China cracks down on illegal publications

BEIJING - The Chinese government is to launch a crackdown on a wide range of publishing and journalistic misconduct such as unlicensed publications, fake reporters and re-sales of publishing rights.

From mid-October, the two-month action will also target publications containing illegal content, the use of advertising space to post non-advertising content, and domestic publication with overseas publishing licenses, among other offenses, according to a circular that was officially released on Thursday and made public on Saturday.

The campaign is jointly planned by the National Anti-Pornography and Anti-Illegal Publications Office and the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, which also released the statement.

"Illegal newspapers and magazines as well as bogus reporters still exist in some regions despite continuous crackdowns. They have been harming people's interests, disrupting the order of grassroots work, damaging the media's credibility and affecting the overall stability of society," according to the circular.

It said the crackdown will focus on wholesale markets and vendors of books, papers and magazines while imposing intensified online supervision to clean up illegal publications on the Internet.

Calling for a "people's war" to eradicate illegal publications, the circular encouraged public tip-offs on the above-mentioned misconduct and vowed severe punishments for violators.