A Photo of Victory and Friendship
On October 1, 2023, the Asian Games in Hangzhou witnessed a thrilling race in the women’s 100m hurdles final. China’s Lin Yuwei and Wu Yanni, who were competing in lanes 6 and 4 respectively, gave their best performance and finished first and second. However, Wu was later disqualified for a false start, leaving Lin as the sole gold medalist for China.
The two athletes, who are also friends and teammates, hugged each other after the race, showing their mutual respect and support. The photo of their embrace was widely shared on social media platforms such as Weibo, where users congratulated Lin for her victory and praised Wu for her sportsmanship.
A Hidden Reference to a Taboo Topic
However, some users soon noticed that the photo of the hugging athletes was no longer visible on their posts. Instead, they saw a grey square indicating that the image had been censored. Other photos of Lin and Wu remained online, but the one that captured their emotional moment was deleted.
The reason for the censorship was not explicitly stated, but many internet users speculated that it was due to the inadvertent reference to the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989, which occurred on June 4. The numbers 6 and 4, which were displayed on Lin and Wu’s race numbers, have become a common way of alluding to the incident, which is also known as the June Fourth Incident or simply 64.
The Tiananmen Square massacre was a brutal crackdown by the Chinese military on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing, resulting in hundreds or thousands of deaths and injuries. The exact number of casualties remains unknown, as the Chinese government has never released official figures or acknowledged responsibility for the violence.
The incident is one of the most sensitive and taboo topics in China, where any mention or symbol of it is strictly censored and suppressed by the authorities. Even the most subtle or indirect references to the massacre, such as candles, flowers, or cakes resembling tanks, can trigger online censorship or offline surveillance.
A Sign of China’s Tight Control over Information
The censorship of the photo of Lin and Wu is not an isolated case, but rather a reflection of China’s tight control over information and expression. China has one of the most sophisticated and comprehensive internet filtering and censorship systems in the world, known as the Great Firewall. The system blocks access to many foreign websites and social media platforms, such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), and monitors domestic online activities for any content that is deemed harmful or subversive to the ruling Communist Party.
China also employs a large number of human censors and artificial intelligence algorithms to delete or restrict any posts that violate the government’s guidelines or regulations. These posts can range from political dissent and criticism to social issues and entertainment gossip. Users who post such content can face account suspension, fines, or even imprisonment.
China’s censorship system is especially active during sensitive dates or events, such as anniversaries of historical incidents, national holidays, or international sports competitions. The Asian Games in Hangzhou are one such occasion, where China is keen to showcase its achievements and glory while suppressing any negative or controversial voices.
A Loss of Freedom and History
The censorship of the photo of Lin and Wu has sparked outrage and ridicule among some internet users, who see it as a ridiculous and unnecessary act that infringes on their freedom and history. They argue that the photo was simply a display of friendship and sportsmanship between two athletes, and that there was no intention or implication of referring to the Tiananmen Square massacre. They also question why China is so afraid of facing its own past and acknowledging its mistakes.
However, many other internet users are unaware or indifferent to the censorship, as they have grown up with little or no knowledge about the Tiananmen Square massacre or other suppressed events in China’s history. They have been exposed to a selective and distorted version of history that glorifies the Communist Party and its leaders while omitting or whitewashing its crimes and failures.
The censorship of the photo of Lin and Wu is not only a loss of a moment of joy and pride for two athletes, but also a loss of freedom and history for millions of Chinese people.
