Mere months after China’s handling of the Eighteenth Party Congress suggested the country would undergo a peaceful leadership transition, the issue of freedom of the press surged to attention this week after a censored editorial in
Southern Weekly (
Nanfang Zhoumo) resulted in a vociferous protest from the newspaper’s editorial staff, and an unexpected ripple of agreement across the country. As this situation continues to play out, we look this week at what brought on these protests, what is at stake, and what the response suggests about the way China’s new government will handle media relations.
And who are our guests? Joining Kaiser Kuo and Jeremy Goldkorn to talk about this ongoing constitutional kerfuffle are two guests we are delighted to welcome back to our studio: Ian Johnson, the former Beijing Bureau Chief for
(U.S. Embassy Beijing)
Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng, right, listens on as U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke talks on the phone May 2, 2012 in Beijing, China. The U.S. had maintained silence after the activist fled to the U.S. embassy on April 26, but U.S. officials opened up over what they say had become a warm relationship with Chen as they negotiated for his safety.
Interesting Times
May 11, 2012
The Sinica Podcast is a weekly discussion of current affairs in China hosted by long-time Beijing residents Kaiser Kuo and Jeremy Goldkorn. Launched in April 2010, the podcast is recorded in various locations in China, the USA, and around the world.