China vows to stamp out ‘vile’ independent journalism
China has instigated a fresh crackdown on independent media by curtailing the freedom of websites to publish stories on socially and politically sensitive topics unless sourced from a government-run news agency.
The draconian measure, implemented by the country's web watchdog the Cyberspace Administration of China, aims to stamp out what it calls the "vile effect" of free speech.
The organisation was quoted by Reuters as saying that independent journalism "seriously violated regulations and had a completely vile effect."
China’s Communist Party has been adopting ever tougher measures to stamp out dissent, demanding "absolute loyalty" from state journalists whose primary role is to disseminate party policy.
China has long banned independent publishers from investigating politically sensitive issues but it was not strictly enforced, something that is now set to change with "enhanced" policing.
Just last week outspoken liberal Chinese magazine, Yanhuang Chunqiu (also called China Through the Ages) allegedly had its newsroom taken over by government officials in the country, with the title's lawyer saying a "forced reshuffle" of its leadership team was an effort to stifle voices that disagreed with the ruling Communist Party.