'Clouding' the Issue - the Great Firewall

[Randy W]

Well, Tibet should be no harder than any other province or autonomous territory.

 

But, then, call Hong Kong a "province" (to keep their DB table the same) and then they have another kind of problem. Taiwan: worse still.

 

Tian Wei! Still more of a looker than me.

 

 

Yeah, I'm not sure what the problem is with Tibet since it's a real province - but access IS restricted.

[Randy W]

Here we go again - hopefully, ExpressVPN is still on top of this.

 

But it DOES seem to be based on regulations published last year (Jan, 2017), which were scheduled to take effect March 2018.

 

In the SCMP

US flags fears over China’s new VPN rules with the World Trade Organisation

Washington says cross-border businesses such as travel agencies could be affected by the restrictions

 

 

This is what was said in Jan 2017, as I reported at that time

 

The who, what and why in China’s latest VPN crackdown

The new campaign to stamp out ‘unauthorised’ providers is not expected to target individuals directly but could have big implications for companies based on the mainland

 

How long will the crackdown last?

 

The crackdown campaign has a time frame from now until the end of March, 2018. This does not mean it will stop after that date. It’s thought that during this time, VPN providers in China will either reapply for approval or simply close shop.

At the same time, authorities will keep a close eye on how the rule is carried out. After March 31, 2018 certain penalties may kick in and the campaign will most likely continue with updated policies.

 

 

[Randy W]

This article makes a point that I've been making - it's easier than you'd think to BLOCK VPN's. But I expect that to "scour internet traffic for connections with telltale encryption protocols" isn't very fruitful, since a good protocol will be difficult to impossible to detect. What CAN be detected, however, is the VOLUME of traffic directed to a particular IP address

 

 

 

China’s Internet Underground Fights for Its Life

The government wants to shut down private operators that offer access to Facebook, YouTube, and other services.

 

There are two principal ways to sniff out and block VPN services. The first is to sign up for a provider, check the IP address used, then order telecommunications providers to block it. The second is to scour internet traffic for connections with telltale encryption protocols.

 

 

 

 

The Chinese government employs thousands of specialists to find ways to thwart VPN software. It’s begun compelling China Telecom Corp. and other state-controlled carriers to block any unauthorized VPN traffic they detect, even when those connections visit approved sites such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.’s huge online mall Taobao. “It’s a novel technique, and it’s an example of them trying to degrade experience on a VPN so you’re less likely to use it,” says Harold Li, a vice president at ExpressVPN, which is officially based in the British Virgin Islands.

 

[Randy W]

Nothing especially NEW here, but I think it pretty well summarizes what we can expect to continue for at least 10 more years . . .

 

In the http://cdn.nybooks.com/wp-content/themes/nyrb/img/icon/NYRB.png

 

 

The Brands That Kowtow to China

 

One of these trends is China’s increasingly aggressive effort to control the public discourse about itself, not only in China itself but in other countries as well. The second is the evident willingness, even the eagerness, of major corporations doing business in China to accede to Beijing’s demands.

 

 

[amberjack1234]

Gotta protect those glass hearts you know.

[Randy W]

By way of JUSTIFYING the Great Firewall - in the Global Times

 

Governments worldwide explore internet management

 

Terror groups are also using social media platforms to spread their propaganda, recruit members and gather intelligence.

That's why governments worldwide have been trying to enhance their regulations over social media during the latter's emergence. In France, for instance, one could face penalties of up to one year in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros ($55,500) for publishing illegal content on social media.

But what should be the standard of social media regulation? The world has not reached a consensus. In the meantime, the Western world won't miss any opportunity to defame China over the issue, saying Beijing's management over the Internet is strangling privacy and human rights.

If there is anything we can learn from the latest Facebook's data privacy scandal, it is that major tech companies are information monopolies and they are powerful. Without proper supervision and management from the government, they will simply take their customers' privacy as no big deal.

Loopholes in internet regulation have exposed users to greater risks from extreme groups and privacy abuse by big corporations. Both are calling on the government to strengthen management.

When people's freedom and data are abused on the internet, there could be no privacy or safety. Quite a few nations have adopted relevant rules and laws to take online rumors, business fraud and violence under control.

The good news is the world is on the same page over this: when security is at risk, regulative steps from the government are needed.

 

[Randy W]

in the Global Times

 

Chinese companies launch huge branding campaign on overseas social media

Entrepreneurs call for government to open 'green channel' to freely access foreign websites

The yellow OFO bicycles, a popular Chinese bike-sharing company, appeared to be a perfect match for the city's fashionable atmosphere. Through OFO's cooperation with fashion bloggers, their strategy paid off.

Lü Yiheng with the global branding department at OFO told the Global Times that they did background checks on the fashion bloggers beforehand to make sure that they had not previously said anything inappropriate about China or expressed anti-Chinese sentiment.

