Breaking Tweets » China

Obama in China: Twitter users in region address Beijing visit

Craig Kanalley — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:57:43 +0000

As part of his first tour of Asia, U.S. President Barack Obama met Tuesday with Chinese leader Hu Jintao in Beijing, participating in a summit to discuss a number of issues, per BBC.

@stevebruskCNN tweeted the following about the event, “CNN live now…President Obama and President Hu make comments after their meeting in Beijing. Unlike many such events, no questions allowed.”

Twitter users in China are paying close attention to Obama’s visit to their country.

Annie_He (Beijing) #Obama talks abt human rights, the police arrests 20 dissidents & activists. http://is.gd/4WL0F what’s happening during Obama in #China . 17 Nov 2009 from web

amojiang (Beijing) Obama is here in BJ, that’s why the traffic was so slow around Chang an jie this morning…brrr…I was late for work 17 Nov 2009 from web

pmdfoster (Beijing) Obama’s limo and motorcade parked right on front steps of Great Hall of the People. Tried to sneak a peek. Shooed away. 17 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

telinida (Shanghai) cannot believe the number of Obama-Mao images springing up here in China….hmmmm oh the symbolism! 17 Nov 2009 from web

mlh2537 (Beijing) From HU’s facial apperacnce, a successful talk with Obama? 17 Nov 2009 from TwitIQ

Others in Asia have also been keeping a close eye on his trip:

casha527 (Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan) Obama is ok…I think…what’s their problem??? 16 Nov 2009 from web

Tootal (Japan) Is Obama going to sacrifice The Dalai Lama, blatant human rights violations, and Internet censorship to pally up with China? 17 Nov 2009 from web

technicolours (Seoul, South Korea) [grumbles about Obama for what must be the millionth time] 17 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

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UN Climate Change Summit: China taking lead?

Lindsey Drakert — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:26:26 +0000

China’s President Hu Jintao said at the United Nations Summit today in New York that China would work towards curbing its emissions, CNN reports. As the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, Jintao says the Chinese are committed to reduce its emissions by a “notable margin” in the upcoming years.

AP reported that U.S. President Barack Obama also talked at the summit earlier. “We understand the gravity of the climate threat. We are determined to act,” Obama said. “And we will meet our responsibility to future generations.”

Jintao did not present any specific proposals of how to accomplish reducing their carbon footprint. Some tweets criticized his and Obama’s announcements:

thereisnoplan (Beverly Hills, Calif.) @arenda china’s taken the lead on bs’ing about climate change. 22 Sep 2009 from Seesmic in reply to arenda

myYaletown (Vancouver, Canada) China vows climate change action but lacks real detail- emissions should grow slower than the economy. 22 Sep 2009 from web

dunnwilson (Truro, Cornwall, U.K.) If US and China don’t keep climate change promises we could make the leaders shop in truro Sainsbury’s. That’ll teach them to mess with us! 22 Sep 2009 from TwitterBerry

luluchadora (Undisclosed) please. someone tell me how china’s economy is still “emerging,” thus giving them a free pass to ignore int’l climate change regulations? 22 Sep 2009 from web

LadyBarometer (Chattanooga, TN) @CNN We should not be the only country steering toward climate change, it’s a world issue, not a U.S. Issue, just take a look at China. 22 Sep 2009 from web in reply to CNN

mlmattador (Orlando, Fla.) Why is the US not taking leadership on climate change… instead China and India are taking the lead… http://ow.ly/qvfh 22 Sep 2009 from HootSuite

Others were thankful of these peaceful talks that might just lead to a united front against climate change:

KevinAlcena (Bahamas) I am very proud of Pres. Obama and the Pres. of China. I feel that these 2 gentlemen are very sincere in their commitment to climate change. 22 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck

deadmagicbones (Undisclosed) Thank you to China for vowing to make efforts against climate change and co2 levels. 22 Sep 2009 from web

conneally (Geneva, Switzerland) As #China comes in from the cold, could Climate Change yet be a force for Global Unity? http://bit.ly/hfjYN 22 Sep 2009 from bit.ly

The hope that the two nations that are credited with contributing the most to the global climate change, China and the U.S., might encourage them to step up their programs to curb their emissions. However, some Twitterers thought that Jintao did a better job making promises to slow the climate change than Obama:

DaveKeating (London, U.K.) European frustrations with the US at this climate change summit are reaching boiling point. China is emerging as a hero http://bit.ly/EaEn9 22 Sep 2009 from web

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Riots erupt in China’s Xinjiang region

Scott Swanson — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:49:09 +0000

Per New York Times, at least 1000 rioters clashed with the police on Sunday in a regional capital in western China after days of rising tensions.

