Recently, China Post issued an emergency notice requiring it to stop delivering and retailing the 2024 sixth issue of “People” magazine within Beijing.
[The Epoch Times, July 10, 2024](Reported by Epoch Times reporter Li Jing) It was recently reported online that China Post, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Finance of the Communist Party of China, issued an emergency notice requiring it to stop delivery and retail sales within Beijing of the 2024 sixth issue of “People” magazine. The magazine issues were destroyed on the spot, but no reason was given. However, there is speculation that it may be related to the article “An American Walks in the Northeast”.
On social media platforms at home and abroad, a widely circulated official notice showed that the Beijing Newspaper and Periodicals Distribution Bureau of China Post Group issued an “urgent notice on stopping the delivery of the 6th issue of “People” in 2024″ on July 5.
The notice states that the provincial (autonomous and municipal) newspaper and periodical distribution bureaus (Ministry of Philately and Cultural Communication): “According to the requirements of newspapers and periodicals, the 6th issue of “People” (mailing code 2-203) issued on July 3, 2024 needs to be released for some reason. Please immediately stop delivery and retail sales, destroy them on site, and strictly prohibit them from entering the market. The reissue date of this magazine will be notified later.”
The notice also mentioned that the seven provinces including Jiangsu, Anhui, Guangdong, Hunan, Sichuan, and Chongqing that are not within the supply scope of Beijing are not involved in the above situation.
The above notice did not explain the specific circumstances of the official destruction of this issue of “People” magazine, which triggered various speculations in online public opinion.
Some Weibo netizens commented: “What happened to this issue of People magazine?” “Whoever has this magazine can take photos and send them to me for free.”
Weibo user “Xiao Ping Finance” said: “People magazine was destroyed on the spot. Some people say it was an advertising issue, but I don’t think so. The advertising issue is a dispute between the magazine and Party A. Generally, the publication will be confirmed repeatedly, even in advance. They send samples. If there is no feedback, the magazine will confirm the publication by default. Even if there is a problem, there may be many solutions to it.”
On the social media platform
The Epoch Times reporter searched and found that the official Weibo of People magazine published this article on May 27. The article tells the story of an American hiking in China. The protagonist of the story is named Paul Saropek (Paul Salopek, a journalist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner).
It is worth noting that Paul’s hiking trip in China happened during the epidemic in China.
According to the article, in the late summer and early autumn of 2021, Paul left Myanmar and wanted to enter China from Yunnan. However, the Chinese port was closed due to the epidemic, and he might only take a plane to enter China from Shanghai. After entering Shanghai Pudong Airport, Paul was sent to an isolation hotel and vaccinated with a domestic vaccine. He flew to Yunnan once more, departed from Yunnan and headed north, arriving in Beijing in June 2023. In mid-November 2023, Paul, the author of the article, and two other hikers Pan Pan and Haotian set off from Beijing to Liaoning.
The article mentioned at the end that when Paul first set out from Africa 10 years ago, he wrote regarding Cristina Calderón of Tierra del Fuego in the first article of his National Geographic column. According to the original plan, Paul should have reached the end of the world in South America in 2020 and successfully met with Christina. But the reality is that Paul was still walking in China in 2023, and Christina also passed away in the winter of 2022 due to complications caused by the new coronavirus.
The article did not mention the American’s final destination. The reporter noticed that except for “Americans”, “domestic vaccines”, “new crown” (also known as “Chinese Communist Party virus”) and “complications caused by new crown”, which are considered sensitive words by the authorities, there were no other “sensitive words”.
Editor in charge: Li Yuyuan#
Recommended reading:
China Post Suspends Distribution of “People” Magazine Issue Over Unspecified Reasons
On July 5, 2024, China Post, a subsidiary of the Chinese Communist Party’s Ministry of Finance, issued an emergency notice halting the delivery and retail sales of the sixth issue of “People” magazine within Beijing. The notice mandates the immediate destruction of all copies of the magazine on location, prohibiting its entry into the market. While no explicit reason has been provided for this action, speculation has emerged surrounding an article titled “An American Walks in the Northeast,” which appeared in the controversial issue.
