Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIJING1928
2009-07-09 10:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
CHINESE INTERNET REACTION TO XINJIANG UNREST
how-toVZCZCXRO7604 OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHBJ #1928/01 1901027 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 091027Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5093 RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001928
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EINT CH
SUBJECT: CHINESE INTERNET REACTION TO XINJIANG UNREST
Summary
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001928
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EINT CH
SUBJECT: CHINESE INTERNET REACTION TO XINJIANG UNREST
Summary
--------------
1. The recent riots and ethnic tensions in Xinjiang were hot topics
on major Chinese news portals, Internet forums and microblogging
platforms in China over the past few days. Widespread censorship
was present on popular social discussion platforms. Many netizens
expressed skepticism about available reporting on the riots and were
frustrated by online censorship of the issue. Initial netizen
reactions on both traditionally liberal and conservative sites
expressed anger toward unequal and preferential treatment of
minorities. Many netizens called for equal punishment of all
involved in the violence, regardless of ethnicity. A survey of
major Chinese websites on July 8 revealed that netizen postings on
mainstream or conservative sites tended to echo government
statements, with many postings suggesting outside influence (e.g.
Rabiya Kadeer) in instigating the unrest. End Summary.
Popular Discussion Platforms Widely Censored
--------------
2. The recent unrest and riots in Xinjiang were widely discussed
topics on the Chinese Internet beginning on July 6. However, access
to searches about Xinjiang, Uighurs, Urumqi, and violence were
blocked on many Chinese language searches or in some cases,
available results did not include sensitive material. Websites
Fanfou.com, the Chinese version of Twitter, Facebook and Youtube,
were completely blocked. Comments and threads about the recent
riots were deleted from both liberal and conservative websites
including PChome, Qiangguo, Sina, and Cat898. Netizens expressed
frustration over deleted postings sometimes threatening those
responsible for deleting posts. However, accessible sites, blogs,
microblogging platforms, and discussion forums nonetheless had a
high volume of postings related to Xinjiang. Photos and video clips
were widely reposted and linked, especially on Twitter.
Skepticism of Government's Version of Xinjiang Unrest
-------------- --------------
3. Netizens on traditionally liberal websites were generally
unconvinced by government reports, which many described as "too
simple." Many demanded more information that was "unbiased" and
"not one-sided," no matter who was implicated. Calls also continued
for more information about the identity of those killed.
Netizen Reaction to Preferential Policies and Violence
-------------- --------------
4. On traditionally liberal sites like Twitter and Cat898, many
netizens posted angry criticism of what they characterized as the
Chinese government's preferential treatment of Uighurs, often making
critical remarks about minority exemptions to the one child policy
or automatic score increases granted to ethnic minorities on
national college entrance exams. Popular comments that attracted
numerous hits included: "one can't be lenient just because they are
minorities" and "regardless of what race they are, all should be
treated the same." Some postings turned into on-line debates about
how to deal with ethnic prejudice featuring proposals to weaken
ethnic minority identity to removing ethnic designations from
identity cards. Others equated minority problems to the
government's inability to overcome income disparity. Tension
between Han Chinese and Uighurs was also widely present in forums,
including characterizations of all Uighurs as "separatist
terrorists," criticisms of Islam and assertions of Han Chinese
superiority. One netizen warned that "policies to pacify minorities
would lead to deaths."
5. Netizens were also upset about the violence and expressed
concern that the violence had "caused enormous problems" for social
stability. Many popular posts called for "severe punishment" for
those that had committed violence, regardless of whether they were
Uighurs or Han Chinese.
Comparisons to Tibet Unrest
--------------
6. Comparisons of the Xinjiang unrest and the March 14, 2008
violent Tibet protests were widespread. Some saw the handling of
the situation in Xinjiang as a failure to learn from China's
mistakes with the Tibet riots. On the other hand, some described
Rabiya Kadeer and the Dalai Lama as equivalent "Western-backed
splittist terrorists" or labeled Kadeer "China's Bin Laden" who had
"severely harmed the country." On traditionally conservative
websites, the United States and western countries were criticized
for being "black hands" or the "outside forces" causing the unrest.
