China's constitution states that freedom of speech and the press are fundamental rights enjoyed by all citizens, but the same document gives the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) the responsibility of circumscribing these rights. No one is allowed to publish or broadcast opinions that contradict basic party doctrine or publish or broadcast criticism of senior leaders. This gives the party and government tight control over the media. In addition, all media employees are ordered to follow Party directives and to help guide public opinion as stipulated by political authorities.

The establishment and management of publications is strictly regulated by the government. The government also control

The study offers fresh evidence that the Internet may be proving easier to control than older forms of communication like telephones, facsimile machines or even letters. China can tap some telephones or faxes or read mail. But it cannot monitor every call, fax message and letter.

Defying predictions that the Internet was inherently too diverse and malleable for state control, China has denied a vast majority of its 46 million Internet users access to information that it feels could weaken its authoritarian power. Beijing does so even as it allows Internet use for commercial, cultural, educational and entertainment purposes, which it views as essential in a globalized era.

In the announcement, the central government also warned that any province, autonomous region or municipality in which at least two newspapers are closed down for violating one of the stipulations will not be allowed to launch any new publications for a year.

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