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Angry Chinese Blogger:
The news and views about China that the big media can't, or won't, tell you The is no single truth Menu: Home |
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Vice Scandal , What Vice Scandal?
As such, it is common for news stories to be released which include only the facts that which Beijing considers to be convenient - Those which cast China in a good light or which otherwise shape public opinion in a direction that is agreeable to the government - while excluding those inconvenient details - those which might otherwise allow readers to see a side of the story that Beijing would rather that they didn't see, or which might encourage people to think thoughts that Beijing would rather that they didn't have.
While there are a great many examples that could be used to demonstrate this, a topical case would be that of seven Chinese workers whom were recently abducted - and subsequently released - by a Pakistan based Islamist group.
The Story (well, half of it at least)
According Xinhua, China's state controlled media agency 6 Chinese women and 1 Chinese man were seized during the night by 30 members of a hard line Muslim group who forced them into three waiting vehicles before driving them to a local religious compound where they were held as hostages in an unprovoked attack which Pakistan's foreign Ministry described as being "a shocking and unlawful act".
Spokesperson, Foreign Ministry, Pakistan
In most instances, Chinese media reported that the group were taken from what was described as either being an "acupuncture center" or a health clinic". However, the Chinese media failed to mention failed to several key details.
1) That the abductors were spearheaded by women belonging to Lal Masjid, an Islamic interest which is currently involved in a high profile pro-morality campaign
1) The building from which the Chinese were taken from was a co-ed massage parlor which was being used as the front for a brothel
2) That the Chinese were sex workers
Lal Masjid-Jamia Hafza
China watchers also noticed similar trends in reports regarding the release of the hostages. According to the Chinese press, the group were released after the intervention of the Chinese foreign ministry and its embassy in Pakistan, and with the support of Pakistani authorities.
Qin Gang, Spokesperson, Foreign Minstry, China
What the Chinese media failed to mention was they were only released after Pakistani authorities entered into direct negotiations with the abductors, and only after they gave in to one of their key demands: To crack down on co-ed massage parlors. Effectively meaning that Beijing played only a sideline role in the affair, and that it was only resolved after an allied national government gave into the demands of radical Islamists.
Morality, Not Nationality
In a statement released by the abductors, but which was subject to 'Chinese editorial discretion', the Islamic group stated that they held no grudge against China, and that they were not intrinsically anti-foreigner, but that they would not sit by idly when visitors to their country violated their moral codes.
Abdul Rashid Ghazi, Lal Masjid-Jamia Hafza
As a daily viewer--for reasons passing understanding--of CCTV1 in the
morning, the use of selective facts is one of the most infuriating aspects
of media reporting here. What is even more shocking is the extent to which
that many people here in Beijing--even those who some would consider the
"urban elite"--accept uncritically the CCTV version as the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth. I bring this up because I was discussing
the Pakistan case with a colleague, a returned graduate student from the
US, and she would have rather accepted that the sky was magenta and fish
could talk before she would accept that the hostages in Pakistan had been
pulled out of a brothel.
I tend to find that these kind of attitudes happen everywhere, even where
the news is not censored.
As a citizen from neutral country in North-Europe who have spent on and off
basis last 15 years in Asia and last 10 of them in China, I have some
experience in this news issue. Because news in China are what they are, you
need to search backgrounds and news from as many sources as you can get.
And for me news from China and US based agencies and especially TV news are
in same category, they could be funny examples of how grotesque manner news
are modified for nation´s own intentions. This happens less in Europe and
even less in Scandinavia where I come from, but you can´t be so naive that
you think it don´t happen also there. So my meaning is that more or less
the truth and whole truth is different in different country.
You are not telling me anything that I don't already know. I too have spent
time in the West and have seen the supposedly free press at work telling
only half the story. I would laugh at CNN and Fox and the people who
believe them to be the foundation of truth - if I wasn't so concerned about
it.