China's Blacklisting of Chinese Actress, Tang Wei

The Chinese government has never been shy on implementing strict laws and censorships on its people, but on March 8th, 2008, it was revealed just exactly how petty the censorship in China really is. With pressing issues such as Darfur, Taiwan and Tibet circulating for the Chinese government to deal with, its recent "blacklisting of Chinese actress, Tang Wei must come under scrutiny. For one, the decision to blacklist her now, in March 2008, for Lust, Caution, a film that was released last year in November is absolutely ridiculous, not to mention, a betrayal of their own Chinese breakout talent.

The government already knew that the film had simulated sex scenes and those sex scenes were even removed for Chinese audience, so why ban Tang Wei now? Could it be the recent scandal of Hong Kong actor, Edison Chen's intimate photographs that has spurred this unfair and unnecessary crackdown of all things lewd? Yes, the sex scenes in Lust, Caution were graphic, but is it enough to merit blacklisting? Has the issue of genitalia and sex become so taboo that even though an actor simulates sex for a movie, that actor must be punished in real life for performing their job?

If so, then by that same token, why is the very same reasoning and judgment not being carried over to Tang Wei's costar in the Lust, Caution, Tony Leung, who is equally guilty of simulating sex, showing his genitalia, and playing a traitor? By the same token again, why were both Ang Lee (the director of Lust, Caution) and Tong Leung able to escape this unjust censure? Perhaps because Ang Lee's involvement with Beijing's Olympics and the love for him in Taiwan has prevented the Chinese government for censuring him, but then what of Tony Leung? Is it because he's a "respected" veteran actor, thus null and void of censure? One can't help but notice how lopsided the issue of gender has become in China. The double standard is alarming. Not only does the female get punished, the male is allowed to escape punishment despite committing the exact same offense that incarcerated the female.

Perhaps Tang Wei should be glad that China has blacklisted her. Her hurt over her own country banning her for her acting in a film must be exponential, a huge betrayal, but then again, maybe she should view it as a compliment. At any rate, she's probably better off without China.

It's long overdue that the Chinese people started questioning their government. If issues like Darfur and Tibet can't get them riled up, how about gender issues? Because it' so clear that the injustice of being blacklisted was branded on Tang Wei and only Tang Wei, while Tony Leung and Ang Lee get the brunt of the escape. The people of China need to start questioning their country and now more than ever, they need to stand up to a government that clearly has no regards for their rights or well being. Censorship should never be condoned and it's no new news that China has always heavily relied on censorship to govern its people. America is no better when it comes to censorship ("Banned Books Week," anybody?) but the Chinese government's singling out of one individual as a scapegoat is disgusting and China needs to revoke their ban on the poor girl.

Not only should the people of China call out the foul injustice of blacklisting Tang Wei, but Hollywood, the Asian Entertainment Industry, should all question the unreasonable punishment that has been inflicted upon Tang Wei.