Censorship in China

Censorship in the People's Republic of China (PRC) is implemented or mandated by the PRC's ruling party, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The government censors content for mainly political reasons, such as curtailing political opposition, and censoring events unfavorable to the CCP, such as the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, pro-democracy movements in China, the Uyghur genocide, human rights in Tibet, the Taiwan independence movement, Falun Gong and various religious groups deemed as "xiejiao" (Chinese: 邪教) by the CCP and its followers, and pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

Quotes

• 莫谈国事
  • Translation: Do not discuss national affairs.
  • Catchphrase possibly populated by Lao She's Teahouse. Translated by Wikipedian. Originally describing censorship in [[w:Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China (1912–1949)], the catchphase has become

• 要深入实施网络内容建设工程，弘扬主旋律，激发正能量，让科学理论、正确舆论、优秀文化充盈网络空间。发展积极向上的网络文化，引导互联网企业和网民创作生产传播格调健康的网络文学、网络音乐、网络表演、网络电影、网络剧、网络音视频、网络动漫、网络游戏等。加强网上热点话题和突发事件的正确引导、有效引导，明辨是非、分清善恶，让正确道德取向成为网络空间的主流。
  • Translation: [We] must deeply implement the Internet Content Construction Project. [We must] promote the main theme, stimulate the positive energy, make the scientific theories, correct public opinion and outstanding culture fill the cyberspace. [We must] develop the positive Internet culture, guide the Internet companies and netizens to create content-healthy Internet literature, Internet music, Internet performance, Internet film, Internet series, Internet audio and video, Internet anime, Internet game, etc. [We must] enhance the correct and effective guidance of the hot topics and breaking events. [We must] clearly distinguish between right and wrong, and make the correct moral orientation become the mainstream of the cyberspace.
  • 新时代公民道德建设实施纲要 (lit. The Summary of Citizen Moral Construction in the New Era). Translated by Wikipedian.

• There's a point where I don't think the [Chinese] Communist Party with any level of censorship is going to be able to control a disgruntled population of almost 1.4 billion people.
  • Pentagon official Lt. Cmdr. Jordan Foley, as quoted in "Chinese controls 'more efficient' as country marks 30 years online" by Qiao Qinen, Radio Free Asia (January 11, 2024)

• In Canada not everyone will agree with Harper's interpretation of what Vimy means for today. We have a multiplicity of views about the past and its significance for the present. In China, by contrast, the Communist Party does its best to ensure that the public gets only one version of history. When my book on Nixon’s trip to China in 1972 came out, Chinese publishers showed an interest in translating it. There would, however, have to be a few small changes. Mention of the Cultural Revolution and of Mao’s often scandalous private life would have to go. (The book has not been published in China.) Although the Communist Party has repudiated most of Mao’s policies, it still holds him up as the father of the Communist Revolution. To question him would be to undermine the Party’s own authority to rule China.
  • Margaret MacMillan, The Uses and Abuses of History (2008), p. 69