The state agency authorizes foreign media to operate, but under conditions of control and payment. Beyond being an unjust commercial advantage it is a way to keep control of media ahead of the Beijing Olympics 2008.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) –The United States accuses Xinhua of un fair competition favoured by the State in order to have complete control despite China’s declarations that it seeks an open and transparent economy.  Yesterday U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab, at the end of a series of meetings between the two countries observed that the state agency charges foreign media to publish news in China, is a controlling body over them, but also competes with them in selling information, thus it is both “regulator and competitor”.

For some time now the United States has accused China of favouring National companies, often under public control, compared to foreign competitors.  Recently this “protectionism” has appeared to worsen: Xinhua published rules in September 2006 giving itself the sole power to regulate overseas media organizations' operations, barring them from directly soliciting subscribers in China. Under the rules, media agencies can sell news and data to subscribers only via agents designated by Xinhua, which has the right to select information released by foreign organizations and to delete any materials that undermine China's social stability, endanger national security or disrupt the country's economic order, among other prohibitions.

Xinhua, founded in 1931 by the Communist Party, defined in 2005 as “the world’s largest propaganda machine” by reporters without borders”, explained in statement that “formulated its rules ``in accordance with national laws, administrative regulations and the relevant regulations of the State Council''. Adding that they aim to ``promote the dissemination of news and information in a sound and orderly manner”.

“We've seen significant reforms in part of China since the country entered the World Trade Organization in 2001,'' Schwab said. ``Recently, we've seen some signs of backsliding. China has been clamping down on the media, even as the government prepares to open the nation to unprecedented global scrutiny during the 2008 Olympic Games, in order to avoid any negative news getting out.

 

• china
• olympics
• trade
• press
• freedom