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Chinese Blogger Becomes Celebrity Exposing Corruption

Posted by samzenpus on from the you-can't-handle-the-truth dept.

hackingbear writes "The New York Times reports the story of a Chinese blogger named Zhu Ruifeng who has become an overnight celebrity in China. He posted a secretly recorded video of an 18-year-old woman having sex with a 57-year-old official from the southwestern municipality of Chongqing. The official, along with 10 others, lost their jobs and are now under investigation. Mr. Zhu says ordinary citizens have come to rely on the Internet for retribution, even if it often amounts to mob justice. 'We used to say that when you have a problem, go to the police,' he said. 'Now we say when you have a problem, go to the netizens.' He has become a litmus test of how committed China's new leaders are in their battle against corruption — and whether they can tolerate populist crusaders like Mr. Zhu."

143 comments

  1. you won't ever hear what happens by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    to the blogger, though... some day (soon if he keeps it up), he'll simply "disappear".....

  2. Link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    So where's the link to the video in question?

    1. Re:Link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      At least his blog address was in the article (jdwsy.com). If someone here understands Chinese, maybe the video could be found.

    2. Re:Link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Google understands Chinese

    3. Re:Link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S86ZmqWLJeE

    4. Re:Link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So where's the link to the video in question?

      here

      well pictures atleast. I do not recommend you watch them.

    5. Re:Link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Some things are better left to imagination:

      http://jdwsy.com/article/html/8251.html

  3. He's not a hero, by Tablizer · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...he just wanted some porn. Exposing corruption was an accident :-)

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
    1. Re:He's not a hero, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, I RTFA and I didn't see any corruption specified. It is presented as though it is a known fact. What does the sex have to do with the corruption? It is just mentioned to be salacious. Shouldn't I (or anyone) be able to have sex with whoever they want? The article more or less says that ugly people can't have sex. It shouldn't matter that someone works for the government.

    2. Re:He's not a hero, by c0lo · · Score: 4, Informative
      Either you are pretending that you RTFA or you you have a deficit in the reading comprehension area

      The compromising images of Lei Zhengfu, the Chongqing official caught having sex with the 18-year-old, have been an anti-graft jackpot for Mr. Zhu: 11 officials have resigned or been fired for their role in what was a honey trap organized by business executives seeking to blackmail powerful bureaucrats to win government contracts. The scheme ultimately failed, but the tapes ended up in the hands of the Chongqing police. After investigators failed to act, Mr. Zhu says, a disgruntled person inside the department sent the evidence his way.

      So, let's count:
      1. successful bribery - (otherwise why 11 resignations/sacking after the tapes containing the sex scene ended at the Chongqing police?)
      2. blackmail attempt (even if the blackmail scheme failed)
      3. police failing to act

      To my count, that's at least 3 cases I'd classify as corruption

      --
      Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
    3. Re:He's not a hero, by Iamthecheese · · Score: 1

      So your argument is, they act guilty therefore they're guilty? There's no evidence here and any presumption of guilt is wrong.

      --
      If video games influenced behavior the Pac Man generation would be eating pills and running away from their problems.
    4. Re:He's not a hero, by c0lo · · Score: 1

      So your argument is, they act guilty therefore they're guilty?

      No, that's not what I argued.

      There's no evidence here and any presumption of guilt is wrong.

      You are correct in what you say... too pity is irrelevant. And it's irrelevant because at no point I implied anything about guilt.

      To make clear the terminology: what I saw and pointed out in TFA is evidence of corruption (enough to make allegations of corruption) but not proof of corruption (which is, indeed, required to establish the guilt)... I trust you will be able to perceive the difference.

      To put the things better, I was answering to a claim that TFA doesn't contain any reference to corruption.

      Well, I RTFA and I didn't see any corruption specified.

      I hope that my previous post do provide a proof on the contrary (i.e. the article contains at least allegations of corruption). Other than this, there are no other things which I wanted said in or understood from my post. Are we clear now?

      --
      Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
    5. Re:He's not a hero, by PPH · · Score: 2

      what was a honey trap organized by business executives seeking to blackmail powerful bureaucrats to win government contracts. The scheme ultimately failed, but the tapes ended up in the hands of the Chongqing police. After investigators failed to act, Mr. Zhu says, a disgruntled person inside the department sent the evidence his way.

      Sounds like the businessmen provided some official with an 18 year old, recorded the encounter and tried to blackmail him. But he didn't give in to their demands, so they gave the tapes to the police. "Look, we got this guy laid but he didn't come through with the contracts".

      The businessmen need to be arrested. Maybe a few of the government officials needed to resign if they took the bait. But if the blackmail scheme "failed", I'd give the official involved a medal. He got laid and didn't sell out. The fact that none of the businessmen were rounded up in this fiasco sounds like the police were complicit in the blackmail scheme.

      Heck, send as many 18 yo girls as you want to my house. You're not getting any preferential treatment. The only people leaving satisfied will be me and the women.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    6. Re:He's not a hero, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, this is what I was trying to say, but you said it much better. The government officials were the victims of blackmail but because of the videos they are instantly considered to be bad. The bad guys are the ones that are doing the blackmailing. This blogger is acting like a politician by saying he is fighting corruption, etc. but really just taking any sleaze to become famous without addressing the real problem.

    7. Re:He's not a hero, by DigiShaman · · Score: 1

      Typically what happens is that the 18 yo girl is asking for preferential treatment or a fast-track toward the ascension of political power (top university, or to protect her parents from the officials). Whoring herself out to a corrupt official is a good way of doing that.

      Basically, everyone is involved in corruption. You falsely assume that someone here is innocent. I have my doubts. When shit hits the fan in China, it's bad guys throwing each other under the bus. Last man standing wins.

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
    8. Re:He's not a hero, by steveg · · Score: 1

      According to the youtube link someone above provided, the businessmen *were* arrested and spent a year in jail. The 18-year-old was arrested and spent a month in jail. The official (who willingly accepted the bribe and *did* come across with the contracts) didn't suffer any problems. Until now, of course.

      And yes, he did sell out to the bribe, he just wasn't willing to be blackmailed. I suppose that's *some* level of integrity, but maybe more one of power.

      All this is from a english-language video, not from China. I don't speak Chinese, so I'm not speaking from original sources. But it does seem to correlate with TFA.

