Chinese Censorship Agency Bans 60 Newspapers and Magazines

The People's Daily Web site reports that, as part of its ongoing "Sweep Away Pornography and Strike Down Illegal Publications" campaign, the General Administration of Press and Publication has banned 60 publications. The GAPP announced the ban on April 26, stating that it was necessary to "strengthen the work of reading and evaluating [publications], and tracking down the source and background situation of contents that have severe problems."

According to the People's Daily report, this is the fourth time the GAPP has announced a mass-banning in 2004-2005, and the total number of banned newspapers and magazines in that time has now reached 169. For more information on the GAPP's activities, see the following CECC summaries:

• Earlier this month the GAPP announced it was banning 19 newspapers and magazines.
• In March the GAPP announced it was banning a novel by Yan Lianke because the title satirized the slogan "Serve the People" coined by Mao Zedong.
• In February the People's Daily published a report saying that in 2004 the GAPP screened 600 publications, of which 170 types of "problematic topic selections" were banned, and 213 publishers were punished for "violating regulations."
• In January the GAPP announced it was banning 50 video games.
• In November 2004, the GAPP announced it was banning 60 news, law, education, and lifestyle publications.