Caixin removes article on free speech following speech on free expression

News magazine Caixin has had an article about a call for free speech at the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference removed from its Chinese-language website, Caixin reported on its English-language website. Jiang Hong, a delegate to China’s political advisory body from Guangdong, had said in an article that advisers should be free to give the ruling Communist Party and government agencies suggestions on a variety of socioeconomic and political issues. That article was taken down days after Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the CPPCC and a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, said delegates should “exercise the function of democratic supervision” and were “supported in giving criticism and expressing opinions.”