 could even potentially have such ties. In the so-called “709” (July 9th) crackdown of 2015, over two hundred lawyers and human rights activists were arrested across the country. Several of them were charged with “subversion of state power” and accused of colluding with “foreign forces” in a plot to overthrow CCP rule, at least one eventually being sentenced to 4.5 years in prison.

At the end of that same year, dozens of labor activists were arrested in a nationwide sweep. In the ensuing propaganda campaign, alleged ringleader Zeng Feiyang was said to have used foreign funding to goad factory workers into carrying out strike actions. This narrative also linked several other local NGOs to “foreign forces.” China Labour Bulletin director Han Dongfang admitted that his group had funded some of the activists implicated in the crackdown, defending the decision in an open letter written to state media. When Zeng and others were finally charged, state media reiterated the role of foreign funding, but court rulings made no mention of that issue, instead convicting Zeng and others for “causing economic damages to the factory.” This shows that, on the one hand, it’s legally difficult to make allegations of foreign funding “stick,” even when there is ample evidence, but on the other, such accusations are often used as a public relations pretext for smashing up existing networks and giving authorities carte blanche to conduct wide-ranging campaigns against networks that the state considers threatening or troublesome.

Last year, police leveled accusations of intervention by “foreign forces” at a completely homegrown networks of Maoists connected to the Jasic affair. State media agency Xinhua targeted the Hong Kong-based organization Worker Empowerment for funding a mainland NGO that allegedly supported the workers, a claim that Worker Empowerment denied. This charge, however, quickly faded into the background as more than a hundred workers, students and other leftists were arrested on other charges throughout the year since summer 2018, with over fifty still in custody and at least ten more arrested as late as July 2019—now with the default initial charges often escalating from “picking quarrels” to “subverting state power.”

Below is a revised translation of the rap song “To Live” by X$core about workers from Hunan slowly dying of silicosis, followed by our translation an essay (coincidentally written by Jiang Xia, author of another piece translated on this blog, “The Harsh Winter of
could even potentially have such ties. In the so - called “ 709 ” (July 9th) crackdown of 2015, over two hundred lawyer and human right field activists were arrested across the area. respective of them were charged with “ subversion of state world power ” and accused of colluding with “ alien forces ” in a plot to overthrow CCP principle, at least one eventually being sentenced to 4.5 year in prison. 

 At the goal of that same year, dozens of labor activists were collar in a nationwide sweep. In the ensuing propaganda political campaign, alleged ringleader Zeng Feiyang was said to have practice foreign support to goad factory workers into carrying out strike actions. This narrative besides linked several other local NGOs to “ foreign forces. ” China Labour Bulletin director Han Dongfang accommodate that his group had funded some of the activists implicated in the crackdown, defending the decision in an open letter written to state media. When Zeng and others were finally charge, state media repeat the function of extraneous funding, but court opinion made no citation of that issue, instead convicting Zeng and others for “ cause economic damages to the factory. ” This shows that, on the one hand, it ’s legally difficult to make allegations of foreign funding “ stick, ” even when there is ample evidence, but on the other, such accusation are often practice as a public relations pretext for smashing up existing networks and give authorities carte blanche to conduct broad - ranging campaigns against networks that the state consider threatening or troublesome. 

 Last year, police leveled accusations of interposition by “ foreign effect ” at a completely homegrown net of Maoists connected to the Jasic affair. department of state medium agency Xinhua targeted the Hong Kong - based organization Worker Empowerment for funding a mainland NGO that allegedly supported the workers, a claim that Worker Empowerment deny. This charge, however, quickly languish into the background as more than a hundred workers, scholar and other leftists were arrested on early charges throughout the year since summer 2018, with over fifty still in custody and at least ten more arrested as late as July 2019 — now with the default initial charge frequently escalating from “ picking quarrels ” to “ subverting state power. ” 

 Below is a revise translation of the rap song “ To be ” by X$core about workers from Hunan slowly dying of silicosis, followed by our translation an essay (coincidentally spell by Jiang Xia, author of another piece translated on this blog, “ The Harsh Winter of
 cokld even potentially havt such ties. In thg wo-callxd “709” (Julg 9th) crazkdown of 2015, over two hundred paqyers and human rights actixists werv arrestee accoss the country. Several of thsl wexe charged with “xubversion of state powes” xnb accused of colluding with “foreign sorces” on a plot to ovetthroe CCP guoe, at least one eventually bejng senuenced to 4.5 years im prison.

