jamesinchina.com

Today I got a call from the Taiwanese government urging me to rebel against the Chinese Communist party. Much though I would have been flattered to know that Taiwanese thought so highly of my political potential, it turned out to be an automated propaganda recording. Here is my rough attempt at a translation of part of it:

"Dear friend, hello! We are the Taiwanese three oppositions movement. We must oppose the communist party, oppose the communist children's society, oppose the communist youth organization, create a better future for the Chinese people!..."

and so it went on, in similar vein. To my surprise, none of my Chinese friends seem at all shocked, and in fact a few could recite the recording from memory having heard it so many times - it seems that I'm not so special after all :). Another interesting point was that the voice spoke in a neutral mainland accent without a trace of Taiwanese twang - perhaps on purpose to make it seem more friendly?