http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/19/world ... ina&st=cse
At the Frankfurt Book Fair, China hoped to showcase its literature but ended up stirring up controversy by denying some of its controversial writers visas from attending and complaining about news coverage and the dissenter events that were hosted.
Between this news and an earlier article about China's ambition for a world-class media empire, I'm left thinking that China's unchanged and still....restless. On the one hand they do desire to be part of the global community and churn out innovative and distinctive products rather than be an outsourcing/imitation hub. But they also have the delusion that they can have their cake and eat it too by censoring or otherwise interfering with non-violent dissenters.
I personally think that China's ambitions will not be fully realized until it can learn to deal with criticism/dissent. Great works of literature/art are controversial; unless it's children's work the idea is SUPPOSED to inspire people to be uncomfortable, to think, to do more than just smile and nod.
Similarly if China wants to do more than create media companies which are fixated on celebrities and gossip they will have to publish thought-provoking articles and exposes. But I suspect pigs will fly before China "lightens up".
Ah, China....still a spoiled brat.
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