Senior Chinese Government, Party, and Business Leaders Deny Internet Censorship

March 29, 2006

China's state-run news media organizations, including Xinhua, the China Daily, People's Daily, and Beijing News, published several articles during February and March that quoted senior Chinese political and corporate leaders as saying that the Chinese government's controls over freedom of expression and the free flow of information conform to international norms and standards. For example:

China's state-run news media organizations, including Xinhua, the China Daily, People's Daily, and Beijing News, published several articles during February and March that quoted senior Chinese political and corporate leaders as saying that the Chinese government's controls over freedom of expression and the free flow of information conform to international norms and standards. For example:

Wen Jiabao (Premier of the State Council):

Regarding the issue of freedom of speech and freedom of the press, I would add two things, and that is that every citizen has freedom of speech and freedom of the press. At the same time, every citizen must obey the law, and safeguard the interests of the nation and society.

The People's Daily also cited Wen as saying that the Chinese government's management of the Internet conforms to international common practice.

Wen Jiabao: It Is Necessary to Study the Social Contradictions of the New Age, Xinhua, March 14, 2006 (in Chinese)
Chinese Premier Calls for Proper Handling of Social Conflicts in New Era, People's Daily, March 14, 2006

Liu Zhengrong (Deputy Chief of the Internet Affairs Bureau of the State Council Information Office):

Regulating the Internet according to law is international practice. After studying Internet legislation in the West, I've found we basically have identical legislative objectives and principles.

So far there is also no Web site closed down by the authority just because it published some harmful information, it never happened.

The China Daily also cited Liu as saying that Chinese people can access the Web freely, except when they are blocked from "a very few" foreign Web sites whose contents mostly involve pornography or terrorism. In an article about Liu's comments, Xinhua said "China's government denied the arrest of any individual for 'just releasing his comment on the Internet.'"

Regulation of Internet in Line with World Norms, China Daily, February 15, 2006
SCIO - China's Regulation of the Internet Complies With International Standards, Xinhua, February 15, 2006 (in Chinese)
China Denies Arrest of Any Individual for Releasing Online Comment, Xinhua (via the People's Daily), February 15, 2006
China Denies Harsh Internet Censorship, Xinhua, February 14, 2006

Zhou Jinfeng (member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the China Democratic National Construction Association):

Foreign countries have a set of management systems for obscene, violent, and other harmful information in the area of the traditional media, and have implemented similar controls for the Internet. The basic measures we use for Internet management are consistent with international standards.

CPPCC Member Zhou Jinfeng: Effective Internet Management Needs Destruction and Construction, the Beijing News, (via the People's Daily), March 8, 2006 (in Chinese)

The following statements appeared in Web site Executives Discuss China's Internet Growth, China Daily, February 28, 2006:

  • Wang Xiaohui (CEO of China.com):

    Recently, certain Western media and some U.S. lawmakers have accused China of controlling the Internet. I think the accusations are completely unfounded. They know nothing about the development and management of China's Internet industry and relevant laws. In a word, they are ignorant of China's Internet development environment.

  • He Hongxia (director of corporate communication of Baidu.com):

    China regulates the Internet within the framework of law. This management is not "control," but rather is to help regulate the development of the Internet through the means of law, government supervision, self-discipline, and technical support. This management mode was developed in the process of practice. It borrows common international practices on Internet management and takes into account the needs for Internet development, and best suits the stage of Internet development in China.

As the CECC noted in its 2005 Annual Report - Freedom of Expression section, the Chinese government continues to restrict public access to political information from sources outside China that the government cannot control, influence, or censor. The central government attempts to block radio broadcasts by Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and the BBC. In addition, under Chinese law, no one may legally publish a book, newspaper, magazine, news Web site, or Internet publication in China without significant registered capital, a government sponsor, and government authorization. According to state-run media, the government has "put together the world's most extensive and comprehensive regulatory system for Internet administration," and has "perfected a 24-hour, real-time situational censorship mechanism for Internet publishing content." Throughout 2005 and 2006, authorities have continued to shut down and block Web sites because of their political content.

The CECC has also prepared the following reports regarding events during the period in which these comments were made:

In March 2005, government agencies began enforcing a four-year-old regulation requiring all private Web sites to register with the Ministry of Information Industry and disclose whether their sites include restricted content such as news and cultural information. In September 2005, the MII and the State Council Information Office promulgated the Rules on the Administration of Internet News Information Services to "tighten supervision over online news services," and to prohibit anyone from using the Internet to post or transmit news reports or commentary relating to politics, economics, and military, foreign, and public affairs without prior government authorization.