From the New York Times we read:

Under China's current leader, Hu Jintao, the government has waged an energetic campaign against freedom of expression, prohibiting the promotion of public intellectuals by the news media; imposing restrictions on Web sites; pressing search engine companies, like Google, to bar delicate topics, particularly those dealing with democracy and human rights; and heavily censoring bulletin board discussions at universities and elsewhere.

So far, Chinese authorities have mostly relied on Internet service providers to police the Web logs. Commentary that is too provocative or directly critical of the government is often blocked by the provider. Sometimes the sites are swamped by opposing comment - many believe by official censors - that is more favorable to the government.

Blogs are sometimes shut down altogether, temporarily or permanently. But the authorities do not yet seem to have an answer to the proliferation of public opinion in this form.

Despite all this, the New York Times, forever bending over backwards to prove the freedom marches on in China, and so we ought to embrace them, trust them, work with them, and trade with them, sees a little sliver of 'freedom,' hints of a coming pornographic revolution, soft, soft porn at this point.

Aren't we blessed to have the New York Times championing China?

A Party Girl Leads China's Online Revolution - New York Times:

 Print This Post | Other posts by Steve Farrell