Beijing Continues to Punish Journalists

Publish something the Party doesn't like: go to jail. That's the message sent, again, by Beijing, aka Communist Party HQs. The world has been aware for sometime that Party leaders in Beijing flubbed early efforts to control the spread of the Corona-19 virus from its beginning in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province. Medical doctors were put on notice early on that they cannot speakout about the situation. A Dr. LIn was chastised early on for his early announcements about the spread of the virus and its deadly effects. And now we have more evidence of Beijing's efforts to silence any and ALL opposition to Party dictates. Ajournalist from Wuhan was arrested and tried in criminal court for her efforts to document and describe conditions in Wuhan in early 2020 as the virus began causing a health emergency there. Zhang Zhan, 37 years old, was sentenced by the "court" to 4(four) YEARS in prison for "picking quarrels and provoking trouble". I love the description of these alleged crimes, so pedestrian and simply put. Ms. Zhang went missing in May, a long time ago in this pandemic. Her friends found out she had been arrested. They also discovered she was force fed by prison officials when she went on a hunger strike. Her big problem is the psychological impact of isolation; the profound effects of incarceration and loss of personal freedom at the hands of the Communist Party. Journalists and observers were barred from the trial proceedings and sentencing. And we do business with these Communists? Hmmmmm. It seems like a long time ago Pres. Richard Nixon, and his lackey, Henry Kissinger, "opened" China relations in 1972-73. Mao was still walking the halls of the Kremlin(his stuffed carcess lies entombed in a mausoleum in Tianamen Square). Since then, hundreds of Chinese people have left the chains of rural poverty behind and moved into a decent lifestyle unimaginable 30 years ago. However, the Party has not changed its stripes and still insists on Party loyalty from all members and non-members alike. It remains to be seen what the president elect will do about human rights abuses in China when he assumes office in 3 weeks. The country watches and waits in eager anticipation.