China / Asia

  
It's not clear whether Beijing will require licensing of social media sites or users to register under their real names. (Reuters)

Planning the next steps in Chinese media control

In the latest sign of increasing pressure on Chinese companies to tighten control of the Internet, Chinese authorities convened an unusual seminar in Beijing for senior executives of 39 major enterprises involved in Internet services, technology and telecommunications.

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Tibetan writers imprisoned in China

New York, October 31, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the imprisonment of two Tibetan writers, one of whom was sentenced after a year of detention without trial, according to reports.

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The China Internet Information Center counted 420 million Internet users in China in the middle of 2010. (AP)

China confronts Internet rumors and trashy TV

Along with cracking down on what it considers trashy TV — China’s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) said Tuesday that it will limit entertainment and add more news and other programs that “build morality and promote the core values of socialism” — the government is going after what it calls rumor mongers…

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Chinese journalist who probed cooking oil scandal is killed

New York, September 20, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Saturday’s fatal stabbing of a TV journalist and calls on Chinese authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into possible journalism-related motives.

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Chinese microblog suspends accounts for false rumors

New York, August 29, 2011–A Chinese microblog’s announcement that it suspended two accounts for spreading rumors may be an attempt to rein in online news reporting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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In Hong Kong, a protester holds a portrait of the jailed writer Liu Xianbin. (Reuters)

In lawsuit, Chinese writers allege Cisco aids government

Three Chinese writers who have spent time in prison for articles published online are suing California-based Cisco Systems Inc., according to international news reports. The suit accuses the company of providing information and technology to Chinese authorities that facilitated the writers’ detentions–allegations that Cisco flatly denies. Chinese security officials have already interrogated one of the…

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Chinese journalists punished for citing historian

New York, August 19, 2011–The demotion of a magazine president and suspension of an editor for an interview deemed critical of a Communist Party legend are the latest punitive steps taken by authorities against mainstream journalists in China, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Thousands of demonstrators called for the closure of a chemical plant on Sunday, but coverage of the rally disappeared online. (Reuters)

China should allow open reporting of environmental threat

New York, August 15, 2011–Information authorities in China should cease censorship of environmental protests in Liaoning province, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. 

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Critical Chinese writer released on conditional terms

New York, August 11, 2011–Authorities should cease the residential surveillance of writer Ran Yunfei and allow him to communicate freely following his release from jail this week, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Ran has been forbidden from speaking publicly, according to The Associated Press.

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Wreckage from the July 23 train crash. (Reuters)

Chinese TV producer suspended for crash reportage

New York, August 2, 2011–The suspension of a state television producer for his coverage of last week’s fatal train crash sends a disturbing message to Chinese media outlets, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Information authorities intensified media restrictions at the end of last week in an effort to restrain the unusually probing media treatment of the July…

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