China in the headlines – 2 July 2008

In the latest wrap-up from news outlets and bloggers across the globe:

OLYMPICS TRIGGERING TRAGIC CHINESE CRACKDOWN: CONGRESSMAN
AFP – A leading US congressman said Tuesday China was carrying out a tragic crackdown to smother dissent during the Olympics, triggering a warning by Beijing to butt out or risk harming Sino-US ties …

RELEASED DISSIDENT VOWS TO APPEAL
Radio Free Asia – Ten years after he helped to found the first serious attempt at a political opposition party in China under Communist Party rule, Zha Jianguo is out of jail …

FACEBOOK GETS POKED IN CHINA
Wall St Journal Blogs – Following Facebook’s recent launch of a Chinese-language version for mainland China, users in some parts of Beijing are finding the site’s homepage inaccessible …

CHINESE SEEK A DAY IN COURT
Wall St Journal – The earthquake that rocked Sichuan province is emerging as an unexpected test of China's evolving legal system …

OLYMPICS COUNTDOWN: CITIZENS LOSE FREEDOM
Boxun – Series of arrests and harassment involving civil rights activists,dissidents,and Christians have taken place to meet a so-called harmonious society upon and during Beijing Olympics …

BOSS HU AND THE PRESS
The China Beat Blog – One June 20, Hu Jintao paid a high profile visit to the People’s Daily. His foray to the editorial offices of the CCP mouthpiece was first announced in the form of what turned out to be all but a Hoax: …

DALAI LAMA/BEIJING TALKS: A GLIMPSE OF LIGHT?
Time Blog – Well, amazing as it may seem to some, I may have made a misjudgment: the Dalai Lama's representatives are here in Beijing meeting with Chinese officials for the next couple of days and there are some signs that they may actually achieve something …

ATHLETES ANNOUNCE OPEN LETTER ON DARFUR AND OLYMPIC TRUCE
New York Times Blog – More than 130 athletes have signed an open letter asking the international community to pressure Sudan for a truce during the Olympics, the activist organization Team Darfur announced at a news conference in Washington …

THOUSANDS MARCH FOR GREATER DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG
Reuters – Thousands in Hong Kong urged Beijing to grant it greater democracy on Tuesday, with a recent furor over newly appointed political aides stoking perceptions of the unelected government's lack of accountability …