      --
      Ignorance killed the cat. Curiosity was framed.
  4. Stay low by kcelery · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As a whistle blower, keeping his head low is mandatory in China.

    The guy who reported the milk factory misuse of melamine was murdered.
    Rumor said there was a bounty of 1/2 million RMB on his life.

    http://ntdtv.org/en/news/china/2012-11-23/china-s-toxic-milk-whistleblower-murdered.html

    1. Re:Stay low by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's what she said!!!!!

    2. Re:Stay low by Calibax · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Almost certainly the guy who posed the video is being used by someone who passed him the tape.

      The real whistle blower is probably a higher level functionary who wanted the tape released to discredit a political enemy and able to protect this guy, for now. How long the poster will continue to be protected is anyone's guess.

    3. Re:Stay low by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Note that NTD is founded by the Falun Gong and biased.

      This South China Morning Post (Hong Kong) report makes the attack sound more complicated, with his wife being charged, though also with reports that others were present.

      Though obviously that could all be a cover-up, and I don't trust what the cops in China say..

    4. Re:Stay low by HolyMackerelBatman! · · Score: 1

      How very cynical of you. However I'm inclined to agree.

    5. Re:Stay low by Infiniti2000 · · Score: 1

      Rumor said there was a bounty of 1/2 million RMB on his life.

      So, about US$35.00?

    6. Re:Stay low by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Closer to $80,000.

  5. how will they stop recording. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The police and other corrupt officials are quickly assimilating to live video recordings and the like. I wish I knew more on how they will deal with this particular issue ? Does any fellow LEO have any advise they can give ?

  6. Balls by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    this guy's got 'em

    1. Re:Balls by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 3, Insightful

      But for how long?

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  7. But how long will this last? by Calibax · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The newly minted Standing Committee of the Politburu (the 9 folks who rule China) have made it clear that corruption is a major issue. However, previous Standing Committees have said the same and even started efforts to tackle it. These efforts haven't lasted long enough to make a small dent in the problem, never mind eradicate it.

    The problem is that all levels of politicians and bureaucrats benefit greatly from corruption. Lower level bureaucrats want to become rich, higher level bureaucrats and they have no reason to rock the boat for themselves or their bureaucratic and political superiors.

    I wonder how long these sorts of grass roots efforts will be tolerated. China has repeatedly shown that they can bury anything on their portion of the internet given sufficient incentive.

    1. Re:But how long will this last? by smegfault · · Score: 1

      The newly minted Standing Committee of the Politburu (the 9 folks who rule China) have made it clear that corruption is a major issue. However, previous Standing Committees have said the same and even started efforts to tackle it. These efforts haven't lasted long enough to make a small dent in the problem, never mind eradicate it.

      It's the same old solution. Denounce, deport, change nothing. Wash, rinse, repeat.

    2. Re:But how long will this last? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 4, Informative

      The newly minted Standing Committee of the Politburu (the 9 folks who rule China) have made it clear that corruption is a major issue.

      When Xi Jinping spoke out about corruption, in the very next breath he emphasized that "stability" was more important. That is understood by Chinese people to mean nothing much will be done. In the previous administration, many people looked at the premier, Wei Jiabao, as a champion of integrity, and it was a big shock to a lot of Chinese when the NY Times exposed his billions in overseas accounts. Xi Jinping's response to Wei Jiabao's corruption is not to hold him accountable, but rather to try to block the Chinese people from reading the NY times. The culture of corruption and impunity goes all the way to the top.

      Most "anti-corruption" drives in China are used to scapegoat political enemies, and even execute a few people (kill the chicken to scare the monkey). But there is rarely any reform to the system that made the corruption possible. For instance, when thousands of people died in the Sichuan Earthquake because building inspectors had been bribed, a few people were shot. But the real solution (making building inspection reports into public records freely accessible to anyone with a browser) did not happen.

    3. Re:But how long will this last? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      American corruption can be pretty blatant and no one seems to care. And it's not like no one close to the White House ever died mysteriously. One can only wonder what goes on that we don't even know about.

    4. Re:But how long will this last? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      China has one political party. But in America there are two political parties who really dislike each other. Corruption in the other party would be shouted to every media outlet that would listen to them. In fact it is, whether it's there or not.

    5. Re:But how long will this last? by Smauler · · Score: 2

      Corruption, when done well, is almost impossible to detect.

      The thing is, it's so badly done and rife in China that there are lots of examples. This has happened to every society moving to a large scale capitalistic economy... it's a symptom of the system.

      I'm not saying the system is necessarily bad (in my opinion regulated capitalism is the best economic model we have), but when you start capitalism, it's difficult to regulate... and lots of people can gain lots of money and power. This has been seen time and time again. Russia is a decent example.

    6. Re:But how long will this last? by hairyfish · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The last Chinese revolution was only 40 years ago, the one before that was only 60 years ago. "Change nothing" is hardly the right phrase to use when talking about Chinese political history.

    7. Re:But how long will this last? by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      Corruption in local officials long predates the Communists.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    8. Re:But how long will this last? by RoknrolZombie · · Score: 1
      Unless both parties are have an understood agreement that neither party can lose as long as the public does. Kind of like professional wrestling - people get hurt and there's some pride on the line, but at the end of the day everyone is getting paid.

      That being said, we've seen a few politicians in the last year or two that seem to have woken up to the reality of awful the US Govt has become and are saying so. We can hope the trend continues.

    9. Re:But how long will this last? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Informative

      Corruption, when done well, is almost impossible to detect.

      Regulation, when done well, is almost impossible to corrupt. If you want to start a business in China, you will have to pay a bribe. I have started several business in the USA, and there is no where in the system for a bribe. The law says that the county clerk must issue the license. They have no discretion. When I lived in Shanghai, I had to pay a bribe so my kids could attend school. The rules are murky and unwritten, so the school staff has huge discretion of who can attend. In America the rules for admission are written down, clear, and publicly available. The system in China is designed to be corruptible, while the American system is designed to prevent it.

      In America, nearly all of my interaction with local, state and federal government is through websites. It is difficult to get an under-the-table bribe through a website. When I have to deal face-to-face, such as at the DMV, it is at a public window in full view of other people. When I have had to deal with government officials in China, they often will lead applicants one at a time into private offices, out of view of the public. The corruption is pervasive and systematic, and their procedures are designed to facilitate it.

