{"id":96188,"date":"2024-02-05T00:01:01","date_gmt":"2024-02-05T00:01:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.estaql.com\/exiled-chinese-artist-ai-weiwei-censorship-in-west-exactly-the-same-as-maos-china-politics-news\/"},"modified":"2024-02-05T00:01:01","modified_gmt":"2024-02-05T00:01:01","slug":"exiled-chinese-artist-ai-weiwei-censorship-in-west-exactly-the-same-as-maos-china-politics-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/estaql.com\/seo\/exiled-chinese-artist-ai-weiwei-censorship-in-west-exactly-the-same-as-maos-china-politics-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Exiled Chinese artist Ai Weiwei: ‘Censorship in West exactly the same as Mao’s China’ | Politics News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Exiled Chinese artist Ai Weiwei: ‘Censorship in West exactly the same as Mao’s China’ | Politics News<\/h2>\n

Exiled Chinese artist Ai Weiwei: ‘Censorship in West exactly the same as Mao’s China’ | Politics News<\/p>\n

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Political censorship in the West today is “exactly the same” as it was in China under its ruthless communist leader Mao Zedong, exiled artist Ai Weiwei has told Sky News.<\/p>\n

The 66-year-old dissident told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips<\/strong> that “society becomes so timid, to really avoid any kind of questioning or argument”.<\/p>\n

He was responding to a question about the cancellation of his exhibition by the Lisson Gallery in London in November following comments on social media referencing the Israel-Hamas conflict<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

His post, which was subsequently deleted, suggested the “sense of guilt around the persecution of the Jewish people” had been transferred and used against the Arab world.<\/p>\n

He also argued the Jewish community had a significant influence in the media, finance and culture in the US, and that America’s $3bn (\u00a32.45bn) annual military aid to Israel meant the two countries had a “shared destiny”.<\/p>\n

Ai told Phillips: “You know, society becomes so timid, to really avoid any kind of questioning or argument.<\/p>\n

“So basically I was talking on Twitter, just answering someone’s question.<\/p>\n

“Normally you can talk, or whatever you like.<\/p>\n

“You can joke, you can make fun, you can, you know, just give your opinions.<\/p>\n

“But today I see so many people by giving their basic opinions, they get fired, they get censored.<\/p>\n

“This has become very common.”<\/p>\n

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\n Western artists have been ‘corrupted by capitalism’, says Ai. Pic: AP
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Referring to his own family’s exile when he was one year old, the activist said: “I grew up within this heavy political censorship.<\/p>\n

“I realise now, today in the West, you are doing exactly the same.”<\/p>\n

He drew parallels with the disastrous purge under Mao, which took China to the brink of anarchy.<\/p>\n

Criticising the suspension of two New York University professors for comments related to Gaza<\/strong>, Ai said: “This is really like a cultural revolution, which is really trying to destroy anybody who have different attitudes, not even a clear opinion.<\/p>\n

“So I think that this is such a pity, that it happened in the West, so broadly in universities, in media, in every location.<\/p>\n

“In universities or political sector – everywhere – you cannot talk about the truth.”<\/p>\n

Ai’s art often addresses political issues in China<\/strong> and he has frequently criticised Beijing’s record on human rights and democracy.<\/p>\n

Read more from Sky News:
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Indian model fakes death in cancer publicity stunt<\/strong><\/p>\n

Asked if he believed Western artists were doing enough to defend freedom of expression, Ai described them as having been “corrupted by capitalism”.<\/p>\n

“They are just seeking money and also to be famous,” he said.<\/p>\n

In 2011, Ai was arrested at Beijing Capital International Airport and detained for 81 days. He left China in 2015 and has not returned since.<\/p>\n

His main residence is currently in Portugal, but he maintains a studio in Berlin and a property in the UK.<\/p>\n

But the artist said he “never regrets” speaking out.<\/p>\n

He said: “I’m defending a value which would profit and benefit everybody.<\/p>\n

“My little experience does not really matter, but rather I somewhat have to speak out.<\/p>\n

“An artist has the responsibility to do that.”<\/p>\n

Weiwei’s graphic memoir, Zodiac, was published by Penguin Random House at the end of January.<\/p>\n

Watch Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips at 8.30am to see Ai Weiwei’s full interview.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Exiled Chinese artist Ai Weiwei: ‘Censorship in West exactly the same as Mao’s China’ | Politics News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Exiled Chinese artist Ai Weiwei: ‘Censorship in West exactly the same as Mao’s China’ | Politics News Exiled Chinese artist Ai Weiwei: ‘Censorship in West exactly the same as Mao’s China’ | Politics News Political censorship in the West today is “exactly the same” as it was in China under its ruthless communist leader Mao […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7711],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-96188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-7711"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/estaql.com\/seo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96188","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/estaql.com\/seo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/estaql.com\/seo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estaql.com\/seo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estaql.com\/seo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=96188"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/estaql.com\/seo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96188\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/estaql.com\/seo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=96188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estaql.com\/seo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=96188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estaql.com\/seo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=96188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}