From the Guardian this morning, an excellent article about the imprisonment, by the Chinese government, of three editors of the Southern Metropolitan Daily. In late 2002 the newspaper published a number of investigative reports that exposed corruption, mismanagement and cover-up by Chinese government officials in their handling of the Sars epidemic. The Daily's investigative work resulted in policy changes and the dismissal of central and regional government officials. While it is always laudable to challenge one party rule, it is not often wise to do so. The newspapermen found this out when Communist Party leaders arrested them on clearly contrived charges. If their sentences hold, the editors will spend the next 11 or 12 years contemplating free speech restrictions under one party rule.
Now, why would the people of Taiwan ever link their sovereignty to the mainland?
Posted by publius at April 16, 2004 12:54 PM