       

    10. Re:But how long will this last? by hackingbear · · Score: 0

      Most "anti-corruption" drives in China are used to scapegoat political enemies

      Probably, but isn't that a form of balance of power? How's that different from two party election system? How do other democracies, like India, Philippine, Mexico, do in this regard? (Hint: they rank even lower than China's in the clean government index.)

      Stability is also important. As much as you and me would like to see the CCP fail, it will be tragic to the 1.6 billion people if civil wars break out, causing massive death and chaos. At this point, the CCP is also too big to fail just like our mega banks. The process has to be gradual. For example, Hong Kong was very corrupt back in 1960's; the HK government tried to crack down on corruption but met with resistance and chaos; eventually the HK government had to pardon all corrupted officials and police. Today, HK is one of the cleanest government in the world. The same thing happened in Taiwan and S. Korea. The same thing will need to happen in China too.

      Regarding the GP's comment, this round of effort is a little different than the past in its wide and deep coverage by both official media and the Internet. Like all of our problems in this world, when a problem hits the main street headline day and night, it is near the time of a solution.

      But I do have hope that this will be taken care of. It is a natural evolution of a developed economy, independent of what political party is in power. Taiwan/SK went in the same process when their economy became developed, China is near that stage. You need to trust the natural force.

    11. Re:But how long will this last? by phantomfive · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Probably, but isn't that a form of balance of power?

      A form of balance of power? Scape-goating political enemies and having them killed and exiled? The idea of balance of power is to separate the powers so that no group gains so much power that they can destroy their political enemies. It's the opposite of what you think it is.

      How's that different from two party election system?

      In a properly designed system, the party can be out of power without worrying about death or exile. Believe it or not, that's a huge difference.

      For example, Hong Kong was very corrupt back in 1960's; the HK government tried to crack down on corruption but met with resistance and chaos; eventually the HK government had to pardon all corrupted officials and police. Today, HK is one of the cleanest government in the world. The same thing happened in Taiwan and S. Korea.

      You do realize the ex-president of Taiwan is currently in jail for embezzlement, right? Your ability to gather accurate information isn't exactly showing itself today.....

      Like all of our problems in this world, when a problem hits the main street headline day and night, it is near the time of a solution.

      The hope is that eventually China will enter the modern world and have a modern democracy. Unfortunately, there are many problems that are constantly in the main street headline, and still haven't been resolved. I leave to you as an exercise to find some.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    12. Re:But how long will this last? by hackingbear · · Score: 1

      A form of balance of power can also mean different groups are watching over each other, regardless of motivation. If they can balance each other, that means no groups gain too much power.

      In a properly designed system, the party can be out of power without worrying about death or exile. Believe it or not, that's a huge difference.
      [...]
      You do realize the ex-president of Taiwan is currently in jail for embezzlement, right? Your ability to gather accurate information isn't exactly showing itself today.....

      The party out of power has to worry about going to jail. They would have to worry about death too if death sentence is allowed for corruption, as in China. And this ex-president started his act after Taiwan completed its transformation long time ago. Just like a corrupt official in HK today wouldn't be pardoned anymore. The reset button is hit once and hopefully only once.

      Unfortunately, there are many problems that are constantly in the main street headline, and still haven't been resolved. I leave to you as an exercise to find some.

      There are of course constant headlines, but the ones become really loud -- like airline safety at 9/11, pending collapse of economy in 2008, US debt in 2011 -- will be taken care of. (I should have emphasize the really loud part better.) They don't necessary be solved right the way but the various solutions are often created to at least make the problem much less dangerous.

    13. Re:But how long will this last? by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      A form of balance of power can also mean different groups are watching over each other, regardless of motivation. If they can balance each other, that means no groups gain too much power

      Feel free to define things however you want.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    14. Re:But how long will this last? by hackingbear · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Agree! No, there is no corruption in the US. There are only political contributions which is perfectly legal. And you only need to pay it when you need to change the law to your flavor. There is no political contribution in China, there is only corruption which could get you executed. That's the differences in the system designs. I actually think China will eventually go the US system -- election + political contributions. Not because it is good, but because it is more stable.

    15. Re:But how long will this last? by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 5, Interesting

      "One of the things I have always found troubling about Westerners doing business in emerging market countries is that they sometimes take an almost perverse pride in discussing payoffs to government officials. It is as though their having paid a bribe is a symbol of their international sophistication and insider knowledge. Yet, countless times when I am told of the bribe, I know the very same thing could almost certainly have been accomplished without a bribe."
      --Dan Harris, chinalawblog.com

      --
      Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    16. Re:But how long will this last? by Attila+Dimedici · · Score: 0

      Regulation, when done well, is almost impossible to corrupt.

      I'm sorry but that statement needs some evidence to support it, as my experience indicates that increasing government regulation always results in increasing corruption.

      --
      The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
    17. Re:But how long will this last? by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 3, Insightful

      "Yet, countless times when I am told of the bribe, I know the very same thing could almost certainly have been accomplished without a bribe."

      Without the context, that sounds like a very poor understanding of 3rd world bribery. There are basically two kinds of bribes -- bribes to get an official to do something illegal like skip a building inspection but sign the paperwork anyway, and bribes to get an official to simply do their job like show up to do that building inspection without waiting a year.

      BOTH types of bribery are common enough in the third world, but the later is practically de rigueur because most government employees are not paid a living wage. It is almost like tipping a waiter.

      --
      When information is power, privacy is freedom.
    18. Re:But how long will this last? by ShieldW0lf · · Score: 1

      A form of balance of power can also mean different groups are watching over each other, regardless of motivation. If they can balance each other, that means no groups gain too much power

      Feel free to define things however you want.

      Sun Tzu would have approved of that definition.

      --
      -1 Uncomfortable Truth
    19. Re:But how long will this last? by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 0

      You don't need to pay bribes in China. Anyone who says so is an idiot, or gets a frisson of pleasure from paying so he can be the big sophisticated guy and say, "Yeah, I paid a bribe."

      --
      Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    20. Re:But how long will this last? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "But the real solution (making building inspection reports into public records freely accessible to anyone with a browser) did not happen."

            Make It Happen!

