Quando uma doença faz mais pela liberdade de expressão em três semanas, na China, que 100 anos de espionagem

Quando o partido único se promove como o guardião dos cidadãos e depois todos começam a adoecer fica em maus lençóis, porque os chineses aceitam aquele regime ditatorial no pressuposto que o grande líder toma conta deles e da sua segurança. É essa a propaganda que o partido vende aos cidadãos.

China's Public Health Crisis Becomes a Crisis of Faith

The Covid-19 epidemic poses political risks for China's leadership. It's now on President Xi Jinping to deliver security and prosperity while trying to solve a serious public health crisis. Meanwhile, dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the situation is growing online.

In that light, it is significant how the government in Beijing has dealt with the grief and anger that appeared online after the doctor Li Wenliang died. After he become infected with Covid-19, his fight for life had turned into a drama. At first, though, it was unclear whether Li had died at all. The Global Times was the only medium to report his death, but it quickly took down the story. In the end, many Chinese felt deceived.

Hashtags demanding freedom of speech received millions of clicks. On Weibo and WeChat, popular Chinese social media and messaging services, images of burning candles were everywhere. So too was a caricature of Li with a face mask made of barbed wire. Professors and lawyers drew up two petitions demanding freedom of the press.