China has introduced new rules on publishing People’s Liberation Army (PLA)-related content online as authorities seek to tighten control over sensitive military information.
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry via email with a request for comment outside of office hours.
Why It Matters
The guidelines were jointly announced over the weekend by 10 government departments, including China’s internet regulator, top spy agency, and the President Xi Jinping-chaired Central Military Commission.
The move is part of broader efforts by Chinese authorities to tighten secrecy as the country continues to rapidly modernize its military in its bid to rival the United States. The new rules target publications and social media accounts catering to military enthusiasts, who have previously shared footage of sensitive hardware—including China’s sixth-generation fighter jet, filmed in flight over Chengdu in December.
What To Know
Under the new regulations, which were laid out in 30 articles, producers of military-themed materials will be strictly vetted. They will required to mark their content with special labels and forbidden from unauthorized use or branding of People’s Liberation Army and other defense-related party terms.
These producers will be barred from “producing, reproducing, publishing, or disseminating” undisclosed information on military deployments and training, communications, organization, research, and other sensitive details.
Associated Press
The rules reinforce existing legislation that prohibits defaming the military or engaging in “depoliticization”—or deemphasis of the Chinese Communist Party’s absolute control over the armed forces.
Content producers are, however, encouraged to publish material promoting Xi Jinping’s official political ideology, including “Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military.” They are also invited to showcase military modernization milestones and discuss how the PLA has “made positive contributions to world peace and development.
What People Are Saying
David Bandurski, director of the China Media Project, wrote in a Monday article: “Military and defense-related content enjoys significant popularity among Chinese internet users, but the leadership is clearly keen to ensure that sensitive information—a concept broadly applied in China—and speculation do not undermine the official narrative around the country’s military development and capabilities.”
James Char, expert on China’s military and assistance professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told CNN:
“This will also work in Beijing’s interest in preventing its troop deployments within the mainland from being exposed in advance of another major military exercise or troop build-up in China’s coastal regions off the Taiwan Strait […] I regard the announcement of these regulations as nothing more than the institutionalization of existing rules.”
What’s Next?
The new regulations will take effect on March 1.
