Senior Chinese official slams internet curbs in rare public outburst

A senior official of China’s top advisory body has lashed out at the country’s increasing internet censorship, warning that heightened crackdowns threaten social and economic growth.

The remarks by Luo Fuhe, a vice-chairmen of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and executive vice-chairman of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, one of eight non-Communist parties on the mainland, were made on the eve of the opening of the political advisory body’s annual session, state media reported.

It is rare for senior officials such as Luo, whose position carries the rank of a state leader, to openly challenge the Communist Party’s internet restrictions, which have been further strengthened since President Xi Jinping took power in late 2012.

Luo was particularly bitter over growing restrictions imposed by government censors on overseas websites that are not deemed sensitive to China’s politics, according to China.com.cn, an official news portal.

According to Luo, formerly an academic-turned-official in charge of scientific development in Guangdong, it is increasingly difficult to access overseas websites, which goes against the country’s opening up policies.

Citing such websites as those of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation and many overseas universities, he said “opening a single webpage takes at least 10 to 20 seconds while it can take over 30 minutes to visit the websites of some universities”.

“It is not normal when quite a number of researchers have to purchase software that helps them bypass the country’s firewalls in order to complete their scientific research,” he said.