Frank Ching: An Old Idea That Really Would Set China Free
From New Straits Times: The publication of the secretly recorded memoirs of former Chinese party leader Zhao Ziyang, who spent the last 16 years of his life under house arrest for opposing the...
View ArticleTaiwan Offers China Model
From Radio Free Asia: Taiwan, which marks its own National Day nine days after a lavish display of communist military power by rival Beijing, should provide the model for reunification with China, a...
View ArticleAt 86, a Liberal-Minded Party Elder Is Still Jousting With China’s Censors
The New York Times profiles Du Daozheng, the former high-ranking official who helped record Zhao Ziyang’s memoirs that were released in book form earlier this year: When a former aide of Mr. Zhao’s, Du...
View ArticleRan Yunfei (冉云飞) on Du Daozheng’s “What More Did Zhao Ziyang Have to Say?”
On his blog, Ran Yunfei writes his thoughts about the new book by Du Daozheng, the former CCP official who helped obtain Zhao Ziyang’s memoir that was published last year. Translation by China analyst...
View ArticleChina Magazine Praises Ousted Zhao in Test of Taboo
From Reuters: A Chinese magazine has published a memoir praising purged Communist Party leader Zhao Ziyang, making a rare break with the official taboo about the leader ousted in the bloody and...
View ArticleWukan and the Rule of Law
The Jamestown Foundation’s Willy Lam reflects on the conciliatory approach taken by CCP officials in Guangdong to bring an end to the Wukan protests last month, warning that the fate of future mass...
View ArticlePetitioners, Others Held in Mental Hospitals
Human Rights In China has published the story of Li Jinping, an ardent supporter of Zhao Ziyang, victim of forced demolition, and former Chaoyang public security officer. Li writes that he was held in...
View ArticleBao Tong: ‘In the Current System, I’d Be Corrupt Too’
For the New York Review of Books, Ian Johnson meets with Bao Tong, former director of the Communist Party’s Office of Political Reform and the policy secretary for Zhao Ziyang, former CCP General...
View ArticleThat Year, These Years: Stories of Tiananmen
By Li Xuewen Translated by Little Bluegill Original text here. That Year, I was twelve years old and in the fifth grade. The happiest part of my day: I would come home from school, turn on our battered...
View ArticleAt 79, Ex-Party Official Lambastes Chinese Leaders
On NPR, Louisa Lim interviews Bao Tong, former aide to former CCP General Secretary Zhao Ziyang, about the current state of the Communist Party and the new generation of leadership who is slated to...
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Ministry of Truth: 18th Party Congress
The following examples of censorship instructions, issued to the media and/or Internet companies by various central (and sometimes local) government authorities, have been leaked and distributed...
View ArticleCensorship Vault: Banned Search Results for May 35th and More
This is the last post in this series before the holidays. Normal service will be resumed on Wednesday, January 2. In partnership with the China Copyright and Media blog, CDT is adding the “Beijing...
View ArticleZhao Ziyang Remembered; Tiananmen General Dies
Zhao Ziyang, former Party general secretary and national premier who opposed the use of force against Tiananmen protesters in 1989, was honored by visitors to his former home in Beijing on Thursday,...
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Sensitive Words: Hu Yaobang Remembered and More
Hu Yaobang remembered. (Jiao Yantian via China Media Project) As of April 16, the following search terms are blocked on Sina Weibo (not including the “search for user” function). 24th Anniversary of Hu...
View ArticleJune 4th Crackdown Mayor Chen Xitong Dies
Former mayor of Beijing Chen Xitong died on Sunday morning, but news of his death did not emerge until two days later, on the 24th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown which he oversaw. From...
View ArticleWife of Purged Ex-leader Zhao Ziyang Dies at 95
The South China Morning Post reports that Liang Boqi, widow of purged former PRC Premier and CCP General Secretary Zhao Ziyang, died yesterday in Beijing at age 95: Liang Boqi, 95, died “peacefully” on...
View ArticleWu Wei Reflects on Reform, Now and in the 1980s
The New York Times’ Chris Buckley interviews former official Wu Wei, who helped develop Zhao Ziyang’s plans for political reform before Zhao was ousted in the wake of the Tiananmen Square protests in...
View ArticleActivists Test Xi Jinping, and Are Crushed
Following reports that civil society activist and New Citizens’ Movement founder Xu Zhiyong may soon face trial, The New York Times’ Andrew Jacobs and Chris Buckley describe hopefulness among China’s...
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Sensitive Words: Pu Zhiqiang’s Detention, More
As of May 6, the following search terms are blocked on Weibo (not including the “search for user” function). Pu Zhiqiang (Zhang Chenchu Art Studio 张晨初艺术空间) Pu Zhiqiang The rights defense lawyer Pu...
View ArticleParty Chief’s Downfall a Central Act in 1989 Drama
For the New York Times, Chris Buckley revisits the fall of Communist Party General Secretary Zhao Ziyang in May 1989, as the student movement was growing in size and strength. Zhao encouraged...
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