Word: beijingers
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Chinese have grown accustomed to seeing television footage of their Premier, Wen Jiabao, at the site of natural disasters. Often described as the human face of the country's huge bureaucracy, Wen is well known for being sympathetic to the plight of ordinary citizens. But many were still surprised at...
"They were not shy at all about showing him in full crisis mode, much more unsanitized stuff than would normally be allowed," says Beijing-based scholar Russell Leigh Moses, who added that the scenes were clearly aimed at reassuring viewers that Wen and his fellow Communist Party leaders were making...
Such openness is in stark contrast to the almost obsessive secretiveness that Beijing has displayed in the past when dealing with crises. In 1976, for example, an earthquake at Tangshan, 75 miles (121 km) southeast of Beijing, killed up to half a million. Not only did China refuse foreign offers...
The effects could be felt across the country and beyond. In Beijing, 1,500 km away from the epicenter, buildings swayed and office workers poured out onto the streets. Tremors were also reported in Bangkok, Hanoi and Taipei. Telephone networks were overwhelmed as people around the country attempted to make...
It's not always clear what authorities are watching for, however. In March, for example, about 100 people gathered outside a Beijing mall to celebrate International Pillow Fight Day. Before the participants could begin whacking each other with pillows, several dozen police stopped the rumble - even following the group to...