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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 024311 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2031 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KCUL SOCI CH
SUBJECT: POPULAR GLOSSY CENSURED OVER ARTICLES ON CULTURAL 
REVOLUTION, TIBET 
 
REF: A. BEIJING 10507 
     ¶B. 05 BEIJING 2479 
 
Classified By: Political Section Internal Unit Chief Susan A. Thornton. 
  Reasons 1.4 (b/d). 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (C) The high-circulation lifestyle magazine 
Sanlian Life Weekly has been censured for recent 
articles that crossed censors' redlines on the 
Cultural Revolution and Tibet, Sanlian staff and other 
contacts confirmed.  The editor in chief has received 
a reprimand and may be fined or fired.  Journalists 
said that while the incident does not presage a wider 
crackdown aimed at Chinese magazines, editors will 
likely be extra cautious in steering clear of 
Propaganda authorities' sensitivities.  In this 
context, the Sanlian flap reflects the difficulty 
reporters continue to face in attempting to publish 
aggressive pieces on sensitive topics and has resulted 
in some bitterness in Chinese newsrooms.  End Summary. 
 
Two Inflammatory Articles 
------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) Sanlian's cover story for the October 30 issue 
commemorated the 30th anniversary of the end of the 
tumultuous Cultural Revolution.  The dramatic cover 
design showed a photo of Jiang Qing, Mao's wife, 
standing trial after Mao's death as a member of the 
Gang of Four.  The words "Cultural Revolution" 
appeared next to the picture.  Sanlian's editorial 
decision flew in the face of Propaganda Department 
guidelines issued at the end of 2005 restricting 
coverage of the Cultural Revolution (ref A) and other 
sensitive anniversaries during 2006. 
 
¶3.  (C) The other offending article appeared in the 
October 23 issue and dealt with the system for 
appointing Tibetan leaders during the Yuan, Ming and 
Qing dynasties, long a sensitive topic for the Chinese 
Government.  Cai Wei (protect), the author of the 
Tibet piece, told poloff he is surprised and 
disappointed that the article has been singled out, 
especially because it appeared in the context of an 
edition dedicated to travel in Tibet.  Cai, who wrote 
other material on Tibet for the issue, drove his own 
car from Beijing to the region for a six-week 
reporting trip.  Moved by the experience, he said he 
plans to write a book on the subject, although given 
his recent trials, he said he doubts the manuscript 
would survive the censors' scrutiny. 
 
"Two Strikes and You're Out" 
---------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) With a circulation of about 1.2 million, 
Sanlian Life Weekly is one of China's most popular 
glossy news magazines.  It caters to middle class, 
urban readers and regularly publishes articles about 
entertainment, sports and travel.  Nonetheless, this 
is not the first time that Sanlian has ignited 
controversy.  In early 2005, an article identifying 
the income levels that qualify Chinese households as 
middle class caused problems both for the magazine and 
the National Statistics Bureau (ref B), which released 
figures that served as the basis for the story.  One 
reason Sanlian's editor in chief, Zhu Wei, may receive 
a harsh reprimand this time is because Propaganda 
authorities are adhering to an unwritten "two strikes 
and you're out" rule in terms of crossing content red 
lines, said Zhou Qing'an (protect), a free lance 
journalist who contributes regularly to The Beijing 
News.  If an editor allows one unsanctioned piece, he 
or she receives a warning.  The second time, penalties 
can range from hefty fines to being sacked, Zhou said. 
 
¶5.  (C) Against this backdrop, publications continue 
to be careful about their content.  Most practice 
self-censorship, said He Jiangtao (protect), a 
journalist at Citizen Magazine, whose editorial 
mission is to encourage the development of civil 
society in China.  For example, Citizen's publisher, 
Guangxi Normal University Press, opted not to 
distribute the September issue.  The cover featured a 
big portrait of Mao next to the words "Mao-style 
Business Model."  The related article discussed the 
prevalence of strong Chief Executive Officers at 
Chinese companies.  Another article teased on the 
 
BEIJING 00024311  002 OF 002 
 
 
cover, entitled "How Many Chinese Are Not Tax 
Evaders?", made the publisher nervous about attracting 
unwelcome attention from the censors.  Guangxi Normal 
University Press printed galleys but declined to 
distribute the issue because of its political 
sensitivity, said He. 
 
Censors Quiet on Some Sensitive Issues 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C) At the same time, the Propaganda Department 
has taken a hands-off approach to certain sensitive 
issues in recent weeks, said Wang Feng, an editor at 
the influential bi-weekly Caijing Magazine.  After the 
October 9 North Korean nuclear test, Caijing expected 
the Propaganda Department to issue strict coverage 
guidelines on the incident.  None came and Caijing ran 
an article that Wang and other editors felt crossed a 
redline by calling for a reassessment of China's 
relationship with North Korea.  The piece attracted no 
negative comments from the authorities, Wang said. 
 
¶7.  (C) In addition, Caijing and other publications 
have presented considerable coverage of the sacking of 
former Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Liangyu.  Some 
articles have "gone over the top," but the censors 
have remained mum, Wang observed.  In both these 
cases, Wang surmised that lack of guidelines was 
calculated.  Press excesses on North Korea signaled 
official dissatisfaction with the DPRK's actions, 
while undercutting Chen only drums up support for the 
current leadership's anti-corruption campaign.  (Note: 
Wang added that his journalist friends in Shanghai 
were celebrating the dismissal of Chen, who was 
notoriously restrictive when it came to the media. 
End Note.) 
 
Whack-a-Mole 
------------ 
 
¶8.  (C) Despite his recent run-in with the censors, 
Cai of Sanlian said he is still enthusiastic about 
journalism and his magazine.  He said he expects the 
editor Zhu to weather the current storm, adding that 
the editorial staff remains dedicated to finding ways 
to expand the space for aggressive reporting.  In the 
end, Cai said, it is the Propaganda officials 
themselves who have the thankless job.  "Being a 
censor is like playing Whack-a-Mole," Cai remarked. 
"Once you smack down one sensitive article, another 
pops up somewhere else." 
Randt