The Press in China: a state instrument of control and deception
While newspapers in the U.S. struggle to survive the triple threat posed by the Internet, the perception of a persistent left-leaning bias, and the weak economy, newspapers in the People’s Republic of China simply struggle to report the news.
Most outside attention has been focused on Chinese communist censors’ efforts to rein in internet search engines such as Google and Yahoo. But, while the Great Firewall of China has gotten most of the headlines, more mundane means of information control in the restive nation of 1.3 billion people have gone largely unnoticed.
That China has a bureau named the Central Propaganda Department should give pause to any Westerner who continues to tout economic development in China as somehow paving the way for individual liberty for the Chinese people. This Orwellian department has, amongst its powers, the ability to issue directives to Chinese newspapers. The Central Propaganda Department’s most recent edict: a demand that Chinese newspapers cease reporting news from outside their area. The reason for the order is simple—reports of unrest or official Communist Party corruption can be isolated to a small region, thus depriving would-be democratic reformers of the fuel of outrage needed to challenge a repressive and increasingly ossified system.
Now all Chinese newspapers may only print stories originating from their own reporters or from approved official reports. Especially forbidden are reports about Chinese security services or “sudden incidences,” unless approved by the authorities.
The catalyst for the edict from Beijing appeared to be the formation by provincial newspapers of a “news agency alliance.” This arrangement allowed Chinese newspapers to swap stories, thus avoiding local Communist censors. An example of this agreement that caught the unwanted attention of the Communist Party was a joint editorial carried by 13 newspapers on March 1 that questioned the continued operation of the household registration system, known in China as the “Hukou” system. China’s household registration system is used to tightly control internal migration, preventing the impoverished rural Chinese from legally moving to the wealthier cities.
Even newspapers in supposedly free Hong Kong have been muzzled. Beginning with the 1997 switch in sovereignty from the United Kingdom to the People’s Republic of China, the once-freewheeling Hong Kong press was brought to heel. For a period of about four years after the handover, Hong Kong journalists would often write stories of official corruption in China. One particularly egregious example happened in early 2001 when at least 38 children were killed while being forced to make fireworks by corrupt Communist Party officials. The officials would fine the parents of any child who did not make their daily fireworks quota in between learning the basics along with ingesting the required propaganda about the glories of the revolution. Once the Hong Kong press reported on the incident, Chinese security troops sealed off the city, the telephone lines were cut, and an official cover story was created in Beijing about a deranged man who ran into the classroom and denoted a bomb. This sort of reporting rarely happens anymore out of Hong Kong.
The path to Communist Party control of the news in Hong Kong was necessarily less direct than it was in Mainland China. Rather than employ Beijing’s Central Propaganda Department to make a direct mockery of the “One Nation, Two Systems” fiction, China simply bought its critics. Every newspaper in Hong Kong prone to publishing unflattering articles about China was brought under new ownership. Once owners friendly to Beijing were in place, the publishers simply reminded their journalists that continued employment would be dependent on the writing of stories that would not upset Chinese communists. The arrangement swiftly shut down embarrassing criticism from the former U.K. crown colony.
The bottom line regarding information from the People’s Republic of China is this: treat every bit of information, whether “news” or corporate reports, as suspect. China has centuries of practice in shaping information, both for internal and external consumption, the former, to control its people, and the latter, in present times, to project an image of a weak, developing nation whose sole interest is in trade. As the Chinese warrior-philosopher Sun Tzu wrote: “All warfare is based on deception.”
Chuck DeVore is a California State Assemblyman, a U.S. Army Reserve lieutenant colonel, and was a Reagan-era Special Assistant for Foreign Affairs in the Pentagon.
Thank you for the information. As a graduate student studying Diplomacy from Norwich University and having spent 6 years in China, I can really appreaciate what you have written here. Keep up the good work. Big things are happening!
God Bless!
Brandon
Great piece. It demonstrates the dangers of the press and the government getting to close. This is also a danger that has to be watched in all free nations. Thank you for writting about this.
Thank you Chuck. I will share this with many. What is tragic is so many Americans do not think this could happen here. I see the groundwork for this already being implemented. We have a radical Progressive machine in place using the Weather Underground Manifesto & Saul Alinsky’s playbooks. This administration demonizes any news outlet or journalist who does not conform to thier ideology. They are passing dictatorial laws as fast as they can -buried in the Finacial Reform Bill the SEC can shut down ANY company they want and without any requirement to answer for their action and there is also that pesky little “kill switch” for the Internet. America must wake up before it is too late. And anyone with children must to look into the indoctrination going on. The National Education Association recommends Saul Alinsky’s “Rules forRadicals” book and most parents probably don’t even realize it – this is astounding to me. So many are still asleep or in denial. Right now America still looks “normal” on the outside, but there is an ugly cancer rotting away The Consitution and if we do not make some serious changes in DC it is only a matter of time before America is no longer America.