However, calls to "learn from the U.S. experience with racism" were
also present, along with discussion about how democracy had helped
resolve "America's greatest contradiction." Many questions and
BEIJING 00001928 002 OF 002
posts queried why other countries with various different races did
not have these tensions.
Goldberg
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EINT CH
SUBJECT: CHINESE INTERNET REACTION TO XINJIANG UNREST
Summary
--------------
1. The recent riots and ethnic tensions in Xinjiang were hot topics
on major Chinese news portals, Internet forums and microblogging
platforms in China over the past few days. Widespread censorship
was present on popular social discussion platforms. Many netizens
expressed skepticism about available reporting on the riots and were
frustrated by online censorship of the issue. Initial netizen
reactions on both traditionally liberal and conservative sites
expressed anger toward unequal and preferential treatment of
minorities. Many netizens called for equal punishment of all
involved in the violence, regardless of ethnicity. A survey of
major Chinese websites on July 8 revealed that netizen postings on
mainstream or conservative sites tended to echo government
statements, with many postings suggesting outside influence (e.g.
Rabiya Kadeer) in instigating the unrest. End Summary.
Popular Discussion Platforms Widely Censored
--------------
2. The recent unrest and riots in Xinjiang were widely discussed
topics on the Chinese Internet beginning on July 6. However, access
to searches about Xinjiang, Uighurs, Urumqi, and violence were
blocked on many Chinese language searches or in some cases,
available results did not include sensitive material. Websites
Fanfou.com, the Chinese version of Twitter, Facebook and Youtube,
were completely blocked. Comments and threads about the recent
riots were deleted from both liberal and conservative websites
including PChome, Qiangguo, Sina, and Cat898. Netizens expressed
frustration over deleted postings sometimes threatening those
responsible for deleting posts. However, accessible sites, blogs,
microblogging platforms, and discussion forums nonetheless had a
high volume of postings related to Xinjiang. Photos and video clips
were widely reposted and linked, especially on Twitter.
Skepticism of Government's Version of Xinjiang Unrest
-------------- --------------
3. Netizens on traditionally liberal websites were generally
unconvinced by government reports, which many described as "too
simple." Many demanded more information that was "unbiased" and
"not one-sided," no matter who was implicated. Calls also continued
for more information about the identity of those killed.
Netizen Reaction to Preferential Policies and Violence
-------------- --------------
4. On traditionally liberal sites like Twitter and Cat898, many
netizens posted angry criticism of what they characterized as the
Chinese government's preferential treatment of Uighurs, often making
critical remarks about minority exemptions to the one child policy
or automatic score increases granted to ethnic minorities on
national college entrance exams. Popular comments that attracted
numerous hits included: "one can't be lenient just because they are
minorities" and "regardless of what race they are, all should be
treated the same." Some postings turned into on-line debates about
how to deal with ethnic prejudice featuring proposals to weaken
ethnic minority identity to removing ethnic designations from
identity cards. Others equated minority problems to the
government's inability to overcome income disparity. Tension
between Han Chinese and Uighurs was also widely present in forums,
including characterizations of all Uighurs as "separatist
terrorists," criticisms of Islam and assertions of Han Chinese
superiority. One netizen warned that "policies to pacify minorities
would lead to deaths."
5. Netizens were also upset about the violence and expressed
concern that the violence had "caused enormous problems" for social
stability. Many popular posts called for "severe punishment" for
those that had committed violence, regardless of whether they were
Uighurs or Han Chinese.
Comparisons to Tibet Unrest
--------------
6. Comparisons of the Xinjiang unrest and the March 14, 2008
violent Tibet protests were widespread. Some saw the handling of
the situation in Xinjiang as a failure to learn from China's
mistakes with the Tibet riots. On the other hand, some described
Rabiya Kadeer and the Dalai Lama as equivalent "Western-backed
splittist terrorists" or labeled Kadeer "China's Bin Laden" who had
"severely harmed the country." On traditionally conservative
websites, the United States and western countries were criticized
for being "black hands" or the "outside forces" causing the unrest.
However, calls to "learn from the U.S. experience with racism" were
also present, along with discussion about how democracy had helped
resolve "America's greatest contradiction." Many questions and
BEIJING 00001928 002 OF 002
posts queried why other countries with various different races did
not have these tensions.
Goldberg