China is fairly stable politically, but they practice more active censorship and have worse human rights violations compared to Russia today. They have strict visa regulations, a strict national ID system, and they definitely spy on people's e-mails and phone conversations. Skype had to release a special, wiretapped version specifically for China. They lack even a semblance of democracy, and protests are forbidden. Just seems like a very bad fit for Snowden. Russia is at least sort of trying to be a democracy.

I mostly agree but in the end, both countries are a bad fit for Snowden with regards to his activism. Also, China doesn't really have strict visa regulations at all (for example, pretty much anyone can buy a one year visa within a few hours in Hong Kong, no questions asked). On the other hand, it is probably easier to apply for citizenship in Russia and the Russian passport is more convenient for travel. In any case, I don't think Snowden ever really had a choice between Russia and China.

>On the other hand, it is probably easier to apply for citizenship in Russia and the Russian passport is more convenient for travel.

Snowden won't be doing much traveling. The second he shows up in a country that cooperates with the US or boards a flight, he's going to get picked up. I think he's going to be traveling by wheel from now on.

> Skype had to release a special, wiretapped version specifically for China.

I am simultaneously outraged and not in the least surprised. Just curious -- do you have a source for this?

If nothing else, he will probably have more luck blending in with the local population, if that is the route he wants to go.

because

https://twitter.com/ChapmanAnna/status/352480982101798913

:)

Is it me, or does anyone else think that the really surreal thing here is not that Anna Chapman "proposed" to Snowden on twitter but that Chapman is even on twitter in the first place?

Why not, she is now a celebrity in Russia that is hosting a TV show and works as a model. As such it would seem natural to me that she is using social media.

What is surreal to me is that a spy turned into a celebrity in the first place.

What, you mean Snowden's not a celebrity?

Or that she's proposing to someone who, last I heard, was still in a committed relationship with someone else. :P

I would expect that China is much more interested in maintaining good relations with America than Russia is.