The Internet Is Changing How China Is Governed

Chinese Premier Wen lays a bouquet of flowers to mourn for victims of the train accident in Wenzhou Photo: REUTERS

'Grandpa Wen' Left Helpless As Internet drives Wave Of Unrest Through China -- The Telegraph

Whenever China suffers a major disaster, a visit from Wen Jiabao, or "Grandpa Wen", is usually enough to comfort the victims and reassure the country that its Communist leaders are looking after them.

So five days after two Chinese bullet trains collided in the south of the country, killing at least 39 and injuring more than 200, Mr Wen duly arrived at the scene.

Standing on a patch of gravel on Thursday that had been cleared of the wreckage, the Chinese premier promised to "get to the bottom" of what had gone wrong and apologised for not arriving sooner, blaming an 11-day illness and doctor's orders to rest.

In the past, that might have been the end of it. But on Thursday, Mr Wen succeeded only in ratcheting up public anger a notch.

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My Comment: Even before the internet, unrest and protests (both in public and private) was always present in China. The difference is that today anyone who has web access can now voice their disapproval/disagreement with the authorities, and have an audience to listen to them. Chinese Premier Wen and his handlers know that, which is why I am surprised that they decided to lie 9anyway) and make the claim that he was ill for 11 days.