Censorchimps: The Mandarin Subspecies

In Communist China, if the powers-that-be don't like what you write, you'll do hard time:

A Chinese court Thursday sentenced an outspoken human rights advocate to three and a half years in prison after ruling that his critical essays and comments about Communist Party rule amounted to inciting subversion, his lawyer said.

The conviction of Hu Jia, 34, quickly brought outside criticism of China at a time when the government is already facing international concern over its handling of the Tibetan crisis. Hu's case has been followed closely, especially in Europe, and critics say his conviction is part of a government crackdown to silence dissidents before Beijing plays host to the Olympics in August.

Diane Sovereign, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, described the U.S. government's reaction to the verdict as "dismayed."

"Mr. Hu has consistently worked within China's legal system to protect the rights of his fellow citizens," Sovereign said. "These types of activities support China's efforts to institute the rule of law and should be applauded, not suppressed or punished."

Consider reading the whole thing.

I continue to be puzzled at how our federal government continues to appease Authoritarian China with such "perks" as "Most Favored Nation" trade status even though the Chinese government continues to exclude and/or heavily tax American-made products (such as Hollywood films and Harley-Davidson motorcycles) and worse, far worse, the Chinese regime's continued insults to our armed forces. (Such as denying our naval vessels safe port during storms and committing acts of air piracy against our military aircraft while flying in international airspace.)

And let's never forget how these thugs murdered untold numbers of their own people for the so-called "crime" of peacefully demonstrating their wish for a democratic government.

Let's also not forget what this criminal regime is doing to the people of occupied Tibet.