BBC Learning English
Words in the News
China: Celebrities to promote virtue
16 August 2013
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The official in charge of the internet in China has called for celebrities to promote virtue
among their followers on social media. The official, Lu Wei, said famous people should
inform against any activities that could be harmful. The BBC's Joe Boyle reports.
Lu Wei's comments appear to have been provoked by an incident last month in which a
popular Chinese singer, Wu Hongfei, was arrested after she published a message
threatening to blow up a local government building. She was eventually released, but
her message sparked a huge debate about freedom of speech.
Lu Wei is trying to enlist that sort of influence in the hope of pleasing both the
Communist Party, which is desperate to maintain power, and millions of young internet
users, equally desperate for the freedom to say whatever they want.
Hundreds of millions of Chinese people use the internet, and its influence has worried the
Communist Party for years, particularly when the central government becomes a target.
For example, in March last year, a number of websites carried rumours that there was a
coup going on in Beijing. All of them were shut down and their owners were arrested.
For China's leaders, controlling the internet has become a routine part of controlling the
country.
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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Vocabulary and definitions
provoked caused a reaction
threatening saying he will do something
sparked started, caused to start
freedom of speech being able to say or write whatever you like without
government interference
desperate feeling hopeless about a situation
target focus, the central point
rumours suggestions, without proof, that something might be
true
coup illegal seizure of power from the government
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/08/130816_witn_social_media.shtml
Related story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-23663265
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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bbclearningenglish.com