Censorship exists everywhere: Mo Yan
Stands by call for dissident's release.
STOCKHOLM:
China's Nobel Prize-winning writer Mo Yan at Thursday's press conference downplayed the impact of Chinese censorship on his work.
"Whether China has freedom of speech is a very difficult question," he said, adding that people should "go online and look at Chinese websites" before forming an opinion.
He said that although he was against censorship, he believed that in "every country in the world (it) exists. The only difference is the degree."
Censorship shouldn't stand in the way of telling the truth, but it was sometimes needed to stop people from insulting others, he argued.
"I don't think this should be allowed in any country."
A person "in a not so free environment" can still be creative, he said. "The main thing is if an author feels free inside himself."
Previous Nobel literature laureate Herta Mueller said last month that she wanted to cry when she heard Mo Yan had been given the prestigious award, saying his rank in Chinese society was on par with that of a government minister.
On a lighter note, the Chinese winner said that receiving the Nobel prize had boosted his profile at home, with journalists camping outside his home after the announcement was made.
He lamented the fact that many of them seemed to lack any knowledge of his work.
Still, fame also had its perks, he noted. "A few days ago when I was riding a bicycle in the street in Beijing, a few girls were chasing me to take photos with me," he said.
But he disputed the results of a survey that claimed he earned royalties of 21.5 million yuan ($3.5 million) this year, which would make him the second best paid Chinese writer.
"I checked my account at the bank. It's not that much," he said.
Call for Liu’s release
Mo Yan on Thursday stood by his call for the release of jailed compatriot and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, but downplayed the importance of Chinese censorship laws.
"I have already issued my opinion about this matter," he said, visibly reluctant to discuss the Liu matter in detail at a press conference in Stockholm ahead of the formal Nobel prize ceremony on Monday.
After winning the Nobel in October, Mo Yan courted official anger by saying he hoped that Liu Xiaobo could be freed soon.
"I hope he can gain freedom as early as possible," he said at the time.
Asked Thursday why he made that remark then, if he was unwilling to discuss the issue now, Mo Yan, 57, replied: "We'll leave it for time to judge."
China's state-run media have hailed Mo Yan as a national hero, a sharp contrast to the blackout imposed when Liu Xiaobo won the prestigious Peace Prize in 2010.
Liu, also a writer, was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Christmas Day 2009 after leading a manifesto for democratic change called Charter 08.
Prominent Chinese government critics, including the artist Ai Weiwei and the exiled former prisoner Wei Jingsheng, have accused Mo Yan of being a sellout due to his cooperation with Chinese authorities.
China's Nobel Prize-winning writer Mo Yan at Thursday's press conference downplayed the impact of Chinese censorship on his work.
"Whether China has freedom of speech is a very difficult question," he said, adding that people should "go online and look at Chinese websites" before forming an opinion.
He said that although he was against censorship, he believed that in "every country in the world (it) exists. The only difference is the degree."
Censorship shouldn't stand in the way of telling the truth, but it was sometimes needed to stop people from insulting others, he argued.
"I don't think this should be allowed in any country."
A person "in a not so free environment" can still be creative, he said. "The main thing is if an author feels free inside himself."
Previous Nobel literature laureate Herta Mueller said last month that she wanted to cry when she heard Mo Yan had been given the prestigious award, saying his rank in Chinese society was on par with that of a government minister.
On a lighter note, the Chinese winner said that receiving the Nobel prize had boosted his profile at home, with journalists camping outside his home after the announcement was made.
He lamented the fact that many of them seemed to lack any knowledge of his work.
Still, fame also had its perks, he noted. "A few days ago when I was riding a bicycle in the street in Beijing, a few girls were chasing me to take photos with me," he said.
But he disputed the results of a survey that claimed he earned royalties of 21.5 million yuan ($3.5 million) this year, which would make him the second best paid Chinese writer.
"I checked my account at the bank. It's not that much," he said.
Call for Liu’s release
Mo Yan on Thursday stood by his call for the release of jailed compatriot and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, but downplayed the importance of Chinese censorship laws.
"I have already issued my opinion about this matter," he said, visibly reluctant to discuss the Liu matter in detail at a press conference in Stockholm ahead of the formal Nobel prize ceremony on Monday.
After winning the Nobel in October, Mo Yan courted official anger by saying he hoped that Liu Xiaobo could be freed soon.
"I hope he can gain freedom as early as possible," he said at the time.
Asked Thursday why he made that remark then, if he was unwilling to discuss the issue now, Mo Yan, 57, replied: "We'll leave it for time to judge."
China's state-run media have hailed Mo Yan as a national hero, a sharp contrast to the blackout imposed when Liu Xiaobo won the prestigious Peace Prize in 2010.
Liu, also a writer, was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Christmas Day 2009 after leading a manifesto for democratic change called Charter 08.
Prominent Chinese government critics, including the artist Ai Weiwei and the exiled former prisoner Wei Jingsheng, have accused Mo Yan of being a sellout due to his cooperation with Chinese authorities.