bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Amy Li

If you have blocked Facebook, then at least have the guts to admit it.
Apparently this doesn’t work for China’s censors, who, of course, have also said on numerous occasions that there is no internet censorship in China.
This might explain why in a recent article published on a website run by the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technolgoy, readers are given an ambiguous, yet amusing account of the status of Facebook in the country.
Here goes the lead:
"Myanmar recently unblocked the popular social networking site Facebook, which means only four countries in the world still ban the website: North Korea, Cuba, Iran and another country".
Another country? Since when did China refer to itself in that way?
Does it mean  I am now obliged to fill in “‘Another Country” in my passport forms?
Why are state leaders so ashamed of the Great Fire Wall they single-handedly built? Or do the censors really believe Chinese people are too stupid to figure it out?
If so, netizens have already proved them wrong.
On China’s social media on Thursday, the evasively-worded story triggered fierce discussion.
“People in 'another country' are unfortunately being forced to tred 'another' path,” wrote one. "Where no Facebook is allowed."
“Four-isn't it just the right number for a Majhong game,” said another blogger.
Other bloggers quickly pointed out that besides Facebook, other popular websites including Twitter and Youtube remain inaccessible.  
Myanmar's government unblocked some foreign websites, such as Facebook, the BBC, and YouTube in 2011. China, or should we say “another country” now, only unblocked popular movie website IMDB early this month, an unexpected move which many considered a sign more changes were coming.
If the changes are really coming, let's hope they will be in the right direction. 
 


Vietnam’s anti-drug police are speaking Gen Z, and it’s working

Frank Gehry, the most celebrated architect of his time, dies at 96

Meta plans budget cuts as high as 30% to its metaverse efforts in 2026

YouTube capitulates to Australia’s age rule, becomes last major platform to accept

Facebook

Facebook blocked in North Korea, Iran, Cuba and 'another country,' says state media

The Facebook page of China has over 282,000 likes as of March, 2013. Photo: SCMP pictures 

Film buffs thrilled after China unblocks IMDB movie database

The popular IMDB website was unblocked by Chinese censors on Wednesday. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Opinion

Blogs

News

China

Mark Zuckerberg

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

Opinion | Facebook blocked in North Korea, Iran, Cuba and 'another country,' says state media