Freezing Point tests China's official stance on history and press freedom

There is a major scandal taking place in China right now that involves two areas that relate to my studies, Chinese media and Chinese history, and an area of interest, the Chinese Internet.

In a nutshell, a weekly supplement to the China Youth Daily (中国青年报) called Freezing Point (冰点周刊) was shut down this week after printing an article "Modernization and History Textbooks" (现代化与历史教科书) by Professor Yuan Weishi (袁伟时) of Zhongshan University (中山大学) that questions Chinese textbooks' descriptions and interpretations of modern Chinese history (specifically, imperialist military actions against Qing forces and the Boxers). (Chinese Original, translation by 東南西北, scroll down about halfway to read it)

Here's the East South West North (東南西北) blog translation of the alleged China Youth League Central Propaganda Department (共青团中央宣传部) reaction to the article (scroll down on this link for the original and translation):

On January 11, China Youth Daily Freezing Point Weekly pubilshed Zhongshan University History Department professor Yuan Weishi's essay "Modernization and History Textbooks". The essay attempted to vindicate the criminal acts by the imperialist powers in invading China; it seriously distorted historical facts; it seriously contradicted news propaganda discipline; it serious damaged the national feelings of the Chinese people; it serious damaged the image of China Youth Daily and it created bad social influence. The related central government department has issued a serious critique.

It's not the first time Freezing Point has gotten into trouble. It has questioned the "official" version of Chinese history regarding the Guomindang-CCP alliance during WWII, and has also printed a piece by a Taiwanese intellectual which the authorities apparently objected to.

As for the latest article, Chinese media have been told by Chinese propaganda officials not to report on Freezing Point shutting down, but journalists and intellectuals and lots of other observers have weighed in nonetheless (via the Internet, if they can avoid the censors). Also, overseas journalists and bloggers have taken up the story, including the Washington Post and New York Times. Yuan's analysis is very long, but there is one paragraph that stood out, that says a great deal about the official mentality in China:

The current history textbooks are using this concept to guide thinking. It is obvious that we must love our country. But there are two ways to love our country. One way is to inflame nationalistic passions. Traditional Chinese culture had deeply ingrained ideas such as "Chinese and foreigners are different" and "if you not my kind, then your loyalties must be opposite to mine." Our thinking is still poisoned by them today. The latest edition is this: if there is a conflict between China and others, then China must be right; patriotism means opposing the other powers and the foreigners. In the selection and presentation of historical materials, we will only use those that favor China whether they are true or false. The other choice is this: we analyze everything rationally; if it is right, it is right and if it is wrong, it is wrong; calm, objective and wholly regard and handle all conflicts with the outside.

Professor Yuan deserves a great deal of praise for daring to apply critical thinking in public to the propaganda-infused textbook version of modern Chinese history, and the editors of Freezing Point deserve praise for daring to publish it and speaking up for press rights in China. They're brave enough to stand up for what's right, despite the negative consequences -- something Microsoft and Google seem incapable of doing.