China: Xiamen PX project fears resurface

UPDATE: Xinhua news agency covers the story, reprinted here in the China Daily, leading with the call for citizens’ opinions and suggestions during the 10-day public consultation period.

The Xiamen authorities put the potentially dangerous chemical project, known as the PX (paraxylene) plant in the city’s Haicang District, 16 kilometers from the city center, on hold on May 30 after coming under immense pressure from citizens virulently opposed to the project.

This is interesting, that Xinhua is referring to the plant as “potentially dangerous”. Could it be that someone in central government has taken against the project, because they don’t want a repeat of the Songhua River fiasco?

China: Pulling the plug on the Internet

FURTHER UPDATE: Authorities in major cities across China have moved to close down large swathes of the Internet, targeting “interactive” sites ahead of the Communist Party congress in mid-October, according to netizens, government Web sites, and service providers.Participatory Web sites, forums, and blogging platforms came under strict new rules last week. But in an unprecedented move, the authorities have begun switching off entire Internet data centers (IDCs), which are home to thousands of servers.This means that if one site doesn’t meet government approval, because it contains pornography or politically sensitive material, all are taken offline.

Panel discussion on press freedom and the Internet in China

Yin-Ting Mak: The Internet plays a large role in compelling the traditional media to change. Traditional media will feel the pressure if it fails to report what the Internet has reported. People won’t read newspapers and magazines if they do not report what the Internet has reported. 

Cao Changqing: Newspapers have to cater to their readers, who are their “gods.” They will not select newspapers that do not report the truth. 

Liu Xiaobo: As the online media has become increasingly free of restrictions, traditional media has realized that, even if it does not report or get involved in something, the online media will. As a result, it has been using the strategy of “touching the outer edge of the penalty area” in news reporting. 

Yin-Ting Mak is the former chairperson of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, Cao Changqing is the former deputy editor-in-chief of Shenzhen Youth News, and Liu Xiaobo is a writer and freelancer.

Video: Xiamen protest over chemical plant

This video was sent to RFA’s Cantonese service by a participant.

Residents of Xiamen city in the southeastern Chinese province of Fujian marched to the municipal government offices Friday to protest against a PX (related to benzene) chemical plant which is planned for the area. Carrying banners which read “Protect Xiamen’s environment” and shouting “Protect our homes!”, “Protect Xiamen!”, they also called for the resignation of the city’s mayor.