Commentaries

03/07/2015 - 14:50
The Laogai Research Foundation is currently editing and hoping to publish a manuscript in the coming months that highlights China's most infamous prison, Qincheng Prison. The working title of the manuscript is A Product of the Revolution: Qincheng Prison and its Prisoners. The following is a sample of the manuscript, written by the manuscript's editor.
Editor's Note
At its core, A Product of the... more
03/04/2015 - 12:46
Last month we wrote a commentary that sought to answer this question: Will Xinjiang radicalize in response to continued Chinese suppression? At the time, our answer was quite ambiguous. "Xinjiang’s status as a police-state undoubtedly quells the transfer of jihadist propaganda and probably dissuades terrorist acts, yet the brutal suppression of traditional and docile Uyghur customs[1] by Chinese... more
03/02/2015 - 10:42
Yuan Guiren, China’s Education Minister, recently urged several university officials in Beijing to ban the use of foreign textbooks that “spread Western values.” Universities throughout Beijing, however, continue to use foreign textbooks in some of their required courses.
Several issues are still unclear surrounding the book-banning policy. For instance, will this policy eventually extend beyond... more
02/09/2015 - 17:21
With the rise of ISIS to prominence as a political entity in the Middle East, fears of its further influence dominate headlines. Because most of the discussion surrounding ISIS in particular and radical Islam in general is confined to developments in the Middle East, some scholars overlook these issues in their global context. Islam is a global religion and discontent that fosters militancy is a... more
02/05/2015 - 13:31
On January 29, Laogai Research Foundation Executive Director Harry Wu was interviewed by Radio Free Asia. During the interview, Wu discussed the remarkable success of the Chinese company Alibaba in the U.S. marketplace. Moreover, Wu commented on Alibaba's founder and owner Jack Ma's adroit ability to conduct his business under an authoritarian regime. Furthermore, Wu discussed the abolition of... more
02/05/2015 - 11:56
President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama attended the National Prayer Breakfast today at the Washington Hilton. The annual event draws thousands of political and spiritual leaders from across the world. Because of the event’s sheer size, and because of the sensitive diplomatic triangle that encompasses the unique political interests of Tibet, China, and the United States, it is unclear if... more
02/03/2015 - 18:34
According to the Washington Post, China’s Great Firewall now not only poses risks for Chinese internet users, but all internet users. The article is expansive, yet perhaps is most compelling point concerns business in China. “Last week, foreign business groups –  including the American Chamber of Commerce in China and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce –  wrote to the Chinese government to protest new... more
01/28/2015 - 11:32
Xinhua News, China’s premier state media outlet, recently tweeted an article titled “High Abortion Rate Triggers Fears for Young Women.” The article mentions terrible potential side effects of abortions: future ectopic pregnancies, bacterial infections, and sterility. The article does not mention, however, the state’s role in propagating such side effects through forced-abortions.
Certainly... more
01/26/2015 - 16:07
Westerners have almost uniformly understood China since Mao as a liberalizing country. No longer do political campaigns bypass liberal principles in the name of revolution. And no longer does China pursue policies that limit foreign influence in the Chinese economy. Perhaps the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre awakened some to the lack of liberalization in China, but 25 years is long enough to foster ... more
01/21/2015 - 12:11
This week’s special report from Freedom House, titled “The Politburo’s Predicament,” is an enlightening report on the worsening state of human rights in China. The report notes the variety of tactics that the CCP has used recently to protect its power. Specifically, the report argues that expanded targeting, reviving Maoist practices, and “concentrating power at the very top” headline the Party’s... more

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