      Celle

    21. Re:But how long will this last? by Koreantoast · · Score: 2

      You are being very selective regarding South Korea. The big leaps in cleaning of corruption came hand-in-hand with freedom of speech, heavy social unrest and democratization. There was continuous pressure on the government for social change in the form of protests and social disobedience, and numerous senior government officials, including two previous presidents, were eventually rounded up and imprisoned. When the Chinese speak of stability, they speak of resisting the very elements that pressured the ROK government to clean up its system. Modern Korea's freewheeling freedom of speech continues to hold the government accountable. The way I see it, the CCP has two choices: they need to either loosen up the control on their system, or the people will eventually rise up and force them to do it. If you truly care about national stability, you would want to see the CCP allow for greater transparency.

    22. Re:But how long will this last? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The poster illustrated already. Sunlight is an excellent disinfectant. Forcing everything to be done in the open and audited makes it obvious if you are corrupt and so it's far easier to stay straight.

      As several posters have mentioned there's a certain sort of person who is proud of having bribed officials, they think it looks wordly to say "Of course, I had to pay them off" when, as mentioned above so many times, in reality you can just say "No".

      Many first world countries, including the US and UK now have laws which _require_ companies in that country to prevent their employees and agents from engaging in corruption anywhere in the ENTIRE WORLD. That means if you're a contractor for a Big American Corporation and you're out in Bumfuck Nowhere and an official suggests that maybe things would get done quicker if you gave them an envelope with $5000 in notes inside (legal term: a "facilitation payment", but basically just another type of bribe), you can BE FIRED for paying the money. If your bosses "turn a blind eye" while you put the $5000 as "miscellaneous expenses" on the contract they can GO TO JAIL for behaviour likely to cause or conceal corruption.

      This is genuinely a big deal, the sort of thing that topples governments, hence the law forbidding you from fucking things up.

    23. Re:But how long will this last? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 4, Informative

      You don't need to pay bribes in China.

      I lived in China for several years. You don't have to pay bribes if you don't want anything from the government. But if you want to send your kids to a public school, and their paternal grandfather didn't live in the district in 1949, then you pay a bribe. If you have a business that requires any kind of license (and they all do), then you either pay a bribe to get the license, or you pay a bribe to the cop on the corner to ignore the fact that you don't have one. A foreigner visiting China will not normally have to pay any bribes, but that is because they don't have the kinds of interactions with the government that require bribes, and also because foreigners are treated differently. Most Chinese people don't consider their country to be corrupt either. They refer to the bribes as "guanxi", or "relationship building", and to them it is so normal that they just accept it as the way it is, and the way it is supposed to be.

    24. Re:But how long will this last? by operagost · · Score: 1

      He didn't say there was no corruption in the USA, Captain Straw Man.

      --

      Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    25. Re:But how long will this last? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are absolutely correct. No one who lives in the US can ever ever comment about corruption anywhere else because we have it here too. Thank you so much for setting us all straight and we patiently yet eagerly await your next profound declaration.

    26. Re:But how long will this last? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes. Or to be more exact, very many regulations are simply legitimized corruption.

      Want to change a light fixture yourself in your own house in pretty much half the states in the US? Oh no, that's illegal, you have to hire a licensed electrician to do it. Some towns even 'regulate' which company the electrician has to work for. Nothing corrupt about it of course, it's all for you own protection.

    27. Re:But how long will this last? by SourceFrog · · Score: 1

      This has happened to every society moving to a large scale capitalistic economy.

      Uhm, moving from what - something that was previously less 'corrupt'? That is your implication, but reality check, China has "moved" from an enormously violent totalitarian Communist state to what it is now - are you really going to say the Chinese government is now "more corrupt" than Chairman Mao's government? The one that openly slaughtered millions? Really?

      Take the United Kingdom, that moved to a "large scale capitalistic economy". You know what it moved from? Dictatorial monarchies - these were basically fascist totalitarian regimes - you think they were "less corrupt" than the days when the King could take your wife or lob off your head if he just didn't like the look of you?

      Or consider corruption in Africa. You really think corruption in a modern African state is "worse" than the days when e.g. Shaka Zulu was openly killing thousands of both his own people and other people?

      Or consider corruption in Russia. You really think it's "worse" now than it was in the pure Communist days, before it "moved to" a "large scale capitalistic economy"?

      I think we could go on and on.

      --
      My other UID is three digits.
    28. Re:But how long will this last? by readin · · Score: 1

      The histories Taiwan and China (including HK) suggest that corruption is heavily dependent on culture, but can be changed by an occupying power.

      If you look at the map at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_corruption you see that there is very little corruption in Japan and in places heavily influenced by English and northern European culture.

      China, on the other hand has a long history of corruption.

      Taiwan was colonized by Japan in 1895. By WWII Taiwan had very little corruption (Japan didn't destroy Taiwan the way it did other countries). But when the Chinese re-colonized Taiwan corruption was re-introduced. Taiwanese who tried to refused to participate in the corruption found their livelihoods destroyed. Japan as an outside occupying power was able to mostly eliminate corruption, and China as an outside occupying power was able to make it once again part of the culture.

      HK did a lot to end corruption, but they did it while occupied by the British, not while being controlled by China. Again we see a foreign power being necessary to end corruption in a society heavily influenced by Chinese culture.

      But in mainland China, where no foreign power ever gained supremacy over day-to-day operations, corruption has stubbornly remained.

      Despite Taiwan's attempt at Democracy, corruption is still a large problem there. Whether or not former President Chen is guilty, the irregularities of his prosecution, and wide net used to intimidate DPP supporters suggests that his prosecution was as much political as it was aimed at corruption.

      Very few societies have managed to remove corruption from themselves on their own. I'm not sure anyone knows how they did it or how long it took.

      --
      I often don't like the choices people make, but I like the fact that people make choices. That's why I'm a conservative.
    29. Re:But how long will this last? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      GP said the US doesn't have corruption in everyday dealings with the government, not that the US has no corruption. And it is often suggested on /. that there should be more visibility and openness in the lawmaking process precisely to discourage the type of corruption you talk about.

    30. Re:But how long will this last? by readin · · Score: 1

      President Chen's life sentence could be taken as a sign that corruption is being addressed were it not for the overtly politcal nature of the prosecution. Whether or not he is guilty, it appears that the prosecution was as least as much aimed at discrediting the DPP and intimidating its supporters as it was aimed at actual corruption.

