Comments for China Law & Policy

Comment on The Wukan Protests –Because Something Is Happening Here But You Don’t Know What It Is by Follow Up on the Wukan Protests - A Constitutional Challenge? | China Law & Policy

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:10:07 +0000

[...] the beginning of January, we posted a piece on the recent protests in Wukan, admitting that while there was something happening in Wukan, we at [...]

Comment on Movie Review: Zhao Liang’s “Petition: The Court of Complaints” by chinaworker.info

chinaworker.info — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:03:11 +0000

The petition system is originated from Xia Dynasty(4000 years ago) based on Chinese history book. Now the marble pillar (huabiao) a national logo of China, was originally made by wood. If people want to complain or appeal to the King, they can post/carve their demand o this pillar. The King and his officials will go there to see peoples’ demands.This is the earliest petition system

Comment on 恭喜发财！Enter Year of the Dragon! by ofra

ofra — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:09:33 +0000

what my element and what is the element of monky horse and boar?

Comment on Book Review: Nien Cheng – Life & Death in Shanghai by richard

richard — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:11:42 +0000

I just found this book a week ago and am nearing the end, wow… her strength and conviction against such hostility is incredible. The cold, the deprivations, the terrible diet and general onslaught of interroagtion and struggle meetings, the handcuff torture. I shall never complain in my lifetime again.

I disagree with one point you make, from my reading she kept those servants on because she cared and loved for them, she in fact gave them serious sums of money to help tide them over after the Red Guards had raided.

Also, we know fine well the limited and receding acknowledgement that period in history will achieve.

I fell in love with the woman within a hundred pages.

Its good you posted re her story, xiexie.

Comment on Just For Fun: Movie Review – Mao’s Last Dancer by Shannon

Shannon — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:34:13 +0000

I am glad to see the comments above. This review was very odd. I, too, saw all of the moments that led up to his defection. The most obvious to me was the night of the first performance. He had 3 hours to prepare. Because of his passion, he was able to do so. Upon entering the stage, he paused, reflecting on his life in China. It was very apparent that he knew he was stepping outside of his allowable boundaries by doing this dance and that he was greatly considering the choice and consequences that would follow. By taking main stage as a student, he would certainly not be allowed to stay or return. After his life flashed before his eyes, he danced. That was great directing and great acting.

As for the notion that he did not get close to anyone, he did, that is why he had 2 friends, his wife, the director and an attorney at his side when he was taken. These people had his back not because of his dancing, but because of his character.

The remark that there was much melodrama when the parents were watching him dance for the first time was just (and I apologize for the harshness of this) stupid. A mother and father that have not seen their child in however many years see him celebrated and performing and the scene is tagged melodramatic? Really? I think it was underplayed. I would be emotionally out of control with joy if that were me. Also, the remark that she is too beautiful to play the role. That’s just disrespectful. This was based on an autobiography. How do most people consider their mothers? Ugly? Unattractive? He saw a beauty in her that all children see in their mothers and it was cast perfectly.

I agree with Kyle, this review should be deleted. It is completely inaccurate. This was an amazing piece of work, filled with artistic touches that made it what a movie should be: a masterpiece.

Comment on The Wukan Protests –Because Something Is Happening Here But You Don’t Know What It Is by The New Adventures of Horatio Bootblack » Blog Archive » The 3 C’s: China, Coal and Climate Change

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:48:49 +0000

[...] a lengthy stand-off with Chinese officials by local activists. The China Law and Policy blog has a really interesting write-up on the details and significance of these movements here, and what they mean in a larger context for [...]

Comment on Just For Fun: Movie Review – Mao’s Last Dancer by Kyle

Kyle — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:47:57 +0000

This review should be deleted. The movie is wonderful whatever you did not understand, so what, you did not but we did. Wonderful movie, wonderful actors, wonderful story, real life story, just fantastic (no pun intended). Down with communism, down with dictatorships, God Save America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment on The Wukan Protests –Because Something Is Happening Here But You Don’t Know What It Is by China Readings for January 3rd | Sinocism

China Readings for January 3rd | Sinocism — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:11:42 +0000

[...] The Wukan Protests – Because Something Is Happening Here But You Don’t Know What It Is |… – The tale of Wukan village is not an uncommon one in China. Rural farmland is constantly taken by corrupt village officials for real estate development and the villagers – the owners of the land through the collective – receive little to any compensation. For certain Wukan’s story is a little different from other run-of-the-mill land taking protests: the length of the protests (close to three months), the unity of the group (close to 20,000 villagers), the complete expulsion of the Chinese government from the village, the death of a protest representative in police custody, and the attention from the western media distinguishes Wukan from other taking protests. [...]

Comment on Book Review: Frank Dikötter’s Mao’s Great Famine by Simon

Simon — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:12:19 +0000

I’m glad you raised the Chang & Halliday question. I too found myself uneasy with this – for the reasons you give and more.

I’d argue that their Mao book was criticised far more widely that just by a few academics. I read at least half a dozen critiques uncomfortable with often hugely contradictory passages (sometimes sitting next to each other), unsourced quotes and a style and tone that seemed clouded and determined by an angry dislike of the subject that overwhelmed the required objectivity. I’d not recommend it to anyone as a starter on Mao, and even less as an academic or serious work on his life.

Comment on This is Not Your Daddy’s China – Or Is It? by michael zakkour

michael zakkour — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:57:35 +0000

Great article Elizabeth. As always in-depth and thorough. The genius of the internal firewall is the very vagueness that leads people to self censor. Much needed when you have 450 million users.