Police rushed on Sunday to restore order in the northwestern Chinese city of Urumqi where an unknown number of people attacked passers-by and torched vehicles, state media reported.

Much of the region is closed to journalists and independent observers, making it difficult to verify the government reports. Several journalists who have entered the region have been detained or forced to leave.

Tweets are starting to flow in over the rioting. Check back to BT for up-to-date information.

tingliucs (Washington DC) Riots in Urumqi, capital city of China-controlled Xinjiang Region. http://bit.ly/HF9Y1 05 Jul 2009 from web

henryhu89 (CHINA) RIOTS HAPPEN IN XINJIANG’ CAPITAL,WEST RELIGION OF CHINA.CHINATHREE HAN PEOPLE DIED,IT’S SAYD THAT CAPITAL BE ABOUT TO EMERGENCY 05 Jul 2009 from mobile web

_SeanKelly @jonah_kessel (California) Civilians die in China riots: Three civilians have died in rioting in the region.. http://tinyurl.com/pgcmlu 05 Jul 2009 from web

One Twitterer posted a link to the following video of the scene on Sunday:

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China blocks Twitter, other social media sites

Natasha Roman — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:49:16 +0000

Per The Huffington Post, China has put a massive block on Twitter and other social media sites that allow people to freely post their thoughts. June 4 is the 20th Anniversary of the Tienanmen Square crackdown, where citizens protested in support of democracy. The Chinese government response to the protest resulted in hundreds of people dying.

It is not entirely uncommon of the Chinese government to block such sites that are “deemed controversial before major events,” but today marks the first time that China has put a “wide spread censorship of social media.” The block is predicted to last at least until the anniversary date passes, according to the article.

The following is a list of all known social media sites that have been blocked in China: Twitter, YouTube, Blogspot, Tumblr, Livejournal, Flickr, Microsoft’s Live.com and the Huffington Post.

The Twitterverse shared their feelings on the Twitter block in China.

jdkshepard (Augusta, GA) China blocks twitter? I swear they’d block the sun if they could. let your people free. 02 Jun 2009 from web

ShellyRenee (California) China Blocks Twitter Thats Not Fair!!! ;( 02 Jun 2009 from web

Hawgs38 (New England) Anyone need a reminder how fortunate we are here in the USA? #China blocks Twitter, et al b4 Tiananmen 20th anniversary http://ff.im/-3vjaV 02 Jun 2009 from web

sandi4ebs @PeaceProfit (Pennsylvania) Just happy i don’t live in a country where the government has the audacity to pull a “China Blocks Twitter” stunt. 02 Jun 2009 from web in reply to PeaceProfit

didijazz (Bangkok) Feeling sorry for my friends in China who can no longer access Twitter/Hotmail/Bing/YouTube/Flickr etc. http://tinyurl.com/mc33bp 02 Jun 2009 from web

SuccessInAll (New York) China blocks Twitter: Wonder if that will start a trend in any other country.
Twitter is to cool to get blocked. 02 Jun 2009 from web

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First case of swine flu reported in China

Sophia Madana — Fri, 29 May 2009 22:39:37 +0000

Per United Press International, the first case of swine flu within Chinese borders has now been confirmed.

The victim is a 24 year-old woman who was hospitalized in Guangdong Province, China, after being in close contact with a confirmed carrier of the H1N1 virus, per the Times of India.

The woman is a make-up artist who worked for the confirmed carrier’s wedding. She came in contact with him while wedding photos were being taken. The confirmed carrier is a “28 year-old, Chinese-American man employed at a hospital in New York, who had flown in to Guangzhou on Sunday,” according to the article.

Tweets addressed the first swine flu case on Chinese mainland.

swinefluclear (Undisclosed) China and Japan please start stocking up with Swine Flu capsules – www.discounttamiflucapsules.com 29 May 2009 from web

cromwellian (Undisclosed) About to head to China, this scares me: Caught in China’s Aggressive Swine Flu Net:… http://ff.im/3ngOP 29 May 2009 from FriendFeed

hooky85 (China/Munich) got stopped at immigration in China, had to put a mask on and they thought i had Swine flu was funny…. 29 May 2009 from web

One Twitterer in China spoke of co-workers being quarantined.

ripa21 (Nyingchi, China) CHINA Quarantined 7 of my co-workers in Shanghai because of swine flu fears. Negotiating release right now. I’m boycotting Chinese food. 29 May 2009 from web

ripa21 (Nyingchi, China) China is releasing my co-works who were being detained because of swine flu scare. How we changed their mind who knows. Cry FREEDOM! 29 May 2009 from web

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North Korea threatens war on South Korea

Craig Kanalley — Wed, 27 May 2009 05:26:37 +0000

Per Yonhap News Agency in South Korea, North Korea said on Wednesday that South Korea’s decision to join a U.S.-led anti-proliferation program was a “declaration of war” and that it is no longer bound by the Korean War armistice agreement that ended the 1950-1953 conflict. The nation also said in a statement that it will respond militarily to any foreign inspections of its ships.

