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China Deletes Microblog of Critic of President Xi Jinping China Deletes Microblog of Critic of President Xi Jinping
(about 13 hours later)
BEIJING — The microblog account of an outspoken property tycoon and critic of President Xi Jinping, which had nearly 38 million followers, was deleted by China’s Internet control bureau on Sunday. BEIJING — The microblog account of an outspoken property tycoon and critic of President Xi Jinping, which had nearly 38 million followers, was deleted by China’s Internet control bureau on Sunday.
An official statement said that the tycoon, Ren Zhiqiang, had exerted a “vile” influence on the country by spreading illegal information on the website, which was on the Sina Weibo platform.An official statement said that the tycoon, Ren Zhiqiang, had exerted a “vile” influence on the country by spreading illegal information on the website, which was on the Sina Weibo platform.
Mr. Ren, a member of the Communist Party, had recently posted statements questioning a new policy on news media control announced by Mr. Xi on Feb. 19. The president visited the three main party and state media organizations that day and said that all Chinese news media had to serve the party. No Chinese leader since Mao Zedong had suggested so explicitly that spreading official propaganda should be the media’s top priority.Mr. Ren, a member of the Communist Party, had recently posted statements questioning a new policy on news media control announced by Mr. Xi on Feb. 19. The president visited the three main party and state media organizations that day and said that all Chinese news media had to serve the party. No Chinese leader since Mao Zedong had suggested so explicitly that spreading official propaganda should be the media’s top priority.
Mr. Ren said in his posts that the news media should serve the people, not the party. Those posts were quickly deleted, and a website managed by the propaganda unit of the Beijing municipal party committee then attacked Mr. Ren on Feb. 22, saying he was acting against the party.Mr. Ren said in his posts that the news media should serve the people, not the party. Those posts were quickly deleted, and a website managed by the propaganda unit of the Beijing municipal party committee then attacked Mr. Ren on Feb. 22, saying he was acting against the party.
Mr. Ren has long had a reputation for posting controversial messages online. That earned him the nickname the Cannon. In 2011, he stepped down as president of Beijing Huayuan Group, a property company, but he remained president of a publicly listed subsidiary until 2014. One official news report estimated his net worth in 2009 at around $22 million.Mr. Ren has long had a reputation for posting controversial messages online. That earned him the nickname the Cannon. In 2011, he stepped down as president of Beijing Huayuan Group, a property company, but he remained president of a publicly listed subsidiary until 2014. One official news report estimated his net worth in 2009 at around $22 million.
The Internet control bureau, the Cyberspace Administration of China, took the rare step on Sunday of publishing a long statement explaining why it had deleted Mr. Ren’s account. The bureau is led by Lu Wei, a party and government official who traveled with Mr. Xi to the United States in September to meet with top executives of American technology companies. He is in charge of ensuring that foreign technology companies in China abide by strict rules laid down by the party and the state.The Internet control bureau, the Cyberspace Administration of China, took the rare step on Sunday of publishing a long statement explaining why it had deleted Mr. Ren’s account. The bureau is led by Lu Wei, a party and government official who traveled with Mr. Xi to the United States in September to meet with top executives of American technology companies. He is in charge of ensuring that foreign technology companies in China abide by strict rules laid down by the party and the state.
The statement on Sunday, attributed to Jiang Jun, a spokesman for the bureau, said, “Internet users have reported that Ren Zhiqiang’s account had been continuously publishing illegal information, and the impact was vile.” The statement on Sunday, attributed to Jiang Jun, a spokesman for the bureau, said, “Internet users have reported that Ren Zhiqiang’s account had been continuously publishing illegal information, and the impact was vile.” It added that “Internet celebrities” and influential microblog personalities, known as Big Vs, “must correctly use their influence, exemplify obedience to laws and regulations, shoulder social responsibility and actively spread positive energy.”
It added that “Internet celebrities” and influential microblog personalities, known as Big Vs, “must correctly use their influence, exemplify obedience to laws and regulations, shoulder social responsibility and actively spread positive energy.”
Mr. Jiang said the “cyberspace administration will increase the intensity of enforcing Internet content laws, and asks for all online platforms to refuse to provide channels for illegal speech.”Mr. Jiang said the “cyberspace administration will increase the intensity of enforcing Internet content laws, and asks for all online platforms to refuse to provide channels for illegal speech.”
The authority did not specify why Mr. Ren’s posts were illegal or which of them had violated the law. Mr. Ren could not be reached for comment.The authority did not specify why Mr. Ren’s posts were illegal or which of them had violated the law. Mr. Ren could not be reached for comment.
In recent years, the party has been cracking down on writings by Big Vs, people who, like Mr. Ren, are labeled “verified users” by Internet companies and have millions of online followers, to ensure that they toe the party line. A signal moment in that campaign came in 2013, when the police arrested Charles Xue, a Chinese-American businessman with 12 million microblog followers, and paraded him on state television saying he had solicited prostitutes. In recent years, the party has been cracking down on writings by Big Vs, people who, like Mr. Ren, are labeled “verified users” by Internet companies and have millions of online followers, to ensure that they toe the party line. A signal moment in that campaign came in 2013, when the police arrested Charles Xue, a Chinese-American businessman with 12 million microblog followers, and paraded him on state television, saying he had solicited prostitutes.
The authorities have clamped down on Internet speech in other ways. In 2013, the nation’s top legal authorities said the criminal charge of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” could be applied to online writings.The authorities have clamped down on Internet speech in other ways. In 2013, the nation’s top legal authorities said the criminal charge of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” could be applied to online writings.
Officials have also stepped up charging Internet users with “spreading rumors,” including in cases where writers had been discussing the recent economic downturn and stock market turmoil. Officials have also charged more Internet users with “spreading rumors,” including in cases where writers had been discussing the recent economic downturn and stock market turmoil.