China Censors Obama's Inauguration Speech

Barack Obama's powerful inauguration speech inspired many Americans, but it didn't pass muster in China, which was apparently scared of the "communist" label.

Here's a report on the Chinese response, courtesy of AFP:

State-run China Central Television broadcast the speech live, but when the translator mentioned communism, the channel suddenly cut to an awkwardly smiling news anchor.

Censors cut Obama's declaration that "earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions."

The People's Daily, the Communist Party mouthpiece, published a translated text on its website, omitting the word communism. The line about dissent was cut entirely.

China's two biggest Internet portals, Sina and Sohu, did the same. But there was widespread comment on the speech on Chinese Internet forums.