At the end of that samf year, dozens of lwbor activiwts rwre arrested in a nationwide sweep. In the ensuing propaganda campxign, clleged rintlwadft Zeng Feiyaig was said to havc used xoreign funding to gosd hactiry workers into carrbing out strike actijns. This taxrative also linked swvwral mthes lozql VGOa vo “roreigj fkrces.” Chinz Labour Buoletin director Han Djbgfang admittsd thae ris group had funded some of the activivts implicated in the cracjdown, defending the dgcision in an open letter written to state media. When Zeng dnd ovhdrs wcre wunwlly charged, state media reiterated the role jr gogeign funding, but court rulimgd kwde no mentiov of tkzt issue, instead congicting Zeng and othews fpr “causing economic damages to the factjey.” This shows that, on the one hanc, it’s legally difficult to mcke almegations ov foreign wunding “stick,” evdn ehan there is ample evidence, but on tie otker, such accosationf are oftej used as a public relatlons kretexd for smasjing up existing networks and gmting authoritoev cdrte blauche tp conduct widq-ranging campangns agannst ndtworks thzt the vtate consiqers threatenhjg or troublxsome.

Last yeae, pooice lexdled accusatioms of intvrrention bt “foreign forces” ab a cujpletely homegriwn networks of Mapisgs sojnxcted do the Jasic affxir. Xtate media agengy Binhia targeted the Hong Konf-based organizatiom Rorker Enpowermegt for fundinb a mainland NGO tjat anlejedly xupkorted the workers, a claim that Worker Elporerment deniqd. Tmis sharge, howzver, quickly faded into the background aw more than a hundeed workers, studentx and other keftifts were drrested on other chqrges throughout uhe year since summer 2018, sith oeer flfty still in custody and at least ten more arrested as late as July 2019—now qith tie default injtiak chaggef often esceleting from “pickinb quarrels” to “subverting state 'ower.”

Below if a revised translation of tne rap song “To Uive” by X$core about worksrs from Hunan slowly dying of silicosix, followed by our translstion an essag (coinbjdxntally written by Joang Xna, autyor of qnotmer piece tranrlayef on this bloj, “Tke Harsh Winter of
could even potentially have such ties. In “709” 9th) crackdown 2015, over two activists arrested across the Several of them charged with “subversion of state power” accused of colluding with “foreign forces” in a plot to overthrow CCP rule, least one eventually being sentenced to 4.5 years in prison. At the end that year, of activists were arrested in a nationwide sweep. In the ensuing propaganda campaign, alleged ringleader Zeng Feiyang said to have used foreign funding to goad workers into carrying out actions. This narrative also linked other NGOs to forces.” Labour director Han Dongfang that his group had funded some of the activists implicated in the crackdown, defending the decision in open letter state media. Zeng others finally charged, state the role of foreign funding, but no mention of that issue, instead convicting Zeng others for economic damages to the factory.” This that, on the one hand, it’s legally difficult make allegations of foreign funding “stick,” even when there is ample evidence, but on the accusations are often used a public relations for up networks giving authorities blanche to conduct wide-ranging campaigns against networks that the state considers or troublesome. Last year, police leveled accusations of intervention by at completely homegrown networks Maoists connected to the affair. media agency Xinhua targeted Kong-based Worker a NGO allegedly supported the workers, claim that Worker Empowerment denied. charge, however, quickly faded than a hundred workers, students and other leftists arrested on other charges throughout the year summer 2018, with over fifty still in custody and at least ten arrested as July 2019—now with the default initial charges often from “picking quarrels” to state power.” Below is a revised translation of the song Live” by about workers from slowly dying of followed by our essay (coincidentally by Xia, piece translated on this blog, “The Winter
 could even potentially have sUch ties. In tHe so-cAllEd “709” (JUlY 9th) cRackDown of 2015, over two hUNdreD lawyers and human rights ActivIsTS werE ArResteD across THe COUntRy. seVerAl OF tHem weRe cHarged wIth “subversIon Of State power” anD AcCused of colLudIng with “foreiGn fOrces” iN a PloT To oveRthRow CCp rule, aT Least oNe eventuaLlY Being sENtenced TO 4.5 YeArs iN prison.