Dear Chuck,
You are so right, and courageous in the current political climate to bring out the muzzling of the Chinese press. Keep up the great work!
Unfortunately, our Main Stream Media is just an extension of the liberal left and the White House, and not far from the Chinese controlled media. I read “The Enigma of Japanese Power” by Karel Van Wolferen some 20+ years ago and was astounded how the Japanese news is controlled – it opened my eyes on how news is reported/distorted. The only news I rely on comes from radio and some internet websites that I feel are trustworthy – with the internet kill switch possibility, we may soon be down to ham radio.
First off, Chuck, I am very sorry that CA passed on the opportunity to have you run against Boxer. You probably would be a great U.S. Senator, especially compared to 95% of the ones already there. Sorry that our efforts on your behalf fell short of the mark. Sorry that certain establishment forces, including some key Republican ones, worked to defeat you. Maybe California isn’t ready for a real Conservative.
I know and love Nicole (it reads like that Nicole, anyway) and agree with her posting above.
I see the danger of the Chinese news reporting system, but more importantly, at least to us in the USA, I see what might happen here. We already seem to have press controls more subtle and insidious than China’s. Probably every sentient being in China knows not to believe the press, but here, a huge number still believe that if it’s not on CNN or NPR, it didn’t happen. There are more similarities to the Chinese system than most people realize, and it’s getting to be more so.
Add to that the lack of critical reporting, obvious planted stories and the similarity of lesser news outlets’ “reporting” to the NY Times and Associated Press biased pap. The so-called Mainstream media are rotten to the core, uselesss, corrupt, innaccurate and are paying for it by being financially punished by the marketplace, although the Internet is helping that along,
Alternative media: Blogs, mass email and talk radio are the vanguard of a force which would destroy the existing MSM, unchecked. MSM and the Left (but I repeat myself) are fighting back:
- Huge attempts to discredit alternative media.
- Punishing alternative media via attempted re-imposition of the “Fairness Doctrine,” FCC-mandated “community standards” boards, onerous regulation and taxation.
- New legislation to throttle the Internet by threatened shutdowns, site licensing, “Financial Reform” laws
- Attempts to provide bailout money to MSM, to “preserve freedom of press” — LOL!
- Exclusion of alternative media/personalities from industry awards, recognition. In some cases, witholding of press credentials/courtesies, “because they aren’t real news reporters.”
- Discouragement of Conservative students/faculty in the universities and MSM hiring programs.
- I did not include Fox as “alternative” media, even though they are more Conservative, on the average than most MSM, because they arer moving leftward, due to economic and political forces, including their ownership. Even Beck and Hannity pull their most potent punches. Don’t even talk to me about the “no-spin” Leprechaun
If we don’t protect them, it is “game over.”
Great Write-up Chuck!
Yeah, its right out of Orwell’s Ministry of Truth – 1984, and also “The Captive Mind, by Czeslaw Milosz on Poland during both Hitler’s and Stalin’s occupatio and the People’s Republic’s days.
People who are fascinated with socialism should be required to read these lucid descriptions of the mind-numbing hell that is the reality of socialist tyranny.
Note to Ryan’s comment above re the Japanese press; Lee Rogers, former Radio talk show host on KSFO 560, once described a meeting with Japanese ladies at the Hiroshima bomb shrine. He said they were totally unaware of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It was not taught in Japanese schools. We too have revisionist history books, such as the widely used Peoples History of the United States by Zinn.
This is an eye opener for sure. I hear mostly semi-positive stories from the MSM about how China is booming. They create this picture of prosperity. But, when I read this story, I realize that the booming economy in China likely serves the peoples’ Party rather than the people. It makes sense why I see a few democrats running with ads to form public/private investing co-ops to revitalize the economy. I see this as an intrusion of private property. Once the the gov’t is in your business, they will never want to leave. Furthermore, they will want to control your business to serve some greater societal good. Ohio incumbent Strickland’s ads talked of a private/public fund. Maybe I am misinterpreting it? I do not trust it.
Nice piece Chuck.
I am not sure the world is ready yet for the reality of what you bring to light here, but there can be no doubt as to its validity. Looking at the China situation from a long term standpoint, anyone who has any understanding about human nature must realize that this is a country with over a billion people of which the majority is being economically suppressed.
There are two distinct classes of people in China, which is the basis of their ability to export so much at bargain prices. Regardless of their government’s suppression of all type of media eventually there will be some kind of revolution that will end this economic subterfuge. Who knows what direction it will take but the ultimate outcome has to be that China’s position in the world economy will be subject to real world economic reality.
If our economic experts aren’t making plans for that eventuality we are asleep at the wheel.
Chuck,
As usual a well written and well thought out piece. Thank you Chuck. It amazes me that people don’t pay attention and understand that China is a rising enemy and we should not ignore the threat that nation’s government is to us.
