Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BEIJING1320
2007-02-28 10:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

LITERARY THRILLER: CHINESE AUTHOR PLANS TO SUE

Tags:  PGOV PHUM KCUL SOCI CH 
pdf how-to read a cable
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O 281008Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5116
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001320 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2032
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KCUL SOCI CH
SUBJECT: LITERARY THRILLER: CHINESE AUTHOR PLANS TO SUE
GOVERNMENT OVER BOOK BAN

Classified By: Political Section Internal Unit Chief Susan A. Thornton.
Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001320

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2032
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KCUL SOCI CH
SUBJECT: LITERARY THRILLER: CHINESE AUTHOR PLANS TO SUE
GOVERNMENT OVER BOOK BAN

Classified By: Political Section Internal Unit Chief Susan A. Thornton.
Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) A controversial author's preparations to sue
China's General Administration of Press and
Publications (GAPP) for banning her book about early
20th Century Beijing opera stars has created a stir in
Beijing's literary world. The book, by Zhang Yihe, is
one of eight that were blacklisted at a January GAPP
meeting at which several publishing houses received a
scolding. The lawyer who has taken Zhang's case told
us his objective is to expand the space for freedom of
speech for authors, and that he will seek symbolic
damages of RMB 1 (12 cents). Contacts doubt that the
case will have its day in court because Zhang's
pedigree (as daughter of China's number one
"Rightist") makes her a sensitive political figure and
because many historical subjects, particularly those
that cast the Communist Party in an unflattering
light, remain taboo for Chinese authors. But since
the "ban" appears only to extend to new print runs,
pre-ban copies of the book continue to sell like hot
cakes in Beijing stores and the title remains
available on dangdang.com, China's version of Amazon.
End Summary.

"How Dare She"
--------------


2. (C) Zhang Yihe's book, "Past Stories of Peking
Opera Actors," is one of eight banned in the wake of a
January 11 GAPP meeting with publishers at which
representatives of the imprints received harsh
criticism, contacts and foreign media reports said.
Other books blacklisted at the meeting include "I
Object: The Road to Politics by a People's Congress
Member," which is about activist Yao Lifa's efforts to
run for a seat in the local legislature in Hubei
Province; and "The Press," a fictional account of the
gritty world of Chinese media by Zhu Huaxing. The
rest of the titles, like Zhang's, relate mainly to
20th century Chinese history, touching on the Great
Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution and other
events. GAPP Deputy Director Wu Shulin chaired the
meeting, contacts told us. During the proceedings, Wu

was especially harsh with Hunan Literature and Arts
Press, Zhang's publisher, reportedly admonishing them,
"How dare you publish a book by this writer?"

Will There Be a Courtroom Drama?
--------------


3. (C) Zhang's lawyer Pu Zhiqiang is planning to
bring suit against GAPP for damages, but said he has
not formally launched the case pending confirmation of
the reported events at the GAPP meeting. Once he is
confident in the confirmation, the suit will target Wu
specifically, Pu related. Otherwise, Pu and his
client will likely bring suit against GAPP as an
entity. Whichever route they choose, the case will
hinge on article 35 of China's constitution, which
provides for individuals' freedom of speech, Pu
remarked. It will be an uphill battle. No one has
ever sued the GAPP, said Zhang Shensi, a reporter and
editor at the Legal Daily, acknowledging that the odds
are stacked against the author. She predicted that
any court would likely throw the case out on a
procedural pretext because of its political
sensitivity. Meanwhile, Zhang Yihe herself has not
suffered any penalties or official harassment because
of the ban, said Ding Dong (protect),a historian who
is active in publishing and who has been friends with
Zhang for years.


4. (C) The goal of the lawsuit is to expand the space
for freedom of speech for authors, Pu said. With that
in mind, the compensation Zhang intends to seek is
symbolic: a) a public admission of wrongdoing from Wu
and GAPP; b) a lifting of the ban on Zhang's book; and
c) RMB 1 (USD 0.12) in damages. Pu said, however,
that he has another objective as well. Press coverage
of the case, even in only a few publications, would
constitute a step forward in public discourse on
speech issues. He hopes to persuade the progressive
bi-weekly Caijing Magazine or the popular Southern
Metropolis Daily to write about Zhang's suit. Even
without media coverage, however, the ban and Zhang's
suit are a hot topic among Beijing's intellectual set,

BEIJING 00001320 002 OF 002


particularly those who focus on history and how it is
portrayed in Mainland nonfiction writings and
textbooks.

Sensitive History
--------------


5. (C) History remains a sensitive subject in media
as well as academia, said the scholar Ding. The
current leadership is attempting to present the
Chinese Communist Party as modern, advanced and
responsive to the needs of regular people. In
connection with this, image is everything, Ding said,
emphasizing that in his view any genuine probe of 20th
century Chinese history would heavily tarnish the
Party. Fang Jinyu, Beijing bureau chief of the
progressive Guangzhou-based Southern Daily media
group, separately made a similar point, stressing that
in the run-up to the 17th Party Congress this fall,
censors are on the lookout for any media content seen
as undermining Party authority. Anything presenting
Party history in a bad light or casting aspersions on
the character or actions of top leaders past or
present (who are in good official standing) will be
off limits.


6. (C) This is true even regarding praise or
criticism of people and events on which the Party
leadership itself has rendered public judgments, Fang
pointed out. For example, the Party has acknowledged
that the Cultural Revolution was a mistake, but still
does not like people being publicly reminded that the
Party committed such deeds. Similarly, even though
intellectuals and officials who were branded as
"Rightists" in the past have been officially
rehabilitated, there is still a climate of doubt and
suspicion surrounding liberals in the Party. Enter
the author Zhang Yihe, whose father Zhang Bojun was a
major target of the anti-Rightist campaign of the
early 1950s. "She is still paying for her father's
sins," Fang said. He added that Zhang is widely known
for her defiance and her satirical comments on leaders
and their slogans, which likely does not help her
standing among China's propaganda guardians.

Banned Books at a Bookstore Near You
--------------


7. (C) Despite the ban, a recent trip to the All
Sages' Bookstore in Beijing's university district
revealed that six of the eight titles, including "Past
Stories," were available and given pride of place on a
table in the main sales area. The shop clerk said he
had no information about the other two, "Cang Sang,"
by Xiao Jian, about one Chinese person's experiences
from 1911 to the late 1950s, and "The Family History
of an Ordinary Chinese," by Guo Ya, another
examination of 20th century China. The availability
of the other titles reflects the fact that
blacklisting a book does not necessarily mean it must
be pulled from bookstore shelves, Ding said. In some
cases, GAPP edicts specify only that a title must not
be reprinted, or that extra copies the publisher has
in stock should not be distributed. This may explain
why several of the books, including "Past Stories" and
"The Press," are also readily available on
dangdang.com, China's version of Amazon.


8. (C) Contacts separately noted that publishers, not
bookstores or even the authors themselves, tend to
bear the brunt of official opprobrium when books are
banned. "Publishers have the most at stake," said
author Wu Jiaxiang (protect),whose book "The Generals
of Zhongnanhai" (which was published in Taiwan) has
never been available on the Mainland. He said firms
that cross the editorial line risk fines, firings or
even closure. Nonetheless, Wu quipped that when they
ban a book, the GAPP becomes China's "Number One
literary agent" because as soon as a title is
blacklisted, it flies off the shelves and becomes a
must-read among intellectuals and progressives. "The
author gains fame and respect," Wu concluded.
RANDT