China ain't free. I don't speak the language, and I've only lived here a month so far, so I don't pretend to be an expert.
But...you don't really notice that walking down the street, going to work, interacting with the locals, or doing any other sort of mundane day-to-day thing.
The one place where you do notice that is when you want to use the internet. Use of the internet is strictly monitored, especially if, like me, you don't have a PC in your home and you're forced to go to the local PC room.
If you're a foreigner, they scan your passport and your local ID before giving you a chair. The natives just have their ID card scanned. But it doesn't stop there. According to this article, there are thousands of Chinese net police monitoring what Chinese citizens (and guests) write, look at, and read online.
That wasn't really news to me, I knew it before I came here, and hell post 9/11 the US government has been doing the same thing. But there's something about watching your passport scanned everytime you want to check your email that really drives home the point.
But, since I've always enjoyed lackadaisically giving the finger to authority, and since being expelled from this country honestly wouldn't upset me that much (I'm not planning on staying too much longer), I figure why not post some keywords the Chinese net-police really hate to see crop up?
Falun Gong!
Taiwan Independance!
Earthquake Mishandling!
Poor Communist Fashion Sense!
Who Drinks Milk Powder in the First Place?!
Forks Are Better!
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