China’s top Internet censor blasted a Chinese news portal for offensive content such as a Donald Trump editorial and a sensationalist poll about Taiwan’s unification.
The Global Times, one of China's most influential newspapers, was criticized by the Cyberspace Administration of China for publishing online content that they believe was offensive.
Questionable Content
According to the South China Morning Post, among the criticized content is a sensationalist poll about unifying Taiwan by force as well as issues that can be deemed sensitive such as the effects on China of Donald Trump's lead in the U.S. primaries as well as the pending release of the imprisoned Tiananmen dissident.
The Internet regulator said that the publication of such contents is "a serious violation of news discipline and had caused serious political consequences."
"All websites should learn from the lesson and refrain from polls," the CAC warned.
Citing the RFI, SCMP said that the censor had already summoned the members of the management of the tabloid, which the outlet described as a media outlet known for "its bellicose and nationalistic tone" and a news coverage strategy that attracts controversy.
According to its chief editor Hu Xijin, the Global Times is pro-government but is also a market-based media outlet rather than a state-controlled newspaper.
China's Censorship
China is known for its stringent control over data and information circulated all over the land, and its censorship coverage has grown more advanced technologically after the launch of the Great Firewall.
It has repeatedly blocked foreign websites that ran articles which Chinese authorities deem a threat to national security and peace.
While this is not the first time the Chinese government cracked down on a local media outlet, it is definitely quite eye-catching considering that the newspaper in question has recently published an op-ed about China being at the bottom five in terms of support for press freedom.
According to the article that cited information from the journalism advocacy group Reporters Without Borders (RWB), the World Press Freedom Index released in April put China behind Vietnam.
"The group, while criticizing Asian countries, including South Korea and Japan for deteriorating press freedom, has mainly pointed the finger at China," the outlet explained.
The article further notes the reason why China was among the least supporters of press freedom.
"The constructiveness of journalism is more important than press freedom to developing countries. This constructiveness includes press freedom and supervision of the media; however, it must incorporate understanding of different local political and economic development," it stated, adding that China has a lot to do to improve this statistics.