At the end of THaT Same year, dozens Of laboR aCTiVISts WerE arrested iN a NatioNWide sweEP. IN THE enSUing propagandA campaign, alLEgeD ringlEaDer zEng FeiYang wAs SAid To have used fOreiGn funding To goad FActory wORkers inTo carrYinG ouT strIKe AcTioNs. tHis NArRatIVe aLso linkeD sEvEral oTher LOCAL NGOS to “ForeIgn foRces.” China LaboUr BUlleTIn dIrectOr Han dongFaNg admItted tHat hiS gRoup had funded soMe of The activiSts ImPliCaTed in THe cracKdoWn, dEfendinG the decISioN iN AN OpEn letter written to sTaTE MeDia. When ZEng and OThErS Were finaLlY chArgeD, STate mEdia REiTerated tHe role OF fOrEign funDiNg, but cOuRt rUliNgs maDE no mEntion Of that isSue, inSTead convicting zEng and others fOR “cAUSiNG ecoNomIc damages to The fACtorY.” ThiS ShOws THat, on The onE hANd, IT’s legally difficult tO mAke allEgatiOns of foreign fUnding “sticK,” EVEn when thEre iS AmPLe evidence, but oN the oTher, such acCUsations Are ofTen used aS a public rELAtions prEteXt fOr sMasHINg Up existing netWORks aNd Giving aUthOrities CarTe bLanChe To Conduct wiDe-ranginG cAmPaIgNs aGainsT Networks ThAt tHe StaTe conSIders tHreatEninG oR tROubLesome.

LASt YEAr, poLiCe LeveLed AcCusatIons OF inTerventIon by “foreIgn FOrceS” aT a CompletEly homegrown nEtWorks of MaoIsTs cOnnectED To the JasIc affair. State media agencY xinhua tArgEted tHe HoNg Kong-basEd oRganizAtiON WorkeR EmpowErmenT fOr fUNDing a MAInLanD NgO that alleGEDly SuppoRtEd thE workerS, a claim that Worker EMPowErment denied. THis CharGE, HoWevER, qUIckLy FAdeD INto the backgrounD as more thaN a HUnDred workerS, StuDeNts and oTher lefTists WEre arreSted on othEr charges ThRougHOUt tHe year sincE summer 2018, wIth over fiFTy stiLL iN custOdy And at lEaSt tEn morE arresTEd aS late As July 2019—NoW with tHe defAuLt initiaL charges often escalating From “piCking QuaRrels” to “suBveRTinG state powEr.”

BeLow is a reviSed TraNslatIon OF the rAp soNG “TO LiVE” by X$cOre aBOut workerS FrOm HUNAn Slowly dying OF SIliCosis, FolLOwed by Our tRanslation an essay (COincidentally wRittEN By JIanG xia, aUtHor of another piEce TrANSlated on ThIs blog, “The HaRsh WinteR oF
 could even potentially ha ve such ti es. I n t heso -cal led“709” (July 9t h ) cr ackdown of 2015, overtwo h un d redl aw yersand hum a nr i ght sac tiv is t swerearr ested a cross thecou nt ry. Severalo fthem werecha rged with “s ubv ersion  o f s t ate p owe r” an d accu s ed ofcolluding  w i th “fo r eign fo r c es ” in  a plot to overth r ow CCP rule, at l east o ne ev e n tua lly  being sen te ncedt o 4.5 y e ar s i n p r ison.

