Chinese censorship and surveillance, dubbed the “Great Firewall”, is used to prevent and control Chinese citizens from viewing content that is critical of the government. These policies, which have resulted in China having the least online freedom in the world, reflect the sentiments of former leader Deng Xiaoping, who famously said, “When you open the window, the flies come in.” However, in recent times, China has attempted to shut the windows outside of its borders as well, infringing on 'internet sovereignty' worldwide.
China’s growing ambition–and political and economic capital–have given it a greater sense of entitlement and caused it to be more assertive against those it deems to be interfering in its internal affairs or disregarding its sovereignty. The now routine arm-twisting of businesses is not restricted to its mainland; it is now enforced on Chinese businesses abroad, foreign corporations, the entertainment industry, educational institutions, media organizations, and high profile individuals and academicians across the globe.
In turn, corporations have exercised caution, and become wary of the risks and costs associated with offending China. By threatening to cut off access to Chinese markets and consumers, companies have been coerced into issuing apologies for using maps that depict Taiwan or Hong Kong as independent states. 36 airlines, including Cathay Pacific and Delta Airlines, were threatened with legal action for not explicitly accepting Taiwan as a part of China; unsurprisingly, 20 airlines have bowed under pressure.
Mercedes Benz apologized for using a quote by the Dalai Lama in an ad. In fact, companies are now facing increasing demands from the Chinese authorities to remove products altogether; companies like GAP, Ray-ban, Coach, Zara, Marriot Hotels, and Versace have all had to remove certain goods from sale after such objections. This censorship extends from companies to high-profile celebrities as well. Lady Gaga was banned for merely meeting with the Dalai Lama.
Consequently, many are now taking extensive pre-emptive measures to massage China's ego. For instance, several Hollywood movies now produce Chinese versions by investing millions of dollars in editing and remaking individual sections of the feature for Chinese audiences and even blurring out anything that will remotely offend China, even to foreign audiences.
Therefore, Xi Jinping’s China aches to be feared more than loved. Chinese authorities have been successful in channeling public outrage to further their foreign-policy goals by encouraging boycott movements amongst citizens that are driven by increasing nationalistic pride. In doing so, companies and individuals essentially act as unpaid messengers of Beijing’s worldview and offer a tacit global acceptance of its policies and perpetuate historical revisionism.
However, is China underestimating the potential backlash and costs of overdoing this bullying?
One can argue that it is reasonable for a state to expect corporations to stay out of political issues, but in the West, such policing trespasses into the realm of free speech.
Deploying such tactics towards media organisations and academics–for whom free expression and debate are fundamental–by withholding visas, access, and funding is sure to draw increasing attention. The Hong Kong protests and Chinese policies of repression in Xinjiang are sure to encourage more critical commentary than what Beijing is comfortable with.
Chinese authorities have tried to remove published works and research articles from prestigious publications. For example, the Cambridge University Press was demanded to remove several articles about Tiananmen Square and the Cultural Revolution published in its China Quarterly journal.
The Chinese government has also exerted its influence on budding academics in universities around the world, including Australia, the US, and Canada. There are increasing reports of Chinese students and alumni groups being directly funded by Chinese organisations and businesses. These students are tasked with promoting Chinese culture, suppressing critical speech, and "monitoring" and "reporting" on other students. There have been numerous standoffs between pro-government groups of students and the student groups protesting Chinee policies. The introduction of the extradition law and the subsequent brutal crackdown in Hong Kong by the Chinese government has even fuelled violent clashes in Australia and New Zealand. China’s consul general in Auckland curiously labeled the actions of pro-government students a “spontaneous display of patriotism”.
Students are also encouraged to film videos of screenings and speeches that they deem to be incorrect portrayals of China and share them with authorities. For instance, following a protest at MacMaster University in Canada, the Chinese consulate in Toronto praised a student who taped a lecture on the Chinese government’s treatment of the Uighurs.
Such intrusions have led to an increased wariness of Chinese censorship. For example, the American Association of University Professors recommended that universities no longer participate with China’s Confucius Institute program if there was no guarantee of exclusive authority “over all academic matters, including recruitment of teachers, determination of curriculum and choice of texts.” Senator Marco Rubio proposed an amendment to the Higher Education Act, wherein federal funding is withheld for higher education institutes that are partnered with the Confucius Institute. The University of Chicago is one of the universities to have terminated its partnership with the Confucius Institute.
Refusal of NBA authorities to comply with China's request to fire Houston Rocket's general manager Daryl Morey, whose tweet in support of Hong Kong protestors generated backlash, is evidence of the consequences of China extending its reach too far. Despite Chinese threats to end the broadcast of NBA games in China, where basketball is hugely popular, NBA authorities refused to bow to Chinese coercion and pressure. Although we may have witnessed individual payers and teams distance themselves and choosing to stay silent, this in stark contrast to previous instances where companies and individuals have gone beyond just issuing swift apologies.
Such actions threaten to erode the economic viability of Chinese companies and their ability to displace non-Chinese competitors by engendering an irrevocable sense of distrust in China among foreign consumers and governments. Besides, by overtly influencing governments, institutions, and corporations to such an unprecedented degree, China undermines its efforts to be seen as a benevolent superpower.
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