[shaobo]

It doesn't work that way.

For example, from http://gking.harvard.edu/publications/how-Censorship-China-A...

"Contrary to previous understandings, posts with negative, even vitriolic, criticism of the state, its leaders, and its policies are not more likely to be censored. Instead, we show that the censorship program is aimed at curtailing collective action by silencing comments that represent, reinforce, or spur social mobilization, regardless of content."

[hackuser]

In the last month, off the top of my head:

* Mass arrests of human rights attorneys and dissidents: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/12/world/asia/china-arrests-h...

* Online political dissent shut down: http://www.afr.com/technology/social-media/how-china-stopped...

[shaobo]

No one is saying that there is no censorship or repression, but rather it works differently than most people think it does. Though I will concede that the paper is quite a few years out of date.

The point I was trying to make is that, a sweeping statement such as "Anything that is published in China, by definition is representative of the opinions of the Party.", simply isn't true.

It is not even true for the mainstream media, nevermind a work of fiction.

[xiaoma]

Looks to me like you've never been active on Weibo or spent much time in China. You'd have to be an idiot to publish media critical of the state at any scale.

[shaobo]

No I haven't, but if you have the data to show otherwise, then by all means write it up.

[xiaoma]

Do you seriously expect the PRC to publish pristine data on on arrests or executions related to anti-state speech or activities?

[shaobo]

No, but there is also a wide spectrum of opinion/speech available in China between anti-state and pro-state.

The point I am trying to make is that people think China is a smidgen way from North Korea, when the actual difference is night and day.