Outspoken liberal Chinese magazine Yanhuang Chunqiu threatens to sue state organisation over editorial appointments

The outspoken Chinese political journal Yanhuang Chunqiu has threatened to sue the Chinese National Academy of Arts, which was assigned to oversee the flagship magazine, if it refuses to withdraw the group of newsroom staff it appointed.

The move comes after the 25-year-old monthly Beijing magazine stopped publication on Sunday following a July 13 reshuffle of top management that included the sacking of long-time publisher Du Daozheng.

The influential journal, which has had a monthly circulation of nearly 200,000, has voiced support for constitutional democracy.

A legal letter sent by two Beijing-based lawyers Mo Shaoping and Ding Xikui on behalf of the magazine to the president of the academy on Tuesday said: “In the hope of safeguarding the legal interests of Yanhuang Chunqiu, we will follow all legal measures ... if the academy fails to take measures to stem the deteriorating and additional economic losses [triggered by its decision].

Mo and Ding called on the academy to resume normal working practices at Yanhuang Chunqiu by removing all the newsroom staff it appointed before returning control of its official website to editorial staff.

The legal letter also accused the academy of violating a legally binding agreement reached between the academy and Yanhuang Chunqiu in mid-December, 2014.