Latest posts by John Kennedy from December, 2011
China: Only Talking About a Revolution
Han Han, supposedly the world's most-read blogger, has succeeded in getting netizens to debate the possibilities (or lack thereof) for greater political freedoms and democracy in China through three new controversial blog posts. Public figures and intellectuals have joined in, many challenging Han's somewhat pro-government stance.
China: A Week Later, Wukan Remains Under Siege
The Nanfang has compiled a day-by-day summary of the recent events in the village of Wukan in southern China's Guangdong province, still under siege.
China: Pandaman vs. Christian “Batman” Bale Goes Viral
Christian Bale's recent run-in with state security police (aka "Pandas") has inspired a series of viral spoof images, and coincides with the news that another high-profile Chinese dissident has been put back in prison 20 months after he was 'released' on probation.
China: Actor Christian Bale Roughed Up Trying to Visit Chen Guangcheng
Hollywood actor Christian Bale made a detour from promotion in Beijing of his upcoming film to try and visit illegally detained Chinese human rights lawyer Chen Guangcheng, hoping to shake the hand of a man he calls an inspiration.
China: Why Didn't Putin Come Pick Up His Confucius Peace Prize?
A renegade operation by Chinese leftists aimed at winning China some soft power points has backfired: Not only has the Chinese government tried to shut them down, but now a second recipient of their annual "Confucius Peace Prize" has declined to accept the award.
China: Monitoring the 2012 Presidential Election
Chinese netizen interest this weekend in the first of three debates leading up to Taiwan's presidential election next month suggests more attention will be paid to this round than was given to the island's 2008 elections, and the focus has also expanded beyond each parties' stance on reunification with China.