Source:
https://scmp.com/article/327014/inspectors-find-publications-flout-edict-restricting-military-reports

Inspectors find publications flout edict restricting military reports

Beijing has launched a series of crackdowns on unsanctioned publications, including those which have allegedly leaked state and military secrets.

A notice was issued by the State Press and Publications Administration in June to tighten the grip on published military material, the China National Defence News reported.

The notice stated that all publications containing news about the military must be published by army headquarters or, in the case of local newspapers, reports must be sourced from Xinhua.

Newspapers must also seek approval from the General Political Department of the military and the State Press and Publications Administration when they publish special supplements about the military. Taking military news from the Internet is forbidden.

The China National Defence News report said recent inspections showed that military publications - many containing inaccurate information - were still freely available on the streets despite the administration's order.

It said that inspectors recently closed down 13 bookstores when they checked about 300 shops and newsstands in Jiangxi's Jiujiang. They also found more than 8,200 illegal publications and videos. Inspectors have questioned more than 20 distributors about their source of supplies.

The report said similar breaches were found in Xian, Shaanxi province. The report said although the problem was less serious in this city, illegal publications could still be found.

In Xian, officials said they had stepped up inspection after they received the order from the State Press and Publications Administration. They said reporters from Hong Kong and Macau and foreign journalists must report to local authorities before they could work in Xian.