[nkurz]

it's doubtful if the Chinese are even allowed to read the present New Yorker article, let alone publish it if they had written it themselves.

I'd be interested to hear from those with more direct experience whether this guess is true. Is this article accessible in China? Would a Mandarin translation be censored? Would a native equivalent be publishable? And culturally, is there embarrassment at using prison labor?

[icebraining]

I don't have any more direct experience, but according to both greatfire.org and websitepulse, the article is available behind the Great Firewall.

[thaumasiotes]

Sitting in Shanghai right now. The article is not blocked; I can't answer any of your other questions.