Since 2017, OFO has tapped into 20 foreign countries to successfully attract a large number of young followers. To engage foreign millennials, OFO relies heavily on social media platforms.

OFO is not the only company to do so. Despite a wave of Chinese brands that have been taking over the NASDAQ screen in New York's Times Square, many companies like OFO resort to new tools in their attempt at overseas brand marketing.

Chinese technology giant Huawei sponsored several Instagram celebrities to promote the photo functions of its mobile phones. One Instagram influencer, Joe Greer, has 440,000 followers, to whom he posted photos of a Huawei phone, jiemian.com reported.

Cao Qing, managing director of China Outbound Practice at Ogilvy, told the Global Times that in the past, the role of Chinese companies was simple as they were merely processors for foreign brands. "Now with the upgrade of China's manufacturing capability and the rise of the worldwide middle-class, Chinese companies are better positioned to tell their brand stories, but the challenge is how to do that," he said.

 

 

[Randy W]

In the SCMP - just to show that we foreigners aren't the only targets -

 

China removes four news apps from smartphone stores to tighten control

China has shut down more than 13,000 websites in the last three years as Beijing sought to tighten its grip on the internet.

 

 

China has been tightening its control of the internet, clamping down on content deemed inappropriate. China’s top media watchdog, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film, and Television, last week singled out Jinri Toutiao and short video app Kuaishou for disregarding regulations and “disrupting order” in the online media and entertainment industry last week. Kuaishou has since said it will add another 3,000 employees to police content.

 

[Randy W]

Tying right in with that is this from the Shanghaiist

 

Zuckerberg praised by Chinese netizens for surprising answer to senator’s question on China

 

 

Sullivan: “Mr. Zuckerberg, quite a story, right? Dorm room to the global behemoth that you guys are. Only in America, would you agree with that?”

Zuckerberg: “Senator, mostly in America.”

Sullivan: “You couldn’t — you couldn’t do this in China, right? Or, what you did in 10 years.”

Zuckerberg: “Well — well, Senator, there are — there are some very strong Chinese internet companies.”

Sullivan: “Right but — you’re supposed to answer ‘yes’ to this question. OK, come on, I’m trying to help you, right? I mean, give me a break. You’re in front of a bunch of… the answer is ‘yes,’ OK, so thank you."

 

 

 

 

[Randy W]

Hey, they're SERIOUS about NOT calling these things with their own governments, constitutions, passports and visas, laws, and monetary systems COUNTRIES! In the SCMP

 

US, China in fresh row as Beijing tells foreign airlines they will be punished for failing to respect territorial claims, report says

Government says it will use new social credit regulation to hit back at carriers that refer to Taiwan, Hong Kong or Macau as independent territories

 

Sow Keat Tok, an international relations professor at the University of Melbourne in Australia, said the warning from the aviation administration was simply the latest effort by Beijing to impose “soft sanctions” on foreign companies in line with its rising economic power.

“[President] Xi Jinping has been building up expectations over the past five or six years, so China has to show it is a big power, with a big say in world affairs, and can defend its interests,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wang Yi-kai, a Taiwanese social activist, who launched the satirical “Apologise to China” contest on Facebook in 2016, said that amid rising nationalist sentiment, even those foreign companies that abided with Beijing’s one-China policy would find themselves being reprimanded for some other misdemeanour.

“China is like a crying baby that is demanding sweets,” he said. “You can’t just keep giving in without explaining what is right and what is wrong, otherwise it will only cry louder in the future.”

 

 

[Randy W]

. . . and don't forget the Japanese companies!

 

 

Muji Fined Over $30,000 for Calling Taiwan a Country

 

The Shanghai Administration for Industry & Commerce fined the local arm of Japanese retailer Muji 200,000 yuan ($31,000) for labeling Taiwan as a country on some products, a state newspaper confirmed Wednesday on Weibo.

In August 2017, the company had been found to sell hangers that said “Country of origin: Taiwan” in Chinese characters. Such conduct contravened China’s advertising law, the notice said, as it is “detrimental to the country’s dignity or interests.”

The National Administration of Surveying, Mapping, and Geoinformation had also called out Muji in January for maps that left out disputed territories like the South China Sea islands. (Image: VCG)

 

[Randy W]

. . . the clock is still ticking for the airlines! It seems simple enough to list it as "Taiwan, China". I believe that "Hong Kong, SAR" is "acceptable".

 

Mainland Chinese media names and shames foreign airlines that refuse to comply with ‘Orwellian’ Taiwan demands

State-run newspaper posts ‘black hoarding’ of carriers that have yet to list the self-ruled island as part of China on their websites

 

Media reports said those companies had been given 30 days to comply, adding that those who failed to acknowledge the one-China principle may be subjected to closer administrative scrutiny or even given demerits on their credit records.

 

As the reported deadline of May 25 approached, Global Times made a “red hoarding”, listing 23 airlines that have made the change as requested, and a “black hoarding” with 15 airlines that have yet to comply.

