Authorities Avoid Scrutiny and Censorship, Becoming a Platform for Dissatisfaction
Over 50,000 Comments on Posts Related to Giraffe Conservation
Local individual investors, frustrated with the sluggish Chinese stock market, are flocking to the social media account of the U.S. Embassy in China, drawing attention.
According to Bloomberg News on the 3rd (local time), the Weibo account of the U.S. Embassy in China has become a platform for Chinese netizens to vent their frustrations about the recent economic situation and the stock market. As Chinese authorities continue to crack down on public opinion online, angry Chinese investors have turned to U.S. embassy accounts to avoid the heavy-handed censorship.
A post about giraffe conservation by the U.S. Embassy in China has received an astonishing 53,000 comments and over 300,000 likes. The most liked comment was, “If criticism is not allowed, praise is meaningless.” Another user lamented the poor performance of the Chinese stock market, comparing it to a “casino” and an “execution ground.” Yet another person raised their voice, saying, “The anger has reached its peak.”
The post describes how scientists use satellite data to protect giraffes and their habitats in the U.S. The content of the comments is entirely unrelated. Bloomberg News explained that these seemingly irrelevant comments show how hard it is for Chinese people to find a place to voice their critical opinions about the economy or government performance.
Previously, the Chinese Politburo of the Communist Party announced in December last year that it would strengthen public opinion guidance on economic issues. The National Security Department warned that negative opinions could threaten national security.
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