An undisclosed number of foreign-language publications marketed at non-Chinese speakers on the mainland will be shut down for violating the national publication law.
The warning was issued yesterday by the General Administration of Press and Publication and the National Office for Eliminating Pornography and Illegal Publications, and affects domestically produced foreign-language newspapers and periodicals.
An official with the illegal publications office said no list of banned publications had been issued and declined to name any publications that might be banned.
In main cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, there are a large number of entertainment weeklies and monthlies targeting expatriates and foreign tourists. Many are believed to have operated without proper licences.
According to Xinhua, the notice was issued after the appearance of 'many illegal foreign-language newspapers and periodicals one after another'.
The notice said the publication of newspapers or journals had to be authorised by the government to be deemed legal.
