China Today – On “Drinking Tea” Wu Gan

The Classic on “Drinking Tea”

Wu Gan

Source: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2022/03/wu-gans-self-defense-and-writings.html

In a nation without democracy and freedom, “drinking tea” is the only way to truly become a citizen. “Drinking tea” usually refers to being interviewed by public security or state security officials because of your speech or your civic actions. In fact, most of the time there is no tea to drink, not even plain boiled water. I believe it is necessary to overcome the fear of “drinking tea,” and learn to how to handle dealings with the machinery of dictatorship. After my initial experience of terror at “drinking tea,” I have subsequently grown accustomed to it. Of course, this “Classic on Tea Drinking” is merely my personal opinion, and I am just sharing my experience with everyone who will be “drinking tea.” The situation will vary depending on the person and the environment.

When “drinking tea” one is usually faced with two types of people, the State Defense Department of the Public Security Bureau (domestic security defense) and the Security Office of the State Security Bureau. One will be “invited to tea” by the Security Office only if matters are related to foreign countries, while the State Defense Department is responsible for domestic affairs. State Defense is the one generally making an appearance, while the Security Office remains relatively low-key and rarely makes an appearance. Because they are human beings, they are also divided into several categories, but they are all people who perform the tasks of the machinery of dictatorship, so they can be mainly divided into 3 categories:

1. Brutal Type: This kind of person is of low quality and generally has psychological problems. He regards power as a tool of violence, has no humanity, and enjoys persecution and violence. He proves his authority and existence by deriving pleasure and satisfaction from perpetrating evil and violence.
2. Understanding Type: This person knows that what they are doing is disgraceful work, and also clearly understands the nature of the machinery of dictatorship. He understands that the regime has no future, and so he will not take the initiative to commit violence and evil. He takes his job as a way to earn a living, and undertakes those duties that are required of him.
3. Mechanical Type: This person has been deeply brainwashed, and their thinking conforms to the machinery of dictatorship. He treats what is wrong as what is right, and believes he is doing a very honorable job.

“Drinking tea” usually involves them coming to you or letting you go to them. Usually, it mostly means a warning. They uses warnings, instilling fear, and creating burdens to make you retreat and give up fighting for civil rights. They will also teach you political lessons, imbuing viewpoints that they think are correct, such as:

• “You have a good life, why do you care about those things?”
• “Now that the country has been making progress, you must also believe in the government and the Party. In the reform process, there will be such and such problems, It’s normal, I believe the Party can solve it.”
• “So-and-so is a hostile element, a bad person, you have to be vigilant and don’t associate with him.”
• “There is a deep water behind the so-and-so incident, and there are foreign forces involved, you have to be careful not to be used. .”
• “If you don’t obey, we’ll be welcome next time.”
• “You have to think more about your family.”

“Drinking tea” sometimes involves taking notes, investigations of the ins and outs of a certain event, and occasionally and demand for asks for a Letter of Assurance.

The foregoing are the types of people one must face when “drinking tea,” as well as the main content of “drinking tea.” What follows is my discussion about what to pay attention to when “drinking tea.”

Since you can’t escape the machinery of dictatorship, you can only choose to dance with wolves, so “drinking tea” sometimes requires wisdom and preparation. Before becoming a true citizen, you must do the following three things before “drinking tea”:

1. Confirm that what you can bear the consequences for what you have done, and whether you are prepared to be harassed and intimidated, be placed under house arrest, be “invited to tea,” be re-educated through labor, or even be sentenced to prison.
2. When you fight for civil rights, you must act honorably, openly, and justly.
3. Have you prepared for the loss of of your freedom with information release channels, lawyers’ assistance, family members and outside contact information, etc., because often you will be taken away and locked up after “drinking tea.”

Points to note when “drinking tea”:

1. Be neither humble nor arrogant, don’t let your terror and fear show, and try not to be deceived and provoked in the face of violence or insults.
2. When you are asked something, only discuss your own part, try not to talk about others, try to pretend to be confused. The best way to plead your case is to say “I can’t remember,” “I forget”, “I don’t understand”, and “I don’t follow.”
3. Tell them that what you are doing is upright, honorable, and just, and that you have made various arrangements.
4. Do your utmost not to have personal grievances with them, and tell them clearly that if you decide to something, you will bear the consequences yourself. Also ask them not to turn public affairs into personal animus. The spirit of contract remains a necessity.
5. Do your utmost not to insult their person, try not to be antagonistic, and try not to humiliate the people you deal with on the Internet unless they humiliate you.
6. If an individual holds a personal grudge, it is recommended to investigate them privately. As you well know, I personally have no objection to exacting justice and revenge through original blood relatives.
7. Under no circumstances believe their words, let alone try to persuade them. Never believe that there is anything they won’t do.
8. Whether or not to write a Letter of Assurance is dependent on your own situation. Sometimes you can write one in order to end an unnecessary entanglement,. The Letter of Assurance is generally used by them show their leadership that they have completed a task. The Letter of Assurance you write when you are under duress does not bind you, and there is no need to abide by it.
9. When getting involved in public affairs it is best to do so from an external location in order to avoid unnecessary troubles caused by local interests.
10. They will sometimes find your employer, family, and friends to create pressure and put burdens in your lap. Dealing with this kind of burden is the most difficult, but also the most necessary. So try to let the people around you know what you’re doing. Let them know you’re doing the right thing, not something shady. It is difficult to get their support, but by striving for their understanding and respect it can reduce stress and misunderstandings.

On the road to becoming a citizen, you are either “drinking tea” or on the way to “drinking tea.” When everyone no longer fears “drinking tea,” but regards “drinking tea” as a kind of honor, then society will progress.