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Viral blogger hailed China’s ‘profound revolution’, but the state may disagree
- Obscure blogger went viral after welcoming regulatory crackdown on celebrity culture and tech giants, with even state media running the article online
- Nationalistic editor now slams argument as ‘exaggerated’ but searches for his post are restricted, interpreted as an official move to tamp down the debate.
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When a little-known Chinese blogger described Beijing’s recent regulatory crackdowns as a “profound revolution”, the article went viral in no time. But media operators have pushed back, slamming the argument as “misleading” and “exaggerated”.
The article, which was published last Friday by Li Guangman, who is based in Hubei province in central China, has prompted widespread discussion whether it may have signalled a change of political wind in China.
In the nearly 3,000-word write-up, Li applauded the recent crackdowns on entertainment celebrities, major businesses and the capital market, calling the changes long overdue.
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“The series of rectification moves tells us that China is undergoing a profound transformation in the area of economy, finance, culture and politics,” Li wrote. “Or we can say that it’s a profound revolution.”
Li was referring to events such as the announcement last week by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the country’s internet watchdog, that detailed 10 areas for rectification among China’s online fan clubs.
09:40
Tightened regulations among key trends shaping China’s internet in 2021
Tightened regulations among key trends shaping China’s internet in 2021
Other cases cited included the removal of all news and mentions of movie star Zhao Wei from video and social websites, for which no reason was given, and the order for actress Zheng Shuang to pay a US$46.1 million fine for tax evasion. Li also commended the government for slapping heavy anti-monopoly fines on tech giants.
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