China released Sunday new rules governing the domestic distribution of news content by international media organisations, further beefing up state control of the press. The rules mandate that the state-run Xinhua news agency will have the sole right to distribute and release foreign news content in China, Xinhua, which published the regulations in full, said in a report.
"Xinhua News Agency, as China's state news agency, is the legally authorized institution to exercise unified administration over the release of news and information in China by foreign news agencies," the report said.
"Foreign news agencies shall be subject to approval by Xinhua News Agency for releasing their news and information in China, and shall have entities designated by Xinhua News Agency act as their agents.
"Foreign news agencies shall not directly solicit subscription of their news and information services in China."
The regulations also listed what kind of news content cannot be distributed in China including anything deemed to undermine China's national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, or endanger China's national security, reputation and interests, it said.
Source: Agence France-Presse
