Beijing Censors Obama

Everything started well on that night from Tuesday to Wednesday. CCTV, the national channel, was broadcasting live the inaugural speech of the new American president with subtitles and simultaneous audio translation. But quickly, Barack Obama said, “Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions

When the word “communism” was pronounced, the voice of the translator as well as the picture of Obama disappeared, replaced by a panicked presenter, who called the special envoy of the channel in United States by the wrong name, [and said] “What difficulties is the U.S. economy facing?” “Obama must prove its worth, but he trusts his people,” answered the then caught unaware journalist. Other Chinese media, websites and newspapers have cut the sentence.

And another, which did not name China, but in which Beijing apparently recognized themselves: “To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist,” said the president to the world. Except for the Chinese.

Yesterday, the spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry defended Beijing’s “Editorial Right” by unintentionally cutting the sentence about communism. But she refused to comment on the reference to corrupt regimes, rather detailing the performance of her country: “The Chinese government respects and protects human rights. But we are still in the first stage of socialism, and many things remain to be improved.”

Beijing has recently closed nearly 200 websites accused of spreading “vulgar” or “pornographic” content. Among them, the popular Bullog.cn platform for social issues created by a professor of English at the forefront of reform.