Blizzard Suspends Professional Hearthstone Player for Hong Kong Comments

I know it's long, protracted, painful for consumers and companies alike, but I think if we get one good thing out of our current China trade war and economic de-integration -- and this is a big thing -- it is corporate and media independence from PRC pressure.

The PRC exerts pressure on every corporate and media entity which wants access to the Chinese market, and it's amazingly subtle and effective propaganda. In movies, this means a lot of small things that the average consumer doesn't even notice anymore:

- Most blockbuster action movies have a China scene. The China scene invariably shows glistening skyscrapers, futuristic technology, and effective allies.

- You want to film in China? You don't have Chinese antagonists. Use North Koreans. Use Russians. Or some other anonymous / fake country.

Much less criticize the actual government? Hah, good joke.

Now, if average, non-Hollywood companies are self-censoring users to stay in the Chinese market, it's time to cut the umbilical cord. It's going to hurt, but at least we'll come out of it with free expression and companies who simply have to follow the rule of law. Not the rule of subtle pressure and self-censorship to help a foreign government's propaganda campaign.