      I don't know how S. Korea is doing in terms of corruption, but from what I can see only two cultures in history - Japanese and British/Northern European - have been able to develop a cultural intolerance of corruption on their own. Taiwan provides a good example of how it can be imposed from outside and then destroyed from outside. Under the Japanese (1895 to 1945) Taiwan developed a culture of very little corruption as the Japanese imposed and largely followed the rule of law (Japan's behavior in Taiwan was very different than in the rest of Asia). When the Chinese re-colonized Taiwan they acted like a mafia taking over a new territory, forcing people to engage in corruption or lose their livelihoods (or even their lives), and the culture of corruption returned to Taiwan where it remains hard to eradicate.

      --
      I often don't like the choices people make, but I like the fact that people make choices. That's why I'm a conservative.
    31. Re:But how long will this last? by cusco · · Score: 1

      On the other hand, the history of corrupt bureaucracy goes back to the Warring States period, to before China was China. I do find it impressive that sufficiently corrupt officials can get the death penalty, perhaps if it were applied more frequently it might make a dent in the problem. Of course our congresscritters might get a little nervous if the idea were to spread internationally.

      --
      "Think about how stupid the average person is. Now, realise that half of them are dumber than that." - George Carlin
    32. Re:But how long will this last? by cusco · · Score: 1

      The hope is that eventually China will enter the modern world and have a modern democracy.

      I find the quasi-religious belief that western-style democracy is the one-size-fits-all solution for every culture in every situation a bit puzzling at times. Mostly when it's espoused by folks who I generally agree with, like yourself. I think that China should be left alone to figure its own solution, one appropriate to its culture and its economy. Maybe that would turn out to be a democracy, but probably not. They're 1/4 of the world's population, that would be an unwieldy solution at best.

      --
      "Think about how stupid the average person is. Now, realise that half of them are dumber than that." - George Carlin
    33. Re:But how long will this last? by cusco · · Score: 1

      Unless you work at Halliburton, of course. They paid $180,000,000 to Nigerian officials, and their CEO became VP.

      --
      "Think about how stupid the average person is. Now, realise that half of them are dumber than that." - George Carlin
    34. Re:But how long will this last? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In Argentina it's called a "coima." And though corrupt, they are at least honest about it and call a bribe a bribe.
      http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?spen=coima

    35. Re:But how long will this last? by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      ok, then let's rephrase that: the government they have now is clearly not a good one, and the hope is they form one that doesn't 'disappear' people and respects things like freedom of speech.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    36. Re:But how long will this last? by Attila+Dimedici · · Score: 1

      Forcing everything to be done in the open and audited makes it obvious if you are corrupt and so it's far easier to stay straight.

      That is not about regulations...and neither was the example given by the OP. They are about how the regulations are set up AND it is much easier to enforce open and honest regulation if there is not very much of it. When you have so many laws and regulations that no one person can possible know all of them, then you will see corruption increase.

      --
      The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
    37. Re:But how long will this last? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      the government they have now is clearly not a good one

      This is pretty generic, and some would content applies more to western powers than eastern.
      Who's running a national debt that, for a FACT, it can NEVER pay back? The west.
      Who's running around like a headless chicken trying to quash everybody it had screwed over in the past from acquiring advanced weapons to settle the vendetta? The west.

      You speak as if your own asshole doesn't stink, and I can assure you that it most definitely does stink.
      Corruption and vices are not unique to eastern powers by a long shot.
      Big western bankers that almost brought down the entire financial system, not a solitary individual is serving any kind of punishment. Corruption? I would say so.

      "disappear" people? Well Obama want to exercise summary execution.

    38. Re:But how long will this last? by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      Who is stupider, the one who borrows so much he can't pay back, or the one who loans it to him?

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    39. Re:But how long will this last? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ah I see you're going off on a tangent, which implicitly implies that you do agree with my thesis that the west is in no position to be the kettle that calls the Chinese pot black.
      That's a start.

      Unfortunately you are a bit uneducated in your train of thought. The world economy is an integrated and linked system. What the Americans are doing is that it's not pulling it's own weight. The Chinese is living up to their end of the bargain with the dead weight Americans hanging on for dear life.
      That's going to be a problem sooner than later, you cannot print funny money forever.
      The others are going to have to cut you off at some time, because you are dragging everybody else down.
      It's not whether somebody is stupider, everybody knows who's not pulling their share

      It does emphasize my original thesis before you took off on a tangent: the government you have now is clearly not a good one.

    40. Re:But how long will this last? by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      I'll take a government that gives me freedom of speech over what China has, thankyou. Remember, democracy is the worst possible government, except all the others that have been tried.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    41. Re:But how long will this last? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'll take a government that gives me freedom of speech over what China has, thankyou. Remember, democracy is the worst possible government, except all the others that have been tried.

      If the second sentence actually makes any sense you might actually sound educated.
      You also seem to have troubles staying on subject, because you are off on another tangent.
      And as much as you may think others care, nobody is interested in what YOU prefer with all due respect.
      Aside from being a completely unrelated concept, being "free" doesn't give you a free pass to spend like the proverbial drunken sailor.
      That's just being a rogue, out of control government.

      Again, I have to bring the discussion back on topic: the government you have now is clearly not a good one.

    42. Re:But how long will this last? by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      It's good enough to make me happy. Frankly I don't care what you think.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    43. Re:But how long will this last? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Aww, gave up defending your thesis like a sulking bitch?

      Frankly I don't care what you think

      Hey I didn't ask you to care.
      IIRC, I wasn't the one that pronounced with great fanfare my undying love for myself, in broken sentences no less.

    44. Re:But how long will this last? by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      True, I am an amazing wonderful person.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    45. Re:But how long will this last? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      True, I am an amazing wonderful person.

      So it's true that you are a bitch?
      And the tangent alert once again.

    46. Re:But how long will this last? by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      Your arguments are boring. You are trying to say that America (or some country) has a bad government. Great, stand in line, everyone complains about government. Woohoo.

      I don't come here to prove I'm right, I come here for entertainment. If a tangent is entertaining, I might follow it. Your main point hasn't been entertaining so far.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    47. Re:But how long will this last? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your arguments are boring. You are trying to say that CHINA (or some country) has a bad government. Great, stand in line, everyone complains about government. Woohoo.

      Well done beyotch, you finally came around to my original point.

    48. Re:But how long will this last? by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      China does have a bad government. There is no representation. There is no freedom of speech. There is no right to assembly.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    49. Re:But how long will this last? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In the words of Miss phantomfive:
      boring

    50. Re:But how long will this last? by hackingbear · · Score: 1

      If you truly care about national stability, you would want to see the CCP allow for greater transparency."

      Agree. If recent development in China since the Bo-Wang scandal last year continues, it is an indication they want to go in that direction. Judging from comments and blogs in China now, the level and frequency of public criticism of os much higher than last year. You can read direct attack against the party, the leaders by names, and even call for revolution every day; never see these in plain sign and in abundance before.

      But officially, it will likely to be done gradually and open up the media (head-line news) gradually. Don't expect big announcement that will please populists and western media. It is not likely they will suddenly release all political prisoners because it may rock the boat. But slowly. (To be honest, I doubt there are too many of those prisoners, probably dozens to a hundred; while you keep hearing people being wrapped up for political view or speech in China, they are probably much rarer than gun violence as an average person will experience in the US.)

    51. Re:But how long will this last? by hackingbear · · Score: 1

      I stood by my use of the term. The term in American politics simply hijacked the more general sense of term. There are clearly many definitions of "power" -- like "political power". And I said it is "a form of", not the "balance of power in American politics."

    52. Re:But how long will this last? by hackingbear · · Score: 1

      There is some culture dependency, but most countries -- including the US regarding civil rights -- cleaned up their acts after their economy had developed and per-capita GDP is high enough. I knew a public school teacher in HK and they get a government granted condo worth probably HKD $10 million; that's why civic servants there don't need to corrupt -- everybody else is paying in the form of high property prices or tax. China tries to go the path of HK and Singapore but there are too many civic servants to afford it widely; if most are just fired, then rebellion and civic war -- sort of like we can just cut our spending big enough to lower the debt. Again too big to fail everywhere. Among all factors, economy is still the primary one; political system, lack of democracy, etc. just have marginal effects.

      Look at India which was ruled by the Brits too; it is more corrupted than China. That disproves your point. Or at best that may work for small places like HK and TW. BTW, no matter how bad a government is, few people will support their own country been invaded and ruled by another.

    53. Re:But how long will this last? by hackingbear · · Score: 1

      You didn't notice I was being cynical in the reply?

    54. Re:But how long will this last? by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      Stand by whatever term you want. But please explain what definitions you choose to use so you don't sound like an ignorant crank.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    55. Re:But how long will this last? by hackingbear · · Score: 1

      Or maybe you can use brain when reading.

    56. Re:But how long will this last? by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      If I hadn't, your ranting wouldn't have entertained me nearly so much. What I am saying is, get a better history book. Yours is misleading you.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
  8. I'm sort of confused by Dyinobal · · Score: 1

    How is a politician having sex corruption? It's hypocrisy if they are the family values party line, and if they are married its cheating but at best I could say he was exposing a scandal not exposing corruption. Now if he was taking bribes, or something that might be corruption.

    1. Re:I'm sort of confused by elsuperjefe · · Score: 2

      I believe sex with the 18 year old girl was offered as a bribe payment for lucrative contracts. The official caught with his pants down apparently had so much money that monetary payments no longer interested him...

    2. Re:I'm sort of confused by Kozz · · Score: 3, Informative

      From TFA:

      The compromising images of Lei Zhengfu, the Chongqing official caught having sex with the 18-year-old, have been an anti-graft jackpot for Mr. Zhu: 11 officials have resigned or been fired for their role in what was a honey trap organized by business executives seeking to blackmail powerful bureaucrats to win government contracts. The scheme ultimately failed, but the tapes ended up in the hands of the Chongqing police. After investigators failed to act, Mr. Zhu says, a disgruntled person inside the department sent the evidence his way.

      --
      I only post comments when someone on the internet is wrong.
    3. Re:I'm sort of confused by LMariachi · · Score: 2

      Yeah, the article doesn't really say, although it does call him "memorably unattractive."

      The compromising images of Lei Zhengfu, the Chongqing official caught having sex with the 18-year-old, have been an anti-graft jackpot for Mr. Zhu: 11 officials have resigned or been fired for their role in what was a honey trap organized by business executives seeking to blackmail powerful bureaucrats to win government contracts.

      suggests that the executives plied the officials with young women in putative exchange for contracts, but they were actually trying to expose the officials so the execs would have fewer palms to grease. It doesn't explicitly say that though.

    4. Re:I'm sort of confused by fermion · · Score: 2
      Unlike politicians in the US and many western countries, who are mostly elected to serve but are free to do as they please, politicians in other countries are often seen as 'chosen' to lead the country, like a king or queen. While behavior might be acceptable to a governor, it would not be acceptable for a queen.

      So it does not really matter if the girl was a gift or a bribe, or just someone who wanted a favor, it has to be seen as corruption due to the circumstances and the power of the leaders in China. We assume that congressperson in the US are routinely bribes with trips and sex partners. However, as the power of a politician is limited, and they are not really servants of the state, it is not automatically corruption when they are caught, and it si hard to prove.

      Look at it this way. Right now a lot of military people are have sexual encounters with those who rank below them. As they are being paid to do a job, and the US is not in the business of pimping, these encounters whether consensual, a form of quid pro quo, or rape is kind of immaterial. It is corruption. Like for powerful officials.

      --
      "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
    5. Re:I'm sort of confused by smegfault · · Score: 1

      If he had plenty of money and 18-year old girls are his thing... Why didn't he just hire an 18-year old prostitute? Must be a power thing.

    6. Re:I'm sort of confused by c0lo · · Score: 2
      TFA

      The compromising images of Lei Zhengfu, the Chongqing official caught having sex with the 18-year-old, have been an anti-graft jackpot for Mr. Zhu: 11 officials have resigned or been fired for their role in what was a honey trap organized by business executives seeking to blackmail powerful bureaucrats to win government contracts. The scheme ultimately failed, but the tapes ended up in the hands of the Chongqing police. After investigators failed to act, Mr. Zhu says, a disgruntled person inside the department sent the evidence his way.

      --
      Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
    7. Re:I'm sort of confused by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Girls who pay with boy for business is different level of prositute, more expensive ones if you like.

    8. Re:I'm sort of confused by TapeCutter · · Score: 2

      Money can be tracked more easily than hookers.

      --
      And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
    9. Re:I'm sort of confused by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is total malarkey. Unsurprisingly it's New York Times yet again.
      Half the politicians in this country have dalliances (Jefferson, JFK, Eisenhower, Clinton, ...none lost their job), and the other half just haven't been discovered yet.

    10. Re:I'm sort of confused by Smauler · · Score: 1

      Unlike politicians in the US and many western countries, who are mostly elected to serve but are free to do as they please, politicians in other countries are often seen as 'chosen' to lead the country, like a king or queen. While behavior might be acceptable to a governor, it would not be acceptable for a queen.

      Kings and/or queens don't actually have any real power anywhere in the world. Also, plenty of kings and queens have behaved badly.

    11. Re:I'm sort of confused by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Unlike politicians in the US and many western countries, who are mostly elected to serve but are free to do as they please, politicians in other countries are often seen as 'chosen' to lead the country, like a king or queen. While behavior might be acceptable to a governor, it would not be acceptable for a queen.

      Kings and/or queens don't actually have any real power anywhere in the world. Also, plenty of kings and queens have behaved badly.

      Absolute monarchies still exist - look to the Middle East. Even under more limited forms, some monarchs have real-world powers.

    12. Re:I'm sort of confused by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "a honey trap organized by business executives seeking to blackmail"

              And what happened to the executives? Death I hope. You can't hope to stop corruption if you don't deal with with the people who think they can get away with attempting it. Yes, the officials should be disciplined but so should those that enable it as people can only take temptation for so long before they break. Especially when the system makes it easy for them to break by teaching them it is ok and compensating them little to make their job and life bearable. Everyone has various and changing needs and wants that are often ignored to everyone's peril.

    13. Re:I'm sort of confused by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Everyone has various and changing needs and wants that are often ignored to everyone's peril."

      Forgot to sign it.

      Celle

      PS Execs often seem to live like there's no tomorrow and take risks like it. Sometimes reminders that life is more than business is required. Although death is probably the wrong way to do it, including wiping the family. Maybe reducing them to the income of a street sweeper/lowly position with no authority would be better. I'm just getting sick of seeing corruption in all places.

    14. Re:I'm sort of confused by cusco · · Score: 1

      The Queen of England is the richest woman on the planet. Somehow I doubt that she's powerless.

      --
      "Think about how stupid the average person is. Now, realise that half of them are dumber than that." - George Carlin
  9. It's CHINA by itsphilip · · Score: 2

    Guy will be dead within a year

  10. I kind of like Chinese people.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    at least more than the Chinese leaders.

    1. Re:I kind of like Chinese people.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This can be meta phrased as "I like the people, at least, more than the leaders." and applied to just about every country in the world.

      Tell me a place where the leaders are not corrupt, power mad narcissists and the people they lead really like them and I'll be surprised. However, I doubt you'll find such a place.

  11. Good about the angle on this one by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Interesting angle on this one! This guy is actually the hero. Amazing! I don't think I could have imagined a scenario by which a man secretly tapes an 18-year-old girl being raped, posts it on the internet without her consent, and is viewed positively by Western society...but here it is! I was thinking the man would be a hate object like when this scenario usually happens, but change the role of the man in the video and he becomes the good guy.

    --
    Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    1. Re:Good about the angle on this one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why don't you read the article first and then comment? It's not that hard, I promise.

      ...[the corrupted officials'] role in what was a honey trap organized by business executives seeking to blackmail powerful bureaucrats to win government contracts. The scheme ultimately failed, but the tapes ended up in the hands of the Chongqing police. After investigators failed to act, Mr. Zhu says, a disgruntled person inside the department sent the evidence his way.

    2. Re:Good about the angle on this one by c0lo · · Score: 3, Informative
      The plot is thicker than the simplistic way you perceived it; the real "heroes" were the business executives attempting a blackmail on bureaucrats (that would be, in a Chinese setup, the hand of free market attempting to cut back on the burden of a leeching government).

      The compromising images of Lei Zhengfu, the Chongqing official caught having sex with the 18-year-old, have been an anti-graft jackpot for Mr. Zhu: 11 officials have resigned or been fired for their role in what was a honey trap organized by business executives seeking to blackmail powerful bureaucrats to win government contracts. The scheme ultimately failed, but the tapes ended up in the hands of the Chongqing police. After investigators failed to act, Mr. Zhu says, a disgruntled person inside the department sent the evidence his way.

      --
      Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
    3. Re:Good about the angle on this one by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 1

      So, as long as there is an asshole victim, it is OK for a male to post sex tapes of an 18-year-old girl. That's what's so remarkable - remove this one factor and the frame instantly changes to 'creepy perv should be shot'.

      --
      Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    4. Re:Good about the angle on this one by c0lo · · Score: 1

      So, as long as there is an asshole victim, it is OK for a male to post sex tapes of an 18-year-old girl. That's what's so remarkable - remove this one factor and the frame instantly changes to 'creepy perv should be shot'.

      <large-grin> I surmise the 18-year-old girl's performance was work for hire. As such, the only parties that can claim damages would be the business executives which paid for the said performance and became the owners of the copyright on the art work posted on youtube by Zhu.</large-grin>

      (18-year-old girl indeed... were did you get this one and the idea of rape? You really think those business executives arranged for 11 people - the one that resigned or were sacked - to rape a girl for the purpose of blackmailing them afterwards? Wouldn't it be simpler and safer to hire a hooker on a handful of coins for the purpose?
      Maybe it's time for your periodic touch with the real-world outside? You know, you shouldn't let the computers uninterruptedly eat from your mind for long stretches of time)

      --
      Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
    5. Re:Good about the angle on this one by SourceFrog · · Score: 1

      "Raped"? Where does it say she was raped? How do you get modded up with that crap?

      --
      My other UID is three digits.
    6. Re:Good about the angle on this one by cusco · · Score: 1

      Some people consider every act of female prostitution a rape. Dunno if DNS is in that group, but it's a fairly widespread bit of stupidity, along with the belief that sex with anyone who is 17 years and 364 days old is automatically rape. US and British culture is pretty ignorant when it comes to sexual topics.

