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