China renews internet crackdown with series of high profile arrests
China’s Communist Party has moved to stifle nascent internet freedoms with the arrest of a series of outspoken journalists, bloggers and tweeters whom it perceives to be rumour mongers and whistleblowers.
In the past four days five individuals have been arrested on such charges, including Charles Xue, a 60 year old US citizen and son of a former deputy mayor of Beijing.
Xue is one of China’s most outspoken tweeters, racking up 12m followers on his Sina Weibo microblog, bringing him to the attention of local authorities who detained him at his Beijing home.
When they detained him police said they found a 22-year old woman in his company, prompting the release of a statement saying: “After questioning, the pair confessed to facts of involvement in prostitution.”
Many are sceptical of this story however with the editor of one state run newspaper suggesting the move was the result of a media camapaign.