Freedom of Expression
Outlook News Weekly, a publication of China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, published an article on September 2 warning of the dangers of free flow of information on the Internet, praising Chinese government Internet censorship efforts, and calling for increased regulation of Internet content. The article, reprinted in the People's Daily and entitled "The Current Situation and Guidance of Internet Public Opinion" encourages the government to guide, monitor, and control information published on the Internet, and warns that a failure to do so will cause China to be "invaded" by foreign culture and all Internet users to "suffer greatly."
The Lawyer for the recently freed editor of the Southern Metropolitan Daily will now focus his efforts on winning an appeal by executive Yu Huafeng, currently serving 8 years in the same case. Zhang Xingshui attributes Cheng Yizhong's release to a procuratorial finding of insufficient evidence prompted by intervention of a "higher official."
According to a report in the official People's Daily, since January Chinese authorities have shut down over 600 "reporter stations" pursuant to the "Notice Regarding Launching the Work of Straightening Out and Rectifying Report Stations." In accordance with the Notice (issued by the General Administration of Press and Publication on January 8), authorities have been closing down offices that newspaper publishers have used to station reporters outside of the jurisdiction where the newspaper is licensed to operate.