China Prints Work by Disgraced Writer

A Chinese magazine has reprinted an article by disgraced writer Zhou Erfu, who was expelled from the Communist Party in March for watching pornographic videos.

Western analysts said they were surprised at the 72-year-old writer’s reappearance in print after he was accused of having a corrupt life style that violated Communist moral standards.

Zhou was expelled after reports that he watched pornographic videos and made advances toward a female interpreter during a trip to Japan. He said in April that he repented his actions and wanted to regain party membership.

The signed article, titled “Two or Three Notes on Comrade Tian Jian,” recalled the late poet’s life during the 1930s. It was dated May 22 and appeared in New Observations, an intellectual biweekly published in Peking.

“I’m surprised to hear of it,” said a Western diplomat familiar with Chinese literature. “It’s an honor to write about someone as famous as Tian, especially in remembrance.”