GAPP Tightens Restrictions on Foreign Publications

The General Administration of Press and Publication introduced new restrictions on foreign magazines seeking to publish Chinese language editions, according to an April 7 Reuters report. The report cited an unnamed GAPP official saying that an internal rule introduced in 2005 limits approvals to science and technology publications. Sports, entertainment, and fashion magazines cannot expect approval to enter China's media market.

The rules have been in place for about a year and have been known to a number of major publishers, but have not been published, according to an April 7 Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report (subscription required). The WSJ cited a GAPP official saying that non-science newspapers and magazines were currently not allowed to be published. According to the WSJ, the rules apply to newspapers and magazines seeking to publish joint-venture Chinese editions of a foreign title, but different rules apply to foreign newspapers and magazines seeking to publish wholly foreign-owned international editions.

After Western media reported on the GAPP regulations and an April 11 notice from the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT) repeating previously issued restrictions on international news, China's state-run media outlets, including Xinhua, the People's Daily, and the Beijing News (all in Chinese) published articles citing Liu Binjie, a Deputy Director of the GAPP, saying during an April 18 press conference that China does not completely exclude foreign newspapers and periodicals. According to the articles, Liu said that newspapers and magazines could not publish or establish operations in China without central government permission, but they could import copies for subscribers and license their content to domestic publishers. Liu said that "in recent years there has been a combined total of over 4,000 kinds of copyrights purchased from the United States, while the United States has purchased only 16 kinds of our copyrights," and that this proved China's market was open.

In November 2005, Shi Zongyuan, then director of the GAPP, told the Financial Times that Chinese authorities halted plans to allow foreign newspapers to print in China because of concerns raised by the recent "color revolutions" against Soviet-era leaders in Georgia, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan. During 2004 and 2005, China's government enacted over half a dozen regulations designed to limit foreign cooperation with, and access to, China's media sector, increased restrictions on foreign participation in China's domestic television and film production, and launched a crackdown on foreign periodicals. For example:

• In August 2005, Xinhua reported that five government agencies and the Communist Party's Central Propaganda Department had issued a joint order increasing restrictions on the import of foreign "cultural products," and announcing that authorities would "increase control over content censorship" of imported television series, television programs, and animated features.
• In July 2005, 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, 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 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."