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As Hong Kong protests challenge Beijing, authorities extend backlash to books As Hong Kong protests challenge Beijing, authorities extend backlash to books
(about 4 hours later)
BEIJING — In the latest sign of China’s concern over Hong Kong protests, books by scholars considered supporters of the demonstrations are suddenly becoming harder to find. BEIJING — In the latest sign of China’s concern about protests in Hong Kong, books by scholars considered supporters of the demonstrations are suddenly becoming harder to find.
Images of two purported censorship orders circulated Monday on Chinese social media — one from a publishing house and the other from China’s main censoring agency — directing the removal of books by authors perceived as sympathetic to the protests that erupted late last month.Images of two purported censorship orders circulated Monday on Chinese social media — one from a publishing house and the other from China’s main censoring agency — directing the removal of books by authors perceived as sympathetic to the protests that erupted late last month.
Chinese officials did not immediately comment publicly on the apparent bans. But it would fit into the broader media squeeze by China, which has blocked reports in state-run outlets about the Hong Kong protests except for the increasingly harsh denunciations by authorities.Chinese officials did not immediately comment publicly on the apparent bans. But it would fit into the broader media squeeze by China, which has blocked reports in state-run outlets about the Hong Kong protests except for the increasingly harsh denunciations by authorities.
It also reflects a larger crackdown on intellectuals that began in past year and expanded since the Hong Kong unrest — which began as backlash to Chinese plans to vet candidates for Hong Kong elections, but has mushroomed into showdown over the extent of Beijing’s control in the former British colony. It also reflects a larger crackdown on intellectuals that began in the past year and has expanded since the Hong Kong unrest began. The protests there started as a backlash to Chinese plans to vet candidates for Hong Kong elections, but have mushroomed into a showdown over the extent of Beijing’s control in the former British colony.
More than 40 have been arrested in mainland China for supporting the protests, according to international human rights groups.More than 40 have been arrested in mainland China for supporting the protests, according to international human rights groups.
“What on earth is our government trying to do?” wrote Mao Yushi, one of the authors on the apparent blacklist list. His online post was quickly deleted by censors. “What on earth is our government trying to do?” wrote Mao Yushi, one of the authors on the apparent blacklist. Censors quickly deleted his online post.
“It really raises doubts. A government that has failed to win the people’s trust, how can it excise good governance?” added Mao, a liberal economist, who said he had heard about the book ban from several sources in government. “How can it maintain stability? How can it win trust from international community?” “It really raises doubts. A government that has failed to win the people’s trust, how can it exercise good governance?” added Mao, a liberal economist who said he had heard about the book ban from several people in the government. “How can it maintain stability? How can it win trust from the international community?”
The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television — China’s regulator for publishing – did not return calls for comment. But the Global Times, a newspaper run by the Communist party, carried an editoral that seemed to confirm the ban. The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television — China’s regulator for publishing — did not return calls for comment. But the Global Times, a newspaper run by the Communist Party, ran an editorial that seemed to confirm the ban.
“The future prospect for publication of books by people on the list is grim,” said the commentary. It added: “These people need to navigate carefully.”“The future prospect for publication of books by people on the list is grim,” said the commentary. It added: “These people need to navigate carefully.”
According to the censorship order post online, the newly banned authors include Zhang Qianfan, a Peking University law expert and frequent critic China’s courts; pro-democracy activist Chen Ziming; Taiwan writer Giddens Ko, and Hong Kong commentator Leung Man-tao. According to the censorship order post online, the newly banned authors include Zhang Qianfan, a Peking University law expert and frequent critic of China’s courts; pro-democracy activist Chen Ziming; Taiwanese writer Giddens Ko; and Hong Kong commentator Leung Man-tao.
Books related to Christianity, Tibetan Buddhism and Islam also will be more strictly controlled, as will historical memoirs, according to the order. Specifically singled were books by Yu, also known as Yu Ying-shih, a prominent Chinese-American historian and a former professor at Harvard, Yale and Princeton. Books related to Christianity, Tibetan Buddhism and Islam also will be more strictly controlled, as will historical memoirs, according to the order. Specifically singled out were books by Yu Ying-shih, a prominent Chinese American historian and former professor at Harvard, Yale and Princeton.
Recently, Yu had voiced support for the “Sunflower” student protest movement this year and encouraged Hong Kong’s students not to give up their Occupy movement. Recently, Yu had voiced support for the “Sunflower” student protest movement this year and encouraged Hong Kong’s students not to give up their movement.
A salesperson answering the phone at the Guangxi Normal University Press Group confirmed they stopped selling this week a book by Yu, but declined to give details. The call was transferred to her superiors, they declined to comment. A salesperson answering the phone at the Guangxi Normal University Press Group confirmed that this week the press stopped selling a book by Yu, but declined to give details. The call was transferred to her superiors, who declined to comment.
On Monday, several books on the alleged orders were already listed as out of stock by China’s biggest online booksellers. On Monday, China’s biggest online booksellers already were listing several books about the alleged orders as out of stock.
As Hong Kong protesters have defied calls to leave the streets, Chinese authorities have stepped up pressures on prominent — or even potential — backers of the challenge to Beijing’s authority. As Hong Kong protesters have defied calls to leave the streets, Chinese authorities have stepped up pressure on prominent — or even potential — backers of the challenge to Beijing’s authority.
Officials recently detained Chinese scholar Guo Yushan, most well-known for helping blind activist Chen Guangcheng escape house arrest in 2012 and seek shelter at the U.S. embassy. Officials recently detained Chinese scholar Guo Yushan, most well-known for helping blind activist Chen Guangcheng escape house arrest in 2012 and seek shelter at the U.S. Embassy.
Guo has been held on charges of “provoking troubles,” according to his lawyer. While Guo has long advocated for human rights, he had not made any public comments on the Hong Kong protests.Guo has been held on charges of “provoking troubles,” according to his lawyer. While Guo has long advocated for human rights, he had not made any public comments on the Hong Kong protests.
Several artists and writers have been detained as well, including Beijing dissident poet Wang Zang who was arrested on Oct. 1. A few days earlier, his wife Wang Li said, Wang had posted a photo on Twitter of himself wearing thrusting his middle finger while holding an umbrella — which has become a symbol of the Hong Kong protests. Several artists and writers have been detained as well, including Beijing dissident poet Wang Zang, who was arrested Oct. 1. A few days earlier, his wife, Wang Li, said her husband had posted a photo on Twitter of himself thrusting his middle finger while holding an umbrella — which has become a symbol of the Hong Kong protests.
There are fears the pressures could eventually extend even to student protest leaders in Hong Kong, which still enjoys many freedoms that mainland China does not. There are fears that the pressure eventually could extend even to student protest leaders in Hong Kong, which still enjoys many freedoms that mainland China does not.
Agnes Chow, who acted as spokeswoman for a high school student group, said in a written statement she was resigning. Agnes Chow, who acted as spokeswoman for a high school student group, said in a written statement that she was resigning.
“I am only 17, facing unbearable pressure, I feel extreme desperation and tiredness. I hope you could respect my decision,” she said.“I am only 17, facing unbearable pressure, I feel extreme desperation and tiredness. I hope you could respect my decision,” she said.
Simon Denyer in Hong Kong and Liu Liu in Beijing contributed to this report.Simon Denyer in Hong Kong and Liu Liu in Beijing contributed to this report.