so in a more transparent, democratic way. What exactly is the … [Read more...] about Guiyang party secretary selection has a democratic flavor
Classmate Yang goes online: Chinese officials engage netizens
Chinese president Hu Jintao's brief appearance on the Strong Country internet forum might be more significant than most of us originally thought. There have been other signs in recent weeks that the PRC government is reconsidering its approach to Internet speech. I translate a story (原文), just published in the China Youth Daily (中国青年报, operated by the Communist Youth … [Read more...] about Classmate Yang goes online: Chinese officials engage netizens
Chinese police adopt new form of self-defense
The other headline story in China over the last week has been the murder of 6 police officers in Shanghai. Yang Jia, an unemployed man originally from Beijing, attacked a public security office building, stabbing to death 6 officers. All of this happened just as the Weng'an riot story itself became white hot, and the Chinese internet response was predictably extreme (and in … [Read more...] about Chinese police adopt new form of self-defense