China airs ‘confession’ by blogger booked for insulting PLA troops

The Chinese government on Monday telecast a video of an arrested blogger apologising for slandering PLA soldiers who were involved in a deadly brawl with the Indian army at Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh last June.

In a minute-long video aired on state-run CCTV, the 38-yearold man, identified as Qiu, is seen admitting to “annihilation of conscience” and “arrogance” while insulting the soldiers who were killed and injured in the clash with Indian troops. His face was blurred out in the video and he was seen sitting behind bars in prison clothes.

“My behaviour was an annihilation of conscience,” Qiu was quoted as saying, according to a version published by the state media.

“During the many years I surfed online, my writings have become more and more frivolous and arrogant. Without learning about the whole picture, I spoke ill of the heroes who gave their lives to guard our home. My words not only hurt the reputation and honour of those soldiers, but of all PLA soldiers,” Qiu said.

Qiu on Monday became the first person in the country to be booked under a newly changed law on harming the reputation and honour of national heroes and martyrs.

The ruling Communist Party of China has often been criticised for airing confessions of suspects - including critics and activists - before trial.

Qiu’s video confessions was aired less than two weeks after he was detained for allegedly insulting PLA troops on his Weibo account.