The Blog

While China Sleeps

11:11 AM, Mar 13, 2007 • By MICHAEL GOLDFARB
Single Page Print Larger Text Smaller Text Alerts

Tim Johnson, the China correspondent for McClatchy Newspapers, posted this picture yesterday on his blog China Rises. Johnson says,

the photo was taken here in Beijing last week at the National People's Congress. And it didn't get published much for obvious reasons. . . . My office assistant found three postings on websites making reference to "sleepy legislators" and censors had blocked all of them. When she used special software to get through the Great Firewall, this is what one internet user had posted: "Why did they fall asleep? Because people on stage just talk and talk empty stuff. . . . The delegates are only there to praise and praise what the speakers say."

According to Xinhua, delegates no longer "praise and praise" what the speakers say, rather "In recent years, however, changes have taken place . . . Praises are now coupled with suggestions and criticisms." I'm sure as soon as the delegates woke up they suggested rubber-stamping the legislation before them and criticizing the United States.

sleepydelegates.jpg

More by Michael Goldfarb