An Official Notice and Public Speculation
The official notice, widely circulated across domestic and international social media platforms, was issued by the Beijing Newspaper and Periodicals Distribution Bureau of China Post Group. The notice directed all provincial newspaper and periodical distribution bureaus to stop delivering and retail sales of the magazine, specifically referencing “People” (mailing code 2-203) released on July 3, 2024. It emphasized the need for immediate action and stressed the importance of preventing the magazine’s entry into the market. A reissue date was not specified.
The notice explicitly excludes seven provinces: Jiangsu, Anhui, Guangdong, Hunan, Sichuan, and Chongqing. These provinces are not within the supply scope of Beijing and are therefore not affected by the suspension order.
The absence of a clear explanation for the destruction of the magazine has ignited widespread discussion and speculation online. Many Weibo users expressed confusion, questioning the reason behind the move. Some users jokingly suggested obtaining photographs of the magazine, illustrating the public’s curiosity and concern.
User “Xiao Ping Finance” commented that while some attributed the incident to an advertisement issue, the magazine’s usual procedures suggest otherwise. Advertisers typically request multiple confirmations, including advance sample submissions. The publication typically proceeds on the assumption of confirmation unless feedback is received. If issues arise, alternative solutions are usually explored.
The “An American Walks in the Northeast” Article
An investigation by The Epoch Times reporter uncovered the article, published on May 27, on the People magazine official Weibo account. The article chronicles the experiences of an American hiker named Paul Salopek, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist known for his extensive travels.
The article highlights Paul’s journey through China while navigating pandemic restrictions during the COVID-19 outbreak. He encountered difficulties, including being quarantined in an isolation hotel in Shanghai and needing to be vaccinated with a domestic vaccine following his entry from Myanmar via Shanghai Pudong Airport.
After venturing to Yunnan and then Beijing, Paul embarked on a new leg of his journey to Liaoning in mid-November 2023, accompanied by two other hikers, Pan Pan and Haotian. While the article does not disclose the ultimate destination of Paul’s trek, it emphasizes his global project that began in Africa ten years prior, focusing on the human connections and stories across diverse cultures.
The article notably mentions sensitive topics that might have contributed to the suspension, including the American hiker’s encounter with “domestic vaccines” and “the new crown (also known as ‘Chinese Communist Party virus’)”.
Possible Interpretations and Potential Impacts
While the official reason for the suspension remains unknown, the article’s content and context provide insights into potential factors contributing to the decision. The article’s exploration of a foreign traveler’s experiences navigating China’s pandemic restrictions, including the mention of sensitive terms, might have triggered concerns within the Chinese authorities.
The incident serves as a reminder of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) strict control over media narratives, particularly concerning topics that might challenge or contradict government narratives. The CCP’s sensitivity to issues like the pandemic and foreign travel, particularly during periods of heightened political tension, might have led to the decision to curb the circulation of the magazine.
The suspension of the magazine’s distribution raises questions regarding censorship and freedom of expression in China. While the CCP has progressively tightened its control over information flow, the extent of its intervention in seemingly inconsequential publications like “People” magazine highlights the ongoing struggle for open and free communication in China.
A Look Beyond the Article
It is crucial to recognize that the article may only represent one aspect of a broader strategy. The CCP might have additional, yet undisclosed, reasons for halting the magazine’s distribution and destruction of the copies.
The incident serves as a significant example of the CCP’s ability to effectively manage and control its domestic narrative. While the exact rationale behind the suspension remains unclear, the episode underscores the CCP’s vigilant oversight of information dissemination within its borders and its commitment to shaping public opinion.
It is also important to consider that the act of destroying the magazine further underscores the CCP’s control over information and its willingness to take drastic measures to suppress any material deemed potentially harmful to its narrative or authority.
