Blogger ‘defamed martyrs’
CHINESE prosecutors formally charged a popular social media influencer with “defaming martyrs” yesterday, for suggesting the death toll of the China-India border clash was higher than the official count of four.
The blogger, listed in the indictment by his surname Qiu, was charged under a newly added provision to China’s criminal law that bans the “defamation of martyrs and heroes” and came into effect yesterday.
Qiu had more than 2.5 million followers on the Twitter-like platform Weibo under the pseudonym “Crayon Ball.” He was initially detained on February 19 on suspicion of “picking quarrels and causing trouble.”
He “severely harmed the dignity of the national border garrison and the soldiers’ image, and harmed the common interests of society,” read the indictment from prosecutors in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province.
If convicted, Qiu faces up to three years in prison.
Last month, China confirmed that four soldiers were sacrificed in a June brawl with Indian forces, which triggered an outpouring of grief and patriotism in state media and online.
Qiu’s account has been deleted. The prosecutor released a video where he made a confession and expressed remorse.
GROUPE Renault has announced changes in the organization of Renault China, appointing Weiming Soh as chief executive officer and Guillaume Sicard as chief operating officer.
The appointments took effect yesterday.
The organization change in Renault China is a demonstration of the firm’s long-term commitment to China, the world’s largest automotive market, it said.
At present, Renault’s strategic focus is on electric vehicles and light commercial vehicles with local brands in Chinese market, leveraging three joint ventures.
In the future, Renault will reinvent its business model in China and use its China assets and Chinese competitive ecosystem to develop new mobility solutions for China and beyond. China’s automotive industry is paving the way for future trends in electric mobility. This new organization will support Renault’s development in China.
Soh’s unique and successful experience in the Chinese automotive industry will allow Renault to extend its presence in China’s evolving ecosystem in terms of advanced technologies and “new mobility.” He has more than 20 years of experience in the auto industry.
As chief operating officer of Renault China, Sicard’s mission is to manage operations, enhancing Renault’s existing businesses in the country.
He keeps his role as Renault Brilliance Jinbei Automotive Co’s chief executive officer.