I wonder if there was a time in China when true freedom really existed? The freedom of movement, of information and speech, the freedom to hold your own opinion and not worry about upsetting those in authority.
Sitting on the marvellous
new fast train from Suzhou – Beijing. Whizzing me at
goodness-knows-how-many-km/h to Beijing, I think about what developments have
happened in China since I lived here. In only 3 years big changes have
occurred. This fantastic train being one of them. The rapid rate of development
in China is astonishing. There is so much more freedom in today’s China than
there was even 10-15 years ago. There is freedom for the Chinese to move around
their own country, which 60 years ago was impossible. Freedom to start
businesses, make their own money and better themselves and their families.
They can travel
abroad, although this is still not as easy as for most of the rest of the
world. But their opinions and ideas remain hidden unless they are in line with
the government. To criticise openly is still dangerous. To remember the myriad
events throughout history that the government view as embarrassments and
therefore refuse to accept happened, is unacceptable. There are still many
people who are monitored and even kept under house arrest. Mothers who lost
children during the Tian-anmen massacre are not allowed to campaign for justice
or a final resting place for their children.
The government fears
losing control. A control it has held over it’s people for decades. It fears
outside information. It fears the truth. Tian’anmen, Chairman Mao, the Cultural
Revolution, the great leap forward. These things are not taught in schools. Taiwan
and Tibet are taboo subjects, and the governement wants to keep track of your
every movement within the country.
As someone from a
country that cherishes freedom of speech, ideas, opinions and information
visiting China is difficult. It’s completely baffling. The lockdown of the
internet happened in 2009, while I was still living there. Beginning in June, on the
20th anniversary of Tian-anmen. Youtube was one of the first to be
blocked. As you can imagine, it’s difficult to maintain that something didn’t
happen when there is video evidence online. Facebook soon followed and during
my re-visit I could basically only use my email and the BBC.
Why don’t Chinese
people question why the internet is so heavily censored? Why they can’t read
any news from outside China? Why are there certain words that won’t type into
google or skype? And yet, the younger generation, have found ways around the
rules. Those who’ve visited foreign lands and who’ve made foreign friends. My
generation and those who follow are beginning to see though the façade. They
look outside their own town, city and even country. Will they be the ones to
change China? That remains to be seen I suppose, and for now, if you’re
visiting China make sure you download a VPN onto your computer or Phone to
bypass the Great Firewall.