Censorship in China

The Freedom of Speech is granted to every American citizen and has been since it was founded in 1776; however, not every nation grants that right. China, as a communist nation, retains most individual freedom rights from its citizens. Although in the Peoples Republic of China’s (PRC) 1982 constitution, people are guaranteed Freedom of Expression and Press; it is often violated by the current corrupt government. The government demands the news to be 80% positive and 20% negative, altering the facts n occasion. In contrast to that, America has recently become more involved with the pressing issue as well because of the involvement of Google. Thus it has shined the light on government censorship and corruption. China’s government corruption and censorship has led to a bribery of government and corporation officials, the Shanghai (Xinjiang) Riots/Tiananmen Square Massacre, and current complications with Google.cn.

China’s corrupt government affected the bribery of government officials or employees at the nation’s largest companies. The Qatar News Agency has stated that Chinese firms have confirmed bribery; “A recent spate of prosecutions under the act of firms operating in China and other notoriously crooked places has stoked fear in the heart of many executives. (Arabia, Pg.1)” Qatar then acknowledged that Chinese companies have recently had employees bribed; “This year… employees entered guilty pleas related to bribes allegedly paid to employees at some of China's biggest companies… PetroChina, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corporation, Guohua Energy Investment Company, and China Petroleum. (Arabia, Pg.1)” The bribing of these companies is never acceptable. Throughout the government it has also bee...

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...hina is worse than other nations which completely eliminate citizens rights because PRC’s constitution grants citizens freedom of expression and press, but it takes these rights away when expressions are against the government. China withholding information from the citizens knowing is equivalent to lying. Therefore, if China lies to the citizens, how reliable is the government? Or worse, since the government leads the nation, how trustful is that nation? Fan Zhongyan once said, a famous quote, “I’d rather die for speaking out, than remain silent.” If more Chinese citizens felt that way, the nation would be different. If this paper was allowed in China maybe citizens would change their point of view, and change forever. However, this would be censored out. Hopefully one day, there will be fundamental rights granted to every citizen, regardless of race or ethnicity.