China's said Tuesday that regulations beefing up state control of the foreign media were aimed at protecting their intellectual property rights. Xinhua news agency, the mouthpiece of China's communist regime, issued regulations Sunday that demand all domestic subscribers of foreign news agencies to register through the agency, which can also censor all news coming into China.
"The regulations are to standardize the release of information and the use or distribution of news and information … and to protect the intellectual property rights of foreign news providers," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told journalists.
"The release of these regulations is a demonstration of the spirit of the rule of law. I hope everyone has a correct understanding of this."
Media groups and foreign news agencies have expressed opposition to the rules.
Most of the rules have been in place for years, but they repeal 1996 regulations that allowed foreign news agencies like Reuters and Bloomberg to supply clients directly with financial and economic news in what has become a lucrative business.
"China is a country ruled by law, there is no absolute freedom in any country. Any activity must be held within the framework of law and regulation," Qin said.
He said that Xinhua is authorized by China's cabinet, the State Council, to implement the regulations, but refused to comment on the apparent conflict of interest as Xinhua was now able to administer some of its biggest competitors.
Qin also downplayed the effect the new rules would have on press freedoms in China, especially during the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games.
"These regulations do not cover foreign journalists' reporting in China during the Olympic Games," he said.
Source: Agence France-Presse