It identified several US airlines, including United and Delta, as well as the Australian carrier Qantas, as being among those that had not yet made the change.

The American Airlines website was criticised for not listing airports in Taiwan as belonging to China and not identifying Hong Kong and Macau as part of the country.

 

 

[Randy W]

This article provides a fairly thorough (and, in my opinion, accurate) discussion of the use of VPN's in China.

 

FAR too many expats use language like "<__fill in the blank__> is 'illegal' in China. They just don't enforce it." when in fact, they just don't have a CLUE.

 

Is it Legal to Use a VPN in China?

 

Conclusion | Is it Legal to use a VPN in China?

So…is it legal to use a VPN in China? It’s a gray area. As a foreigner, you’re not going to get in big trouble using a VPN. You just might have a lot of annoyances in life because they’re going to make it hard for you to do so.

One thing I will say here that is important to note: just as China makes life hard for people who use VPNs, they also make it hard for VPNs to do business in China. That’s why it’s incredibly important to use a VPN that has dedicated resources to out-maneuvering China’s internet censors. As mentioned above, I’ve found a lot of success using ExpressVPN (use this link to get 3 months of FREE service) as well as NordVPN (use this link to get 3 years of service for the price of 1), but there are a number of great VPNs for China that might work better where you’ll be visiting or living.

 

[Randy W]

A VERY interesting article(but a little lengthy) in the UK Guardian about China's Internet history

The long read

The great firewall of China: Xi Jinping’s internet shutdown

Before Xi Jinping, the internet was becoming a more vibrant political space for Chinese citizens. But today the country has the largest and most sophisticated online censorship operation in the world.

By Elizabeth C Economy

 

The very first email in China was sent in September 1987 – 16 years after Ray Tomlinson sent the first email in the US. It broadcast a triumphal message: “Across the Great Wall we can reach every corner in the world.” For the first few years, the government reserved the internet for academics and officials. Then, in 1995, it was opened to the general public. In 1996, although only about 150,000 Chinese people were connected to the internet, the government deemed it the “Year of the Internet”, and internet clubs and cafes appeared all over China’s largest cities.

. . .

China’s leaders were right to be worried. Their citizens quickly realised the political potential inherent in the internet. In 1998, a 30-year-old software engineer called Lin Hai forwarded 30,000 Chinese email addresses to a US-based pro-democracy magazine. Lin was arrested, tried and ultimately sent to prison in the country’s first known trial for a political violation committed completely online. The following year, the spiritual organisation Falun Gong used email and mobile phones to organise a silent demonstration of more than 10,000 followers around the Communist party’s central compound, Zhongnanhai, to protest their inability to practise freely. The gathering, which had been arranged without the knowledge of the government, precipitated an ongoing persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and a new determination to exercise control over the internet.

. . .

The advent of Xi Jinping in 2012 brought a new determination to move beyond deleting posts and passing regulations. Beijing wanted to ensure that internet content more actively served the interests of the Communist party. Within the virtual world, as in the real world, the party moved to silence dissenting voices, to mobilise party members in support of its values, and to prevent foreign ideas from seeping into Chinese political and social life. In a leaked speech in August 2013, Xi articulated a dark vision: “The internet has become the main battlefield for the public opinion struggle.”

. . .

In spring 2015, Beijing launched the Great Cannon. Unlike the Great Firewall, which has the capacity to block traffic as it enters or exits China, the Great Cannon is able to adjust and replace content as it travels around the internet. One of its first targets was the US coding and software development site GitHub. The Chinese government used the Great Cannon to levy a distributed denial of service attack against the site, overwhelming it with traffic redirected from Baidu (a search engine similar to Google). The attack focused on attempting to force GitHub to remove pages linked to the Chinese-language edition of the New York Times and GreatFire.org, a popular VPN that helps people circumvent Chinese internet censorship.

[Randy W]

from the SCMP

 

Seems reasonable, as long as it's actually a SEPARATE (from REAL Google) search engine. Perhaps Zuckerberg could screw his head on right and do something similar, although it might be more difficult for him - I don't see a need for a separate Chinese Facebook.

 

Google could give Baidu a serious run for its money in China

Speculation on the US internet giant’s return has centred on its reported development of mobile search and news aggregation apps designed to meet China’s strict censorship laws

 

 

US-based Google has been developing a censored mobile search app that would comply with Chinese regulations, though whether that would be rolled out still depends on approval from the government, a person familiar with the plans told the South China Morning Post. The plan for a search app was first reported by The Intercept, while The Information reported Google also had plans for a news-aggregation app for China.

 

“Baidu could lose significant search traffic and sales share if Google returns to China in six to nine months,” wrote Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Ling Vey-sern in a research note.

Google had some 14 per cent of China’s search traffic and 33 per cent revenue share before the company’s exit from the market in 2010, according to the note. Baidu’s search engine had 79 per cent of traffic and 63 per cent of search-related sales at that time.