U.S Vice President Dick Cheney presented a speech on freedom and democracy on April 19 in Shanghai. The People’s Daily Net, Xinghua Net and other official Chinese media censored it and eliminated certain content. The “full text” published on the Internet omitted any mention of freedom, democracy or Taiwan-related subjects. Facing ridicule and questioning from other media, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ spokesperson Kong Quan still refuses to admit any censorship took place on the afternoon of April 20, and stated that whether or not the full text was posted is “the news agency’s business.”

Yu Maochun, a China expert in the U.S. Naval Academy, pointed out that the transcript of Cheney’s speech at Fudan University has been revised by China’s censors to make the Chinese version of the speech “fit for the mindsets of all Chinese viewers.”

Yu pointed out that in the Chinese Communist’s official newspaper, People’s Daily, and on other websites, the published Chinese version of Cheney’s speech was labeled “full text,” yet has very obviously been censored to insure that all the issues relating to freedom and democracy have been deleted. Comparing the so-called “full text” with the real speech, 20 points have been changed in the body of the speech and the question-and-answer section.

The Chinese government’s control over the media has never been lax. The government-controlled media are constantly covering up the mishaps of the government—especially regarding the sensitive subject of China and Taiwan. They are only allowed to report positively on China. Cheney said, “We are obligated under that act [Taiwan Relations Act] to provide Taiwan with the capacity to defend itself should that be necessary and we do that through the sale of military equipment from time to time.” This section has been completely deleted, as though he never said it.

Yu also said that if this type of censorship is normal to Chinese citizens, yet if it happened in Western countries, the media in question would receive severe criticism. “Censorship is a habit they can’t kick,” he commented.

Facing the other nations’ exposure, and media’s interest, Kong publicized today that while Cheney was presenting the speech in Fudan University, the broadcast stations and the television stations did a live broadcast. “No such thing [censorship] occurred,” he said. As to afterward, whether the text of Cheney’s speech should be publicized word for word, he replied, “I believe this is the news agency’s business.”

Cheney’s speech was broadcast live on Chinese Central Television Channel 4, a channel aimed at overseas Chinese viewers. The speech was not shown on CCTV Channel 1, which is the primary news channel for the Mainland.