New Joint Order Restricts Popular Access to Foreign Films and Television Programs

August 31, 2005

Five government agencies and the Communist Party's Central Propaganda Department (CPD) have issued a joint order increasing restrictions on the import of foreign "cultural products," according to an August 2 Xinhua report. The order is entitled the "Measures on Increasing the Administration of the Importation of Cultural Products" and was issued by the Ministry of Culture (MOC), State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT), General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP), Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), Office of Customs (Customs), and the CPD.

Five government agencies and the Communist Party's Central Propaganda Department (CPD) have issued a joint order increasing restrictions on the import of foreign "cultural products," according to an August 2 Xinhua report. The order is entitled the "Measures on Increasing the Administration of the Importation of Cultural Products" and was issued by the Ministry of Culture (MOC), State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT), General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP), Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), Office of Customs (Customs), and the CPD. The order clarifies the responsibilities of these agencies with respect to importation and domestic distribution of foreign movies, television shows, and other "cultural products":

  • MOC: the importation of audio-visual products, artistic products, and performances.
  • SARFT: the importation of radio and television programs, movies, television series, and animated features; Sino-foreign cooperation on the production of movies, television series, and animated features; and domestic reception of foreign television satellite channels.
  • GAPP: the importation of books, periodicals, and electronic publications; trade in copyrights; and cooperative publishing activities.
  • MOFCOM and Customs: the importation of cultural products "within their area of responsibility."

The Xinhua report said that the order seeks to "protect intellectual property rights, raise the level of openness to the outside, and safeguard national cultural security," but the International Herald Tribune reported on August 4 that analysts and broadcasters said the order was "part of an effort to clamp down on foreign influence on culture." Several provisions will decrease the free flow of information to Chinese citizens:

The order is the most recent in a series of measures intended to restrict public access to information from foreign sources. See below to view a timeline of recent Chinese government censorship measures directed at foreign entertainment and news media.
 


  • On July 19, several Chinese government agencies, including the GAPP, the State Council Information Office, and the National "Sweep Away Pornography and Strike Down Illegal Publications" (SAPSDIP) Task Force, issued a joint notice announcing the commencement of a campaign to "investigate, prosecute, and ban" "illegal foreign language newspapers and magazines that are primarily read by foreigners."
  • On July 6, SARFT issued a regulation banning unauthorized cooperation between local television and radio stations and foreign companies.
  • In April 2005, Xinhua reported that the GAPP had issued a notice reminding people that "newspapers and magazines may only be published by publishing work units approved by publishing administration agencies," and informing them that "in order to safeguard China's periodical publishing order, illegal foreign language publications shall be banned in accordance with the law."
  • In March 2005, Liu Yuzhu, head of the Ministry of Culture's Market Department, claimed that Web sites of foreign countries such as the United States represent a threat to China's culture, society, and political structure, and he encouraged increased censorship of foreign Web sites.
  • Also in March 2005, SARFT issued a notice restricting foreign participation in China's domestic television and film production. The notice cited the need to improve control over the political and ideological content of television programs produced in cooperation with foreign companies.
  • In December 2004, the Sichuan provincial SAPSDIP office published a report saying:

    Throughout the history of the process of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, international and domestic hostile forces have incessantly used publications to carry out political and cultural infiltration of our country, attempting to create ideological chaos, disrupting our country's political quietude and social stability, and thereby achieve their political scheme of westernization and division. Therefore, "Sweeping Away Pornography" and "Striking Down Illegal Publications" is first of all an anti-infiltration and anti-subversion political struggle, it is necessary to strengthen the political power of the Party, the government, and our country.

  • In November 2004, SARFT issued a regulation that prohibited Sino-foreign joint venture television production enterprises from producing news programs. The head of SARFT said that "news propaganda programs are the mouthpiece of the Communist Party and the government, and shoulder the responsibility of spreading the Party's voice to every household, and China's voice around the world. Therefore we must keep news and other programs that embody ideology firmly within our grasp."
  • Also in November 2004, Xinhua reported that the GAPP and the SAPSDIP Task Force banned 60 publications as part of an ongoing "Sweep Away Pornography and Strike Down Illegal Publications" campaign.
  • In September 2004, Liu Bo, Director of the GAPP's Publication Distribution Administration Department, said that Chinese authorities would not allow privately owned enterprises to establish book publishing houses any time in the next few years.