When I read documents like these, I wish I was a 10th grade history teacher, or that I could have a Contemporary history elective at my school. I read the 1976 CIA document about China's military readiness, and I wondered how close the analysis was to reality. I don't doubt that China saw the Soviets as a bigger threat to their national security than any other nation. I wonder why many in our government and society label China as a threat to the United States, after a CIA report says that "Peking will prefer to use political diplomatic means rather than military pressures to gain its means."
Reading the documents made me wonder if the CIA feels the same way about China today. With all the current day talk about China's bullying of Taiwan and it's current attempt to purchase more sophisticated weaponry from the European Union, I would not be surprised that the CIA attitude towards China has changed from that of 1976. Perhaps someone knows more about this topic and would like to lead me to some resources or answers.

On the UCLA Asia Institute, a speech by Jiao Guobiao on Censorship in China was posted and caught my attention. It appeared he presented the speech at the end of 2004; I wonder, after reading the article, if he is still teaching at Peking University, since it paints a realistic picture of media control in China.

The government of China has full control over what may and may not be published... via newspapers, the internet, radio and television. It uses a combination of direct edict and punishment to make sure people adhere to the restrictions. Guobiao was careful -- in his words -- to simply explain the restrictions; he refrains from making value judgements on the system. I assume that is to reduce the ire of the government officials in China.

I had wondered how a government could restrict the dissemination of information so thoroughly in a technologically-literate country. I can understand how it is controlled in North Korea, where people are too poor to have cell phones and computers that access information from around the world. But China has developed ways of censoring every kind of media.

Guobiao defined three different aspects of control. The government isolates China from the world; they do not permit journalists much entry into the country, and the leaders "convince" people (fear tactics are not unusual) that they shouldn't talk to the journalists once they do arrive in the country. Only hotels with a three star or higher rating are permitted to received international satellite services, so only the foreign visitors and wealthy travelers have a television link to the outside world.

Guobiao points out the much of the news that people in China hear about controversial issues comes from foreign news sources. The SARS problem was reported by Time Magazine, and much of the information that does come through is called "rumors" by the Chinese governmnet.

A second aspect of control is in the media personnel. General directors of media in China are government-apointed officials, so it is their intent to adhere to the demands of the government that put them in the job. Therefore, when the Central Propaganda Department (CPD) tells reporters they may not publish certain stories, the directors make sure the staff adheres to the demand. Every news item published has to go through four or more approvals, each of whom edit out anything that is "politicallly conscious and ...politically sensitive." The CPD calls routine meetings to discuss with editors what can and can not be disclosed, and there is a long list of prohibited words: democracy, freedom, liberty, human rights, etc.

Post publication, censorship continues. If a media outlet releases sensitive information, they may be reprimanded or replaced.

Finally, web access is severely controlled. Very few foreign publications or books are allowed into the country. Guobiao said that the Text is the only international news source available in the Beijing University library. Customs will hold books indefinitely if they don't want to let the books into the nation. Long distance telephone calls from China to other countries are very expensive, photocopy machines are restricted -- to control the spread of information. And the government has set strict control on web content. Guabiao cannot access most international website, even at his university, because they are blocked.

To those of us who are used to freedom of information, these restriction are incredible. They serve to keep the Communist government in control, reduce people's awareness of other options, and reduce the consolidating of people and ideas that might be anti-government. The government has, for decades, sought to isolate China from the outside world. Through its limitless power, the government seems to have been successful, for the most part.

The good thing about this control, is that the country is orderly, more than one billion people can live together is compact societies, there is a respect for the old, for education, for tradition. I wonder if the cost of that controlled society makes up for the restrictions on personal freedom.
Courtney

At the Islam in China seminar (May 14, UCLA), Barbara Pillsbury defined the five pillars of Islam -- the five beliefs/habits that unite Muslims:
1) There is only one God: "Pure and True Teaching" is the foundation. True means one God, pure means don't eat pork.
2) Prayer: if possible, pray 5 times each day and go to the mosque on Friday.
3) Fast during the Holy month of Ramadan (sunrise to sunset). Remember the less fortunate and thank God.
4) Haj: during your life, try to take a pilgrimage to Mecca
5) Zakat - tithing and/or almsgiving.

These "requirements" in simple form seem similar to many other religions and, of themselves, wouldn't separate people of one faith from another. It is amazing, however, how people of different faiths have become "enemies" over the ages. It is more than the basic tenents of a religion that create such animosity that causes people to kill each other.