Unlike in other states where the focus is on banning discourse on human rights or calls for democratization, Chinese censorship seeks to suppress any messages that receive too much grassroots support, even if they’re apolitical—or even complimentary to the authorities. For example, what seemed like positive news of an environmental activist who built a mass movement to ban plastic bags was harshly censored, even though the activist started out with support from local government officials. In a truly “harmonious society,” only the central government in Beijing should have the power to inspire
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