{"id":2860,"date":"2014-09-03T03:47:17","date_gmt":"2014-09-03T03:47:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chinesepen.org\/english\/?p=2860"},"modified":"2014-09-01T18:54:15","modified_gmt":"2014-09-01T18:54:15","slug":"tienchi-martin-liao-traitor-or-patriot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chinesepen.org\/english\/tienchi-martin-liao-traitor-or-patriot","title":{"rendered":"Tienchi Martin-Liao: Traitor or Patriot?"},"content":{"rendered":"

February 27, 2013<\/span><\/p>\n

Now the world knows Li Chengpeng\u2019s The Whole World Knows<\/p>\n

\"li-e1361980647417\"<\/a>
\nLi Chengpeng, author of ‘The Whole World Knows,’ at a book signing in Chengdu. Photo: Courtesy of Tienchi Martin Liao.
\nIt\u2019s a paradox: The suppressor is the biggest promoter of the suppressed.<\/p>\n

Without the Chinese government\u2019s disturbed behavior, Liu Xiaobo would not have received the Nobel Peace Prize, nor would Ai Weiwei have become an international icon. Similarly, the nationally popular writer and blogger Li Chengpeng has recently attracted international attention, thanks to an official \u201cpromotion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Li, the 44 year-old Weibo-writer, has over 6 million fans in China, yet it\u2019s still very difficult for him to publish his books because all ISBN numbers are controlled by the authorities. Since his books contain sensitive social criticism, no one wants to take the risk.<\/p>\n

Well, almost no one.<\/p>\n

Last winter, after three years of effort, Li finally found a small publishing house, Xinxing (New Star Press) in Beijing, which was willing to publish his essay collections.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis country must publish such a book,\u201d one of Xinxing\u2019s editors said. The other declared, \u201cIn our time, there must be someone who dares to take responsibility for this book.\u201d Nevertheless, the publishing house took many precautions with Li\u2019s work. Everything was kept secret during the proof-reading process; Li and his editor avoided using cell phones, and deleted the manuscript right after sending it to the printer, before it was even on the shelf. Finally, The Whole World Knows was out in January and Li went to Beijing for the book tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cBig eyes\u201d Li, as his fans calls him, was surprised that, among his audience in Beijing, both the police and patriotic leftists were waiting for him. Last September Li wrote an article, \u201cConfessions of a Traitor,\u201d which criticized anti-Japanese nationalists and explained that a \u201cboycott of Japanese goods\u201d is just a form of self-deception for \u201cbrain damaged\u201d patriots.<\/p>\n

At the book signing in Beijing, Li was punched by two men and threatened with a gift-wrapped knife. These people were probably angry with him for criticizing his own fatherland while expressing tolerance of the Japanese, who recently displayed\u2014again\u2014their ambitions in the Senkaku-Island dispute.
\nFor detail please visit here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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