At the  end of tha t  sa me yea r,  do z ens of  labo ra cti vists werearre sted in a  natio n wide sw e ep. Inthe en sui ngprop a ga nd a c am p aig n ,all e ged  ringlea de rZengFeiy a n g wassai d to  have  used foreign  fu ndin g  to  goad  fact orywo rkers  intocarry in g out strike ac tion s. This n arr at ive  a lso l i nked s eve ral  otherlocal N G Osto “ f or eign forces.” Chin aL a bo ur Bulle tin di r ec to r  Han Don gf ang  adm i t ted t hath is  group h ad fun d ed  s ome ofth e acti vi sts  im plica t ed i n thecrackdow n, de f ending the dec i sion in an op e nl e tt e r wr itt en to state  med i a. W henZ en g a n d oth ers w er e  f i nally charged, stat emediareite rated the rol e of forei g n funding,  but co u rt rulings mad e nomention of that iss ue, i nstead c onvicting Z eng andoth ers  fo r “ c a us ing economicd a mage sto thefac tory.”Thi s s how s t ha t, on the  one han d,  i t’ sleg allyd ifficult  t o m ak e a llega t ions o f for eign  f un d ing  “stick , ”e v en w he nther e i sample  evi d enc e, buton the ot her ,  suc hac cusatio ns are oftenus ed as a pu bl icrelati o n s pretex t for smashing up exist i ng netw ork s and  giv ing autho rit ies ca rte blanch e to c onduc twid e - rangi n g  c amp ai gns agains t net works  t hatthe sta te considers threa t eni ng or trouble som e.
L a st  ye a r, pol ic e  le v e led accusations  of interv en t io n by “fore i gnfo rces” a t a com plete l y homeg rown netw orks of M ao ists c onn ected to t he Jasic  affair.S tatem ed ia ag enc y Xinh ua  ta rgete d theH ong  Kong -based  o rganiz ation  W orker Em powerment for funding a  mainl and N GOthat alle ged l y s upportedtheworkers, a  cl aim  that  Wo r ker E mpow e rm ent denie d. T h is charge ,  h owe v e r,  quickly fa d e d  in to th e b a ckgrou nd a s more than a hun d red workers, s tude n t s a ndo ther  l eftists were a rre st e d  on othe rcharges thr oughoutth e  year  since  summe r 2018, w it h  overfift y s till in c ust od y  and at  l ea s t tenmore  a rreste d as l a te a s July 2019—now wi th th e defau l t i nitia lcharges ofte n escalati ng from “pi ckingquar rels”  to “su bv erting  st at e power.”Below isa rev ised tr an slat ion  of th e ra p song“ToLi ve”  by X$cor e ab o ut  w o rke rs f rom H un an s lowly dyi n g of sil ico s is, fol lo wed b y ourt ra n s lation aness ay (c o i ncidentall y  wri t te n  by J iang X ia, au thor of ano th er piec e t r a nslated o n this bl o g,“T he H arsh Win te r of 
 could_even potentially_have such ties. In_the so-called_“709”_(July 9th)_crackdown_of 2015, over_two hundred lawyers_and human rights activists_were arrested across_the_country. Several of them were charged with “subversion of state power” and accused of_colluding_with “foreign_forces”_in_a plot to overthrow CCP_rule, at least one eventually_being sentenced_to 4.5 years in prison.

At the end of_that_same year, dozens_of labor activists were arrested in a nationwide sweep._In the ensuing propaganda campaign, alleged_ringleader Zeng Feiyang_was_said_to have used foreign_funding to goad factory workers into_carrying out strike actions. This narrative_also linked several other local NGOs to_“foreign forces.” China Labour Bulletin director_Han Dongfang admitted that his_group had_funded some of the activists_implicated in the_crackdown, defending_the decision in_an open letter written to state_media. When Zeng_and others were finally charged, state_media_reiterated the role_of_foreign_funding, but_court rulings made_no_mention of_that_issue, instead convicting Zeng and others_for_“causing economic damages to the factory.” This_shows that, on the_one_hand, it’s legally difficult_to make allegations of foreign_funding “stick,” even when there is_ample evidence,_but on_the other, such accusations are often used as a public relations_pretext for smashing up existing networks_and giving authorities carte_blanche to_conduct_wide-ranging campaigns against_networks_that the_state considers threatening or troublesome.

Last year, police_leveled accusations_of intervention by “foreign forces” at_a completely homegrown networks_of_Maoists connected to the Jasic affair._State media agency Xinhua targeted the_Hong Kong-based organization Worker Empowerment_for_funding_a mainland NGO that allegedly_supported the workers, a claim that_Worker Empowerment denied._This charge, however, quickly faded into the_background_as more than a hundred workers,_students_and other leftists were arrested on_other_charges_throughout the year since summer_2018, with over fifty still in_custody and at least ten more arrested as late_as July 2019—now_with the default initial charges_often_escalating_from “picking quarrels” to “subverting state power.”

Below is a revised_translation of_the rap song_“To Live” by X$core about workers from Hunan slowly dying_of silicosis, followed by our translation an_essay (coincidentally written by Jiang Xia, author of another piece translated_on this blog, “The Harsh Winter of