Many thanks to the person who shared that you can ask your local Chinese embassy for a copy of „The Governance Of China“.

I reached out to the Chinese embassy in Vienna and got not only a super friendly response, but also an invite to the embassy + 6 copies of the German translation (2x II, III, IV)!

    • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
      76·
      8 months ago

      Chill out please. Am I not allowed to have opinions about China? Not even mild criticism? I understand that the policy is popular. It is similarly popular in Sweden. In both country’s case, I believe it is based on ignorance. Do Chinese people not think of alcohol as a drug?

        • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
          63·
          8 months ago

          Look, like most people I have a lot of opinions, and very little power to make meaningful change in my own country, let alone in another. I don’t smoke weed either, though I have in the past, and I know a lot of people who do. In my opinion (couldn’t force it on China if I tried!), Chinese policy could improve in this area. I just can’t see a rational reason why cannabis should be prohibited, but not alcohol or tobacco. That’s it. That’s all I’m saying. I’ve been to China, and I look forward to visiting again. Someone did try to sell me hashish in Shanghai. I declined.

            • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
              45·
              8 months ago

              That’s a pretty good analogy, I will give you that. As a vegan myself though, I’ll just answer that there is a difference between killing animals and smoking cannabis. People (irrationally) think it’s cruel to kill pet animals because they have learned to identify them as beings deserving of life. I think people should extend this empathy to all animals. I know that they won’t, but I advocate for it anyway.