The Chinese government on June 20 told Chinese internet service providers that "The basic principles of self-discipline for the Internet industry are patriotism, observance of the law, fairness and trustworthiness. [Chinese internet firms must promise not to spread information] threatening the national security, social stability or containing superstitious or erotic content."
Of course China is a brutal dictatorship, we all know that, but still one has to wonder what they've got against "superstitious or erotic content." They're so interested in avoiding overpopulation, so you'd think they'd want to encourage pornography. If men and women waste their time on online phantasms, they're not spending that time procreating with each other.
And what would the internet be without superstition? Much more boring, that's what it would be.
But the internet isn't the only media where China's trying to regulate social behavior. Back in May the Shanghai Administration of Culture, Radio, Film and Television passed a rule that forbids TV personalities from having colorful hairdos, wearing clothing that's over-fashionable, exposing, or queer, as well as the use of English words and accents from Taiwan or Hong Kong.
Xu Caihua, an official at that agency, claimed the rule was meant "to reduce the negative impact of queer dressing and behavior on youngsters." They're doing it for the children! How thoughtful of them.
China not only protects its children from colorful hairdos and queer behavior, but it also helps protect Zimbabwe's children. China recently sold 12 fighter jets and 100 military vehicles, worth $200 million, to Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has inflation at more than 400%, unemployment at about 70% and millions of people surviving on foreign food aid. But it needs those fighters jets.
A spokesman for the Zimbabwean opposition is not so sure. "We believe this is a kind of intimidatory tactic because we are going towards very crucial elections next year. The idea is that whatever the public does, there is a possibility of it being subverted by the military," said Giles Mutsekwa about the military purchase.
