Freedom of the press in China

The country's constitution prohibits media workers, including internet users, from publishing, writing, circulating, or otherwise posting fake news, misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda related to various subjects such as national security, terrorism, ethnic hatred, violence, and obscenity. However, most private journalists are restricted from sharing certain views and opinions with the general public.[5]

China introduced Article 35 of the constitution of China that provides its citizens the right to observe "press freedom" in a free environment. However, Article 51 prohibits such activities for the national interest, which limits press freedom in the country. Chinese mass media such as radio and television broadcast news fall under Article 25, which limits their ability to broadcast plays, news, and other forms of information in free journalism standards. This, according to the Regulation on the Administration of Publishing, prevents transmitting of such content that poses risks to sovereignty and public interest.[5]

A book titled 'Freedom of the Press in China: A Conceptual History, 1831-1949 by Yi Guo has also been published in August 2020 by Amsterdam University Press, consisting of a detailed analysis of press freedom in China from 1831 to 1949.[6][7]

Freedom of the Press in China was greatest during the early period (1966-1968) of the Cultural Revolution.[8] During this period, several Red Guard organizations also operated independent printing presses to publish newspapers, articles, speeches, and big-character posters.[8]

Media organizations and its workers, explicitly, foreign media working within the country, "must" obtain a license before they engage in journalism compiled with standards which are regulated by the foreign affairs authority. Foreign media have limited access or freedom to attend press conferences of the National People's Congress. However, the law of China allows state-owned media with "free press", such as raising questions or concerns in the press conference.[5] Domestically, all credentialled journalists must study Xi Jinping thought through the “Study Xi, Strengthen the Country propaganda application” in order for them to renew their press credentials.[1] The app instructs journalists to "correctly guide public opinion."[9]

As of 2023, the global rank of China declined to 177 out of 180, with only North Korea having less press freedom. China has been one of the countries with nominal freedom of press regulations. Reporters Without Borders, a non-government organization dedicated to safeguarding the right to information, published an annual report, the World Press Freedom Index, indicating that the Chinese Communist Party, the ruling party, is exercising self- and direct-censorship on the press.[10] The Chinese government employs surveillance, coercion, intimidation, and harassment tactics to deter independent journalists from covering topics it considers "sensitive." China holds the unfortunate distinction of being the world's leading incarcerator of journalists, with over 100 currently in detention.[11]

According to Reporters Without Borders, the role of the media in China is to impart state propaganda.[12] Chinese authorities, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, are often argued to have been involved in press suppression. It is often referred to as one of the frontline-countries where freedom of mass communication and its associated people, such as journalists, persistently experience troubles.[13] China often blocks news websites, social media platforms, and other services such as Facebook, Gmail, Google, Instagram, and Pinterest, and has limited their access to the general public. The Great Firewall has blocked most foreign news websites, such as Voice of America, VOA Chinese, the BBC, The New York Times, and Bloomberg News. In 2017, Chinese authorities also removed about "300 politically sensitive articles" from the Cambridge University Press. However, this article removal was later contested online on Change.org. In 2019, some scholars and writers deleted their posts or permanently deleted their feeds after authorities asked them to do so. Some writers were warned for retweeting or liking posts.

Up to 2012, when Hu Jintao was the Communist Party's leader, the press was free to share their views online. However, Xi Jinping is arguably using technology as a propaganda tool and often blocks sensitive information through the Great Firewall.[14] The authorities often raid pro-democracy activists and media owners in an attempt to suppress the press.[15] In 2019, China blocked all available versions of Wikipedia in the country without any notice to Wikimedia Foundation.[16]

Chinese journalists are often detained for alleged negative coverage. In 2016, more than twenty journalists, including commentator Jia Jia, were arrested after an open letter was published calling on Chinese leader Xi Jinping to resign. According to Reporters without Borders, independent journalists and bloggers are often surveilled, harassed, detained, and, in some cases, tortured.[17] A report published by the Committee to Protect Journalists in 2016 asserted that an estimated 49 journalists are serving prison terms, indicating that China is a "prolific jailer of media workers".[18] China vigorously upholds censorship and exercises strict control over information. Despite constitutional provisions suggesting otherwise, the fundamental principles embraced by the Chinese government pose significant challenges to the ideals of democracy and a free press.[19][20]

• Human rights in China

• Guo, Yi (2020). Freedom of the Press in China: A Conceptual History, 1831-1949. Amsterdam University Press. ISBN 978-9-0485-4462-2. Retrieved 9 March 2021.

• "Foreign journalists in China see 'rapid decline in media freedom': survey". U.S. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
• Yu, Elaine (8 March 2021). "Will Hong Kong's Free Press Survive?". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 8 March 2021.