Tea Leaf Nation

Guerrilla warfare, Mao Zedong’s favorite modus operandi, is being used against the army he created. And the grassroots warriors have just scored a small victory. China’s Internet users began a campaign earlier this year to post photos of luxury cars carrying special military plates on China’s social media, mainly the sites Sina Weibo and Tianya. Vehicles with easily recognizable [...]

On March 3, an article entitled “Focusing and Building up a ‘Strong Military’ Dream” appeared on the front page of the PLA Daily. At first glance, the article appeared to be a typical propaganda piece, appropriate to publish during China’s Two Sessions, the meeting of China’s congress. The article was replete with slogans like, “Obeying [...]

As many China-watchers know by now, a recent earth-shaking report from U.S. cyber security firm Mandiant has alleged that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army is behind many cyber attacks against American organizations. It’s a complex and grim issue, to be sure. For those looking for a more irreverent take on the news, Taiwan-based Next Media [...]

This article also appears on ChinaFile, a Tea Leaf Nation partner site. As The New York Times reported yesterday evening, U.S.-based cybersecurity firm Mandiant has just released a deeply troubling report called “Exposing One of China’s Cyber Espionage Units.” The report alleges wide-spread hacking sponsored by the People’s Liberation Army, which is controlled by the [...]

All drivers in China probably have had the experience at least once. While one waits dutifully in front of a red light or gets in line to pay a toll, another car bearing a special white license plate marking its status as a vehicle belonging to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) or the Armed Police [...]

On China Southern Airlines flight CZ3874 from Hefei to Guangzhou on August 29, a couple of drunk passengers hit a flight attendant over an argument about luggage placement. The flight attendant, using the handle @花Money买毛豆, tweeted a description of the events on Sina Weibo, China’s Twitter, and posted photos of her injuries. The effective “human-flesh [...]

At least, not in this photo contrast. While it may present an unfair picture of what appears to be U.S. Army discipline, we can safely say Gunnery Sergeant Hartman would not have been impressed. @落雪是花博报 tweets on Sina Weibo, China’s Twitter: “What’s the job of a solider? And how do you accomplish this job? Look at [...]