"invited to tea"

China is being “invited to tea” in the US.  This phrase refers to when the Chinese government calls on individuals who are suspected of questionable behavior to explain themselves.  For example, if a student visits off-limits websites, they might be contacted to explain their actions, otherwise known as “invited to tea.”  Apparently this is fairly common and not just for radical political dissidents who very vocally express opposition ideas.  How the government knows who is doing what is the question I’m asking.  How is it possible to keep track of 1.3 billion people?

Later this week, Chinese leaders will be in California to discuss accusations of cybersyping.  The country with no free flow of information and extreme censorship is a source of hacking into sensitive US military and corporate information?  Amazing irony.

Getting out past the “Great Firewall” is a daily challenge requiring a VPN.  Since I teach without textbooks, I find all of my material using the Internet; without it, I couldn’t teach.  My Internet connection is unstable and occasionally I need my VPN provider to build new “tunnels.”  …. We need tunnels to “go over the wall.”  Facebook is blocked.  YouTube is blocked.  Like many US teachers, I use YouTube to download teaching videos to show my classes.  Just this afternoon I downloaded a TED talk on negotiating peace.  My students ask about how I get on YouTube, so I just say, “you have to pay,” and leave it at that.  I’m not about to tell them about illegal VPNs.

I’ve heard the argument that government censorship of information is necessary to prevent wrong information or incomplete information from confusing people.  It’s a belief that the government knows what is correct and best.

critical thinking in action: student responses on the
Free Flow of Information Theory

In a way, it makes sense that hacking and spying are coming from China.  Could it be an extension of the copying culture?   Chinese businesses are well known for copying everything from consumer goods to whole towns.  Students believe copying is fine.  Teachers seem to accept the practice.  I’ve explained US school policies about plagiarism, and I ask my students to do their own work, thinking, but it’s really, really challenging for them.  Critical and creative thinking are not a focus in the Chinese education system.