China's Little Secret

Its no secret that the Chinese government controls the information read by its populace. I gave up reading the newspaper or watching the news months ago, because I found the information laughable. So it always surprises me that we are able to purchase The Economist on newstands here. Some weeks, we can't find the magazine at all. Often it arrives 2-4 weeks late. But I generally assume that this has more to do with the challenges of imports. The grocery store didn't have any cheese for a week, and is often empty of Cheerios.

But this week, The Economist crossed a line. China still allowed it on the newstands, but a few stories were mysteriously missing. The table of contents listed a full Asia section, but only one story printed. A story on Taiwan was ripped out, but I believe that its placement hurt it more than anything. Below is the story the Chinese government doesn't want its citizens to read (I hope I'm not breaking any copyright laws by re-printed it!)

Beijing Olympics - Limbering up for the games
Jun 19th 2008 BEIJING
From The Economist print edition
The security forces rehearse their exercise routine

PETS, prostitutes and prospective political protesters should consider themselves forewarned. The Chinese authorities, doggedly determined to ensure a safe environment for the Beijing Olympics in August, and to avoid surprises or embarrassments, have them in their sights.

No one dismisses the security concerns. With the ever-present threat of
terrorism and a number of foreign leaders, among them George Bush, expected to
attend the games' opening ceremony, China has no choice but to take security
seriously. But the clampdown now under way suggests the government is just as
concerned about preventing anything—from political demonstrations to unsightly
beggars—that reflects poorly on it, however slightly. The risk is that
heavy-handed precautions will take the fun out of what is supposed, after all,
to be a sporting event.

Some new restrictions seem reasonable. For three months, for example, fireworks will be banned. Lorries entering Beijing have been coming under closer inspection. So has the mail. Police raids have been stepped up at night-spots, beauty salons and karaoke parlours, which often serve as fronts for prostitution. The press has reported that officials are especially worried about an influx of foreign prostitutes hoping to cash in on the Olympic boom, and that they have launched a campaign to prevent it.

But other measures smack of overkill. Beggars and disabled people have
been ordered, and in some cases forced, off the streets. Those from outside
Beijing have been threatened with detention unless they go home until the games
are over. In your correspondent's own neighbourhood, residents have been told
they may walk their dogs only at certain, strictly limited, times of day—and the
dogs must carry their papers at all times.

Documents are posing problems for people, too. In one especially damaging consequence of the crackdown, China has tightened visa procedures for
foreign visitors of all sorts. Businessmen used to speedy visas are now
suffering delays and refusals. Chambers of commerce from Europe, North America,
Australia and India are complaining bitterly about trips aborted and business
lost.

Long-time foreign residents are faring no better. Visa renewals are no
longer routine. Applicants may be told to undertake costly travel and submit
their paperwork at Chinese embassies in their home countries. Others are simply
told not to bother and to plan instead on being elsewhere.

Authorities have also served notice that Olympic visitors will themselves be carefully watched. A helpful “legal guide” tells foreign athletes, officials, reporters and spectators how to behave. In addition to shunning narcotics, weapons and counterfeit currency, they should abjure “subversive activities” or the “display of religious, political or racial banners”. Of course China does not normally allow those things anyway and, having staked so much prestige on the games, is in no mood to loosen up now. Recent events have only hardened attitudes. After deadly riots in Tibet in March, China's global Olympic-torch relay attracted boisterous protests around the world against a wide range of Chinese human-rights practices. Authorities are keen to prevent any such outbursts on their home turf.

They will probably fail, if only because of the huge number of visitors
and the determination of some to make a statement. But ponderous attempts to
keep control may dampen the Olympic mood. An ungracious host may give visitors
one more reason to protest.