Keep up the good work Chuck!
Hello Chuck and thank you for that very interesting article on the controlled press in China. My husband and I were in Hong Kong one year before the big transfer from Gt Britain to China, and we spoke with many people about the future of Hong Kong. We met no one who was worried. They all seemed to be resigned to what will be will be.
We went on a visit to China, and were given a potemkin tour of a “typical” town. There were no people in the town square, outside of foreign tourists.
We were taken to a “typical” village where it was “lunch time” and all the residents were inside their homes and were unavailable to meet with us. I went walking alone down the empty street, and suddenly met a group of small children with a young woman who was in charge of them. When she saw me she vanished, but the children crowded around me, fascinated. They were clearly afraid of me, yet could not resist touching my clothing. I sat down on the ground and tried to communicate with them. One little girl tried to tell me she liked my blouse. When I stood up, they ran away, but I often think of them, and have even prayed for them.
Later we were escorted to a restaurant which served only foreign tourists. One of the women who was serving the food spoke English. She asked me if I was a teacher. Apparently news that an American woman had escaped the guided tour had traveled ahead.
After that trip, I have never believed that China is anything but a controlled tyranny.
Great eye opener for all non-Chinese! It is of no news to most Chinese that its government has been controlling news and propaganda at all cost all the time. Unfortunately, they really could do nothing about it but try to survive in that environment by only focusing on their economy and life materials instead of having more courage or wish to have freedom. It’s striking to see this total dissociation between the Chinese flourishing economy and its people’s minimal fight for having true freedom since 1990. That is because their policy and goal hasn’t been changed at core — Chinese economic growth was led by a former Chinese senior leader, Deng Xiao-ping whose slogan for it was actually, “Only economy can save the Chinese communism.” This is the Chinese government’s true motivation for better economy. Yet, many people overlooked this because of the naive or even wishful thinking that the government over there will be changed, gradually at least, without willingness to check the reality there.
The last paragraph of this article esp. deserves applaud. From the very early years of the Chinese Communist Party establishment in early 1920s, it has been extremely skillful in manipulating the media and persuasive – it eventually gradually influenced so many people to follow along and won the Nationalists both over media and military. In a recent interview by WAMU (NPR in DC) Kojo Nnamdi Show, John Pomfret of the Post couldn’t figure out what the Chinese want to do with the news stations purchased in the US and referred them as “16 year old with lots of muscles but don’t know what to do with it”. Well, I think that they know very well what they want to do about it but in their own Chinese covert way!
The U.S. is definitely headed in this direction, unfortunately. What must happen before the 50% who voted for Obama begin to wake up to what is happening in their own country? We keep fighting the battle, but some days it seems so hopeless!
My friend visited China earlier this year and said basically the same as Anne commented above.
We voted for you Chuck! Can’t believe Meg is in and you’re out! Another reason we want to leave CA!
Pray for the USA!
China is getting away with literally murder while loaning US(A) money to add to the socialist -Progressive no ethic-no religion level of international play. What’s worse is this Socialist-Obama-Alinsky-Immanuel-Stern group has No Intention of Stopping until America remains under the Socialist-Union-Soros-Immanuel thumb forever…not that anyone believes they will keep getting away with lawless, unconstitutional attacks against the Constitution(s) CA & U.S.
Because Senator Mitch McConnell and others continue to play into the ‘don’t speak – don’t tell’ violations against the Constitution by the socialist Obama-Immanuel-union/Stern-Soros group; it remains very difficult to achieve the taxpaying Citizens all parties the level of information required to understand just how much damage has been perpetrated on our Nation by these non-believers in Religion and Ethics.
We the people of America first – then political party, can’t make progress against the contradictions of China, Venezuela, Mexico – illegals, Radical Islam in the Middle East, and 3rd world Afghanistan; until we correct the mistake of this Obama Administration!
Good job, Chuck! We support you!
The Chinese Communist regime(CCP) not only manipulates media to influence public opinion, but also uses other despicable means to infiltrate western society. It is important for us to understand what a corrupt regime it is when we interact with it.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2010/07/30/anders-china-offers.html?ref=rss
China swaying politicians with gifts, sex: MP
http://www.nationalpost.com/China+wooing+Canadian+politicians+with+gifts+women+Tory+alleges/3339076/story.html
A most recent example that supports’ Chuck’s insight:
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/40014/
Blast in China Kills At Least 13: Reporting Restricted, Conflicting Accounts (I would strongly recommend The Epoch Times if you want to get uncensored information about China)
Can you imagine a death toll of up to 270(most recent number) in a terrible blast wasn’t allowed to reported by local media?
An official from the Nanjing Municipal Propaganda Department scolded the reporter: “Who gave you the permission to conduct a live broadcast?” This quote is now very famous on internet.