@BreakingNews reported the threats first to the Twitter world, though it appears to have slightly skewed North Korea’s claims based on the latest media reports.

BreakingNews BULLETIN — NORTH KOREA CALLS SOUTH KOREAN DECISION TO JOIN ANTI-PROLIFERATION PROGRAM A DECLARATION OF WAR. 27 May 2009 from BNO Headquarters

BreakingNews BULLETIN — NORTH KOREA SAYS IT WILL “USE ITS MILITARY” TO RESPOND TO SOUTH KOREAN DECISION. 27 May 2009 from BNO Headquarters

BreakingNews BULLETIN — NORTH KOREA ABANDONS KOREAN WAR ARMISTICE. 27 May 2009 from BNO Headquarters

At this time, no other news organization is reporting a state of war between the nations or that North Korea will definitively respond militarily to South Korea’s decision to join the U.S. program. A report from Bloomberg wrote only that North Korea “threatened military action,” far less definitive than the @BreakingNews tweet.

CNN’s @iDesk tweeted shortly after @BreakingNews, “We are checking all these reports from North Korea and having our experts distinguish between the facts and rhetoric.”

Twitterers in the region responded with confusion, as well as surprise.

freedomyears (Seoul, South Korea) why do I know nothing about this North Korea nonsense??? what did they do? american media hype as per… 27 May 2009 from web

peijinc (Shanghai, China) really ? north korea leaving the ceasefire agreement? 27 May 2009 from TweetDeck

richpav (Japan) OK, North Korea is officially scary now. 27 May 2009 from twhirl

jasohill (Hachimantai, Japan) What is going on with North Korea? Did they just declare war on South Korea? Twitter is confusing at the moment. 27 May 2009 from Power Twitter

SirSteven (Suzhou, China) Some disturbing single-line “declaration of war” missives coming out of North Korea press office. Just usual rhetoric? h/t CNN’s @klustout 27 May 2009 from Tweetie

KankiKnight (Tokyo, Japan) RT @klustout Very unsettling if confirmed. JUST IN: North Korea says it is no more bound to Korean War armistice: Yonhap http://tr.im/mvJY 27 May 2009 from web

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China’s sex theme park demolished

Sophia Madana — Mon, 18 May 2009 20:43:20 +0000

Per the Times of India, Love Land, China’s first would-be sex theme-park went under the wrecking ball over the weekend.

Chinese government spokesperson Yang did not give a reason for the demolition but photos filtered through the Internet showing the theme park in ruins. Speculation points to the “prudish attitude toward the discussion of sexuality,” as the reason behind destroying the park, according to the article.

The Twitterverse showed disappointment toward the action.

raphaelsmuse (Baltimore, Md.) goodbye Love Land : http://bit.ly/fBLFh

MarcoOnTheWeb (Los Angeles, Calif.) China is already closing Love Land, the first-ever sex theme park. This place is crazy! Blogged about it at http://www.marcogonzalez.com

eehard (Undisclosed) I can’t believe that they bull dozed Love Land. What do the Chinese have against sex? There’s a [expletive] billion of them!

b4yp (Pottstown, Pa.) No “Love Land” for the Chinese after all. Time to move it to the US? That’ll happen. Yeah. http://tr.im/lGav

BaronHawkey (Aylesbury, U.K.) Brilliant. Chinese sex theme park closes before it opens -Love Land was not to be… http://tinyurl.com/qdglbh 18 May 2009 from TwitterBerry

Turkeystick (Undisclosed) DAMNIT…Love Land, the Chinese Sex Park was torn down before it even opened. No exhibition on the History of Sex for me……… 18 May 2009 from web

Related article at Breaking Tweets: Controversial sex theme park to open in China, May 17, 2009

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Controversial sex theme park to open in China

Sophia Madana — Sun, 17 May 2009 17:37:19 +0000

Per the Times of India, Love Land, a sex theme park in China, is creating controversy among native residents, calling it “vulgar exhibition.”

Promoters of the theme park say it was meant to create conversation about a subject that is considered taboo, when the reality is that people in China need to have more access to information about sex. The theme park is primarily to educate and help couples enjoy a harmonious sex-life.

The park, opening in October in Chongqin, will feature “naked human sculptures and giant replica of human genitals,” according to the article.

