Han Han ?[File Photo]

Han Han, arguably the most famous writer and blogger in China, has gained fame from his sharp criticism of the government. He has been named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine and made the list of the top 100 thinkers by Foreign Policy. Criticizing the government is a civil right, but such criticism should be based on facts, not rumors, and unfortunately, Han cannot distinguish between rumors and legitimate criticism.

Han often leaves out facts to make the government look worse. For example, in the case of a Shanghai woman whose house was demolished through force for the Shanghai World Expo, Han omitted the fact that she was offered compensation for her legally-owned property. The woman had illegally expanded her home beyond what the government approved. When the government wanted to demolish her home, they offered her enough compensation to purchase a home slightly larger than the approved 200 square meters. Instead of noting this fact, Han sided with the woman, arguing she should have been compensated for her illegal 500-square-meter house.

In China, where housing conflicts are a contested issue for people and the government, such statements are often inflammatory. Han does nothing but present the government as a bully, revealing his poor understanding and low moral standards.

Han also cites old figures that have been retracted or denied. In a June post, he cited figures from the Ministry of Supervision and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security that 2 million officials are on long-term leave, while 400,000 have lived in cadre wards, guest houses and resorts, costing the government 50 billion yuan a year. These figures were first reported in 2006 by China Youth Daily, but they were denied in a statement by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security a few weeks later.

This rumor helps spread the notion of "wealthy country, poor citizen," which is often reflected in the media. While the income gap is large and growing wider every day, the government is not the one withholding wages. Companies are reaping in record profits and not raising worker salaries. People like Han are turning people against the government and neglecting the responsibilities of businesses.

Cheng Yizhong, vice president of Modern Media Group and executive publisher of Asia Business Leaders magazine, wrote on his microblog that such rumors are "not truth, but much more real than truth." Though he was defending the media – he said rumors were a way to express public will and a powerful weapon against official propaganda – Cheng also points out that these rumors are more convincing than truth and cannot be checked.

To Joseph Goebbels, the mastermind behind Nazi propaganda, lies became truth by being repeated thousands of times. Cheng takes this idea one step further. Rumors, essentially lies, don't become just the truth; they become more real than truth.

The author is a writer and commentator in Beijing.

(This article was written in Chinese, and translated by Li Shen.)

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn