Since March 2014, Internet search giant Google has begun to run encrypted versions of the search engine in China. Currently, nearly all its users are redirected to the encrypted version (running out of Hong Kong) automatically – thereby increasing the users’ time in looking up/accessing any information online. However, speed has probably been the least among the woes of the modern Internet user in China this last week. Beginning June, the Chinese Firewall has allegedly blocked all Google services right from Gmail and Search to Translate, Images and all other products. What’s more is that Sina Weibo, China’s micro-blogging website, which had comments condemning the Google block ultimately got its 140-character-long messages censored. While Internet censorship certainly isn’t a new concept in China, the reason for this rather intense crackdown by the Chinese government has been the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests.
While the news media has been abuzz with reports about security arrangements near the famous landmark, plans of dissident groups marking their protests in honour of ‘Beijing’s Spring’ and the numerous opinion columns, one perspective still remains uncovered. What does the Chinese government have to say about it all?
F
or the ruling Communist Party, the 1989 demonstrations that clogged Tiananmen Square have always been identified as “counter-revolutionary“. News and photos of the still-unidentified man who stopped a column of 17 tanks at the site remain black-listed and the strength of those ‘most wanted’ for the incidents continues to fluctuate every June. A mere mention of the protests still brings about only disapproval, silence, anger and rage. But the CPC stays resilient; firm and sure of its stand on erasing an important chapter of the country’s history in 3 ways – detention, defiance and denial
Ordering detention: In a May 27, 2014 report, journalist Andrew Jacobs argued that, “Even by the standards of the clampdowns that routinely mark politically sensitive dates in China, the approach this year to June 4, the anniversary of the day in 1989 when soldiers brutally ended student-led protests in Tiananmen Square, has been particularly severe.” According to Amnesty International, 66 people have allegedly been detained or arrested for acts of dissidence. Even seemingly harmless gestures, like posting a selfie in Tiananmen Square while flashing a V for victory, have led to detentions. The police had reportedly warned Western journalists to stay away from the square in the coming days or “face grave consequences”. Authorities also detained several activists last month after attending a meeting about the protests, including prominent rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang. The Chinese government has however deemed these measures necessary and even caused Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei to comment that, “In China there are only law breakers — there are no so-called dissidents.” Hong also would not comment on the reported detention in Beijing over the weekend of Chinese-born Australian artist Guo Jian, a former Chinese soldier who last week gave an interview to the Financial Times about the crackdown. “I don’t understand the details of the situation, but I want to point out that the relevant departments of the Chinese government consistently act in accordance with the law,” he said.
In denial: Hong Lei further told a daily news briefing on June 03, 2014, “The Chinese government long ago reached a conclusion about the political turmoil at the end of the 1980s. In the last three decades and more of reform and opening up, China’s enormous achievements in social and economic development have received worldwide attention. The building of democracy and the rule of law have continued to be perfected. It can be said that the road to socialism with Chinese characteristics which we follow today accords with China’s national condition and the basic interests of the vast majority of China’s people, which is the aspiration of all China’s people” The CPC’s press organs too have reflected the CPC’s ‘in-denial’ stance by staying silent on the issue. For instance, out of the top 11 national stories of the day reported by Xinhua on June 04, not one of them was about the Tiananmen Square. People’s Daily led the day’s reports with a speech by President Xi Jinping while other media houses such as Beijing News ran headlines like, “For First Time, Armed Police to Patrol the Gaokao,” or university entrance examinations, in reaction to recent violent attacks. Also on page one: “Low-Quality Toilet Paper is Being Investigated.” Clearly, 25 years after the guns silenced expressions of democracy, officials in Beijing continue to be in denial about their history
Defiant about crackdowns: The Western media’s in-depth coverage of the 25th anniversary has also brought a defiant attitude among the Chinese. Expressions ranging from “interference in internal affairs”, “infringement on sovereignty” have all been brought to fore to justify severe crackdowns this last week. Case in point: When the White House urged China on June 04, 2014, to account for those killed, detained or missing in connection with the crackdown, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman accused the United States of infringing on China’s sovereignty. “We demand the U.S. side respect China’s judicial sovereignty and not make irresponsible comments on issues that are related to China’s internal affairs,” he said.
The New York Times reported that on the morning of June 04, visitors spent up to four hours waiting to pass through a security check at Tiananmen Square. State police serenaded the area from dawn to dusk and foreign tourists were often recipients of their extra scrutiny. However while measures of defiance, denial and detention have helped obliterate a gruesome chapter in the country’s history, officials in Beijing would do well to remember it won’t be too long before increasingly loud Chinese whispers of the past catch up with them and impact the future
(The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author)
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