While some people in China are offended by the park, many Twitterers are asking for a sex theme park close to their location or are looking to visit.

diavolina (Oakland, Calif.) you are now out of excuse on why you can’t go to china on vacation: they’re about to open their first sex theme park http://bit.ly/esLII

Elikapeka (Los Angeles, Calif.) lol RT @DivadNhoj1981 @CarnalNation: Sex Theme Park to Open in China http://tinyurl.com/oncekj II 我喜欢 (I like)！*Books flight*

joncarnero (New York, N.Y.) China gets Sex Theme Park, only hope Alaska gets one too ASAP. http://tr.im/lsO4

christinelu (Los Angeles, Calif.) “China to open first sex theme park” — all of a sudden, i want to visit Chongqing — http://tiny.cc/dQp7Y (h/t @chinaprime)

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One year later: China remembers Sichuan earthquake victims

Craig Kanalley — Tue, 12 May 2009 06:01:00 +0000

Per the Global Post, more than 90,000 people went dead or missing after a massive earthquake hit Sichuan province, China, on May 12, 2008.

Today is the one year anniversary of this event, and Chinese Twitterers and others in the Twitterverse are taking the time to tweet in honor of the victims and their families.

kellydepp (Hong Kong) 2008 May 12 earthquake in Szechwan, China. 2009 May 12 today is the day for us to mourn for the dead *silence* 12 May 2009 from web

lauraxu (Carlisle, Pa.) is in tears for 2008 Sichuan earthquake again but is absolutely faithful for the future of her lovely hometown! 12 May 2009 from web

fir_zhou (Undisclosed) One year,Sichuan Wenchuan earthquake ,please pray for the people who lost their home and family. 12 May 2009 from TwitterFox

Zhentou (Zhengzhou, China) It has been a year since the 5.12 Wenchuan earthquake,I wish the people in disaster area a bright future. 12 May 2009 from web

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yvoria (Sydney, Australia) Heartquake caused by a powerful earthquake at two past twenty eight of May12th last year. God bless and keep u all! 12 May 2009 from mobile web

afra_w (China) I’m much more lucky than the people who lost their family in the earthquake!thank god!we must fight to the destiny!be stronger! 12 May 2009 from web

longxiang (Beijing, China) 5.12, memoral for the victims in the earthquake one year ago! 12 May 2009 from web

junhu88 (Wuhan, China) Let’s pray for the dead in Wenchuan earthquake in May 12th,2008. 12 May 2009 from web

gas915 (Hong Kong) one minute silence at 2.28 p.m for the Sichuan Earthquake 12 May 2009 from web

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YuweiZhang (China) One year has passed since WenChuan was hit by earthquake..Wish the perished victims rest in peace and the survivors live in sprits. 12 May 2009 from web

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Quarantined hotel guests released in Hong Kong

Craig Kanalley — Fri, 08 May 2009 16:38:00 +0000

Per Xinhua, local authorities lifted a quarantine on the Metropark Hotel in Wanchai, Hong Kong, on Friday, allowing nearly 300 guests to leave after being held for a week. A Mexican man staying at the hotel was found to have swine flu, prompting the shutdown.

Twitterers in Hong Kong and China have been closely following the case, providing updates on the situation and personal accounts.

klustout (Hong Kong) Party time? Balloons and yes, McMeals, delivered to quarantine “guests” at HK’s Metropark hotel http://is.gd/x5ff #H1N1 06 May 2009 from web

Shaun_Sinniah (Hong Kong) @PeterYEAH friend of mine was getting a tat in a hotel and ended up, a guy with swine flu was staying there…got quarantined for a week 07 May 2009 from TwitterFox in reply to PeterYEAH

patriklockne (China) People released from quarantine in HK hotel speak of “love, lust and laughter”. Will there be a movie? http://tinyurl.com/pme4m9 (paywalled) 08 May 2009 from web

markmackinnon (Hong Kong) End of quarantine party at Hong Kong’s Metropark hotel sounds like it was a blast: http://tinyurl.com/osu356 08 May 2009 from web

dc68 (Hong Kong) Thinking that the crowd gathering around the MetroPark tonight is akin to eviction night at the Big Brother house. 08 May 2009 from mobile web

AndreMartin (Hong Kong) With all the media buzz around the Metropark Hotel in Hong Kong, the world forgot there was another swine flu quarantine camp, in Sai Kung.. 08 May 2009 from twhirl

scmp888 (Hong Kong) Take a look back at some of the videos from inside the quarantined Metropark Hotel in #hk http://is.gd/xJy9 Parties & not #swineflu it seems 08 May 2009 from web

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