      --
      "Think about how stupid the average person is. Now, realise that half of them are dumber than that." - George Carlin
  12. fuck your way to freedom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Then you will know the pr0n, and the pr0n will set you free.

  13. The Chinese Julian Assange? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well, we all know what kind of pinch Mr. Assange is in today. I imagine the Chinese will have far less compunction in getting rid of such a troublesome blogger if he goes after bigger fish.

  14. don't believe the hype by decora · · Score: 4, Insightful

    there are a lot of bloggers who have exposed corruption etc who are in jail or who are under constant police harassment of themselves and their families, with employment blocked and all sorts of other problems that political dissidents have faced since time immemorial.

    until people like Zhao Lianhai can live an ordinary free life in China, this talk of netizens fighting back the government is not convincing - it might simply be a bunch of propaganda and we all might be dupes in some kind of clever bureaucratic infighting inside the Communist Party hierarchy.

    think about it. who leaked the video to him? who protected him from being arrested and sent to a labor camp for a year, like the girl who made a joke tweet a few years ago?

    1. Re:don't believe the hype by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Good thing here in the West we let anyone criticize China to their hearts content. Of course, criticize one of the many government's crimes and, if you're lucky, you have to live the rest of your life in an Ecuador embassy.

    2. Re:don't believe the hype by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is this why Michael Moore lives in a mansion?
      Oh were you conflating criticism with release of state secrets?
      Let's compare like with like. Find a Chinese person who has done what Assange has done.

  15. Re:you won't ever hear what happens by similar_name · · Score: 1

    Or he'll make a parody of Gangnam Style.

  16. Re:you won't ever hear what happens by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Maybe I've seen too many movies, or underestimate the boldness of the Chinese government, but it seems like there must be some threshold of notoriety where you're beyond "troublesome but mostly unknown", such that they can't just disappear you. Now you have to die in an unfortunate accident.

  17. Pushing low-level wrongdoers under the bus ... by Wrath0fb0b · · Score: 2

    ... is a favorite pastime of the larger wrongdoers. Does anyone think that the PRC power structure really cares about some po-dunk municipal pervert?

  18. of course. . . the obligatory: by jafac · · Score: 1

    . . . pic or it didn't happen. . .

    --

    These are my friends, See how they glisten. See this one shine, how he smiles in the light.
  19. Re:you won't ever hear what happens by MightyMartian · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Read up on Lin Biao. Nobody in China is so big that they can't die in a "plain crash".

    --
    The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  20. Re:you won't ever hear what happens by drkim · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...Nobody in China is so big that they can't die in a "plain crash".

    Or, if you're a real big-shot, you can have an exceptional crash!

  21. Re:you won't ever hear what happens by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That was 40 years ago. China changed a lot since then. Disappearing anyone too famous is asking for trouble. Character assassination works much better.

  22. Re:you won't ever hear what happens by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    to the blogger, though... some day (soon if he keeps it up), he'll simply "disappear".....

    I'm sure they're quite happy to throw a few minor officials under the bus to appear to fight corruption. They can hold him up as an example - see nothing happens when you expose corruption - we are honest.....that is until he decides to expose someone higher up....those are the people who disappear!

  23. Just next phase by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    of China's rise. They manage to trick the gullible and incompetent Western bankers into flooding money int China to promote their rise, the rise of communism, and zero human rights but China, at the right time, is throwing them over board and taking the money fromthe West for itself. Soon Europe and America will be baron wastelands and China will control it all.

    Thanks banksters!

    Foot-eating banksters: "You're welcome. Derrp!! hehe"

  24. Sex videos? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    sooo...what exactly is the issue here?
    Are those Chinese not allowed to have sex?

  25. Where is the porn? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    where is the video? link anyone?

    1. Re:Where is the porn? by Adult+film+producer · · Score: 2

      I am very interested in this as well.

    2. Re:Where is the porn? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Do you seriously expect a performance involving a 57-year-old government official to be enjoyable?

    3. Re:Where is the porn? by PPH · · Score: 1

      There's probably a few websites dedicated to this combo. No telling what turns some people's cranks.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
  26. Well I guess.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We won't see him everrrr again ones the dust settles ...

  27. In the name of freedom. by kivig · · Score: 1

    It's - people voice been heard and all that... But I wonder - if the tape is made up by the government to justify taking out somebody... It'd be ironical, how people lynch one in the name of freedom.

  28. corruption? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    can someone explain me where the corruption part lies? the guy just had sex..

  29. Re:you won't ever hear what happens by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Read up on Lin Biao. Nobody in China is so big that they can't die in a "plain crash".

    How do you know that it was unceremoneous?

  30. Hopefully.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...the girl won't be exposed as being 17 - then the blogger will be dragged over to the US to face child pornography charges!

  31. Fascinating, captain by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They're fascinating, the wumao dang, absolutely fascinating.

    Anybody know if their manual has been translated into English?

  32. So he's a terrorist? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    You know, exposing the secrets of government and helping the enemies of the state at a time of war by making the government look bad.

    Oh, sorry, this is CHINA, and that's fine. Sorry, I thought this was exposing corruption of the US government...

  33. Re:you won't ever hear what happens by cayenne8 · · Score: 1, Redundant
    Still, I'm not understanding why the official got axed.

    I mean, a 57 year old man getting it on with a sweet, young 18 year old chick is NOT character assassination, hell, I would thing the rest of the party leads would be high fiving him!!!

    :)

    You know...the old "pictures or it didn't happen" meme.

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  34. This years heros, last years losers! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Bloggers in China will end up like just like the last years winners on "The Running man".

  35. his life is in danger by peter303 · · Score: 1

    If his real name becomes exposed. (which is the current law in China is to use your real name on the internet) Local police are pretty much above the law and federal police not much better. They will not think twice of a "fatal accident" if you cross someone's connection.

    We just went to through a round of this last year with the Bo-Xilai incident. Bo was a potential Chinese presidential candidate. His wife was snuffing out business enemies using local police. The local police chief tried to defect to the US claiming he'd killed as an inmate. But Hillary brokered a compromise turning him over to federal police where he would at least have a chance at a trial and living.

  36. Wake me when ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    some blogger becomes a celebrity for exposing corruption in the US.

  37. without a link, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    it didn't happen