Coercing Self Censorship
The True Power of a Dictatorship.
Written Originally by Jack Kerley in 2019.
China has continually increased its aggressively revolting attempts to mass censor, not only its own people but the world. This has been the case for over 2 decades at this point. Perhaps China is envious of Japan’s soft power or perhaps it’s the inherent nature of communist systems to attract wide spread tyranny. It could also be existing as a supposed "communist" system in a world where the idea of communism is universally despised that makes the Chinese tyrant, Xi Jinping extremely uncomfortable.
An interesting idea considering it seems that Jinping is becoming increasingly insecure and aggressive with censorship after Chinese students decided to depict him as the “hunny” loving Winnie the Pooh. Quite the hilarious jab at the Chinese dictator. However, this is just a minor form of censorship in the bigger picture in China’s tendency to redact information.
To talk about the surveillance, censorship and social credit systems within China would take thousands of words and too much time. The current wave of Chinese censorship is the targeting of companies, based and founded mostly in America or the west. The threat of Chinese dollars being stripped from their pockets has fueled the extremely curious case that is multi-national companies cucking themselves to China instead of upholding the ideals of a free market and freedom of information. Ideals characteristic of the western world.
These companies have zero obligation to obey or abide by the values of the United States or even the entire western world, as it should be however as a result, self-censorship measures are taken by western or at least American companies at the behest of the Chinese government. This measure should be observed when also dealing professionally with China.
This would make their response to pressure from China one that is genuinely pathetic and lamentable. The potential loss of Chinese money is too much for their morals to withstand.
QANTAS, American Airlines, Delta and others adjusting Taiwan and Hong Kong to be represented under the “China” category then apologizing to China is clearly seen as good business to them. Clear because anyone with a brain can realise that Taiwan and Hong Kong are independent places and are not destinations within China. Shanghai doesn’t have its own country flag, nor does Beijing or Guangzhou however, both Taiwan and Hong Kong do have national flags.
The pusillanimous capitulation to pressure from China’s Civil Aviation Authority is unforgivable. Statements need to be made, openly and without fear of repercussions against China's human rights abuses and oppression instead of cowardly apologizing to China because of correctly listing countries as countries.
Aviation companies succumbing to China is one thing, but companies in positions of power within popular culture also capitulating to China is inexcusable. These companies include but are not limited to Activision/Blizzard, Nike, Apple, Disney and the NBA.
Blizzard has had a rocky year in 2019 and perhaps won’t be able to recover but Disney/ESPN banning employees from expressing support for Hong Kong’s now 6 month long anti-government protests is laughable. It would seem that Winnie the Pooh has Mickey Mouse by the ears.
As for the NBA…
Well, “Fight for freedom, Stand with Hong Kong” is what the Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey tweeted on Friday, October 4th 2019 prompting almost immediate backlash from the Chinese Consulate-General. As a result, not only was the NBA and the Rockets quick to apologize to China but Morey himself removed the tweet while begging on his knees for forgiveness.
Even a company as large as Nike rushed to make sure their profits weren’t hurt but the rejection of the Rockets in China had already set in and there was no saving it. I guess all their shallow begging for forgiveness was for naught. It’s a shame really, why maintain integrity when you can just roll over for an authoritarian instead?
Now, this might come off as a little bit vitriolic in parts and I do agree that might be the case, however let me plead my case to you. I am a 24 year-old Australian and I have been following Hong Kong, China and their influence over American companies and It worries me deeply – China has a grip over Australia that nearly nobody is discussing.
They are constantly trying to influence our politics and education. Even going as far as to attempt implanting people loyal to the Chinese Communist Party into the Australian government. Discovered via an inquiry by the Prime Minister and ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organisation) in 2016.
They’ve allowed the Australian government to purchase their disgusting social credit system, which is currently being tested in Darwin, Northern Territory. That’s an issue for another time. China is building wind power generators in the Australian countryside, which poses a threat to Australia via their control over our countries power, and no matter how little it might be right now they will leverage.
The more we, as people in free nations throughout the world let China slowly corrupt out institutions, companies and eventually dictate exactly how they operate, The more we are affected by the Chinese and their disgusting pro-censorship attitudes. We hold no allegiances to China and we owe nothing to China but contempt and revulsion to a level near Russian revulsion post-USSR.
We don’t need to bend the knee to someone who has no interest in the freedom of others. Which is what Xi “Winnie the Pooh” Jinping has; a desire to create a world as deaf, dumb, blind and brainwashed to his corruption, dictatorial overreach and downright disgusting actions.
We don’t need Chinese money. We don’t need China’s influence. We don’t need China. So, stop letting them control you. I’m talking directly to you, the multi-national corporations of the western world. Stop letting China’s interests, supersede the interests of the people with the boot on their necks like those in Hong Kong. Those currently dying, fighting for their rights to freedom of speech and democracy. Something the west has offered for hundreds of years – even if America is the last bastion of such an ideal.
So, because Morey won’t stand behind his words; I will.
Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong.