Will I be able to follow the U.S. 2008 elections while studying in Beijing?

Question

I'm spending four months in mid 2008 studying Chinese language and culture at Beijing Language and Culture University and attending the Olympics.

I am very involved in politics and I plan to vote in the US elections in 2008. I will be back in time to vote at home without using an absentee ballot, but here's my concern:

While I have no intention to make noise or to be disrespectful to China about my political viewpoints, in order to make an informed decision so as to vote when I get home, I need to closely follow the U.S. elections in the news -- debates, commentary, etc. However, I've heard the internet and media are heavily censored in China. I've even been told sites with the word "democracy" are not viewable. That would make it impossible to follow the elections.

What are my options? Is it not as bad as I've heard? Are there workarounds? Would I get caught remote desktopping to a computer at home in the states to read the stuff through an American ISP?

The answers related to TV news stations are much appreciated. However I'm not sure if I'll have access to satellite/cable TV in my living situation so my primary concern is the internet. I.E., So in some places I can watch CNN. Can I read CNN.com uncensored?

Answer 1

It is most likely that CCTV 9 (Beijing only English speaking television programm will be covering some of the events). And to be honest although some sites are blocked from china although there no ban on such words, there are many numberous ways around that, web proxies etc, and I'm sure you will be able to follow the new with www.yahoo.com as well.

Answer 2

I personally wouldn't trust any Chinese media. Not only is it censored, it makes Fox News look fair and balanced. The China Daily is edited by the government and even CNN is censored and is only available in foreign hotels. Many people have satellite dishes and can access CNN, but satellite dishes are illegal in China.
Your best bet is the internet. You can access the New York Times and other newspapers (so long as they don't say anything bad about China) in most places in China (every place has different levels of censorship). It's mainly Chinese websites that are censored. English news makes it through the cracks much easier.
As for searching for "democracy," the Chinese have heard that and usually don't bother to directly censore searches for it. However, if you click on a democrasy site or human rights or whatever, it will say that the page doesn't exist.
This is easy to get around by using an anonymizer. (just type anonymizer in Google and find some addresses before you go)

Answer 3

I have been in China for four years. I find very few things are truly censored. You can easily access most US news from your computer. Plus, cable is available with many foreign channels, even the so-called "Fair and Balanced" FOX news. I don't even live in what is considered a major city and I get cable. Most hotels that cater to foreigners will also have cable access and you can probably watch the news there if you can't get cable. Also, there are websites where you can watch live tv as it is on stateside for free. I wouldn't be too worried if I were you. America's view of China tends to be much narower than the reality of life here. My students, senior one's, have no fear of discussing politics within the classroom nor most other topics we are told are taboo.

Answer 4

I live in China. This is my fourth year here. It really depends on where you live. Some apartment buildings are approved to receive a wide variety of satelllite foreign television stations while others get none. I live in a zone that receives BBC, CNN, Starworld, and CNBC so get regular news programming. But some friends are in districts that won't allow foreign programming so only get one English station which is CCTV9, a Beijing news station. If you happen to live in an apartment that doesn't get what you want, you can always hang out at an expat bar or five star hotel during debates or election night to see what's happening on those dates.

Answer 5

Are you kidding?! There are going to be MORE Chinese watching CNN on Election night next year- than there will be Americans! Who gets to be our NEXT president, is of GREAT interest to China...-because you can be SURE that they're VERY interested in who they'll trading with in the following years. Moreover, the Internet is spreading like wildfire across China now- so I see no reason why you can't get whatever information you need about the next Election- from it. Don't worry about it; I bet YOU'LL know who wins the 2008 Election- before the people in Hawaii do!!! :) :) :)

Answer 6

i do no longer understand if American newspapers could be banned/censored, however the Washington positioned up continuously supplies thorough insurance of all elections. i stumble on them to be the main informative and finished. And please, do no longer count on Fox no count number while you're there or right here!

Answer 7

You may have a few problems, but you realy need to get out more the US elections good grief, Im planning to watch apint dry

Answer 8

...typically , you have been massively misinformed...foreign newspapers, websites and english tv ( CCTV 9 - albeit not the best ) will provide you with most of your needs...it is true certain websites are blocked - sometimes temporarily sometimes permanently - but you won't be living in a prison state void of u.s. politics...

Answer 9

you can elect a chinese president instead