bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Coco Feng

Zhou Xin

China’s powerful internet watchdog has denied it has issued guidelines for vetting major investment deals by the country’s largest internet firms, after a screenshot of discussions about such a policy was shared on social media.
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said in a statement on Wednesday that it has never issued a policy requiring internet platforms to seek pre-approval for external investment deals.
Multiple sources who spoke on condition of anonymity to the South China Morning Post said the CAC has a mandate to enhance its supervision of internet firms, and that the agency is exploring how to perform its new role in an effective way.
Beijing restricts what celebrities can do in cyberspace
The agency has to seek consent from other regulators, discuss the matter with internet firms, and publish a draft to seek public feedback, according to one source.
This source cited as example the China Securities Regulatory Commission, which may not like the idea of forcing tech companies to surrender investment decision power.
The official CAC statement came after reports circulated online that internet platforms with at least 100 million users would have to seek approval from the cyberspace regulator for such deals.
The recent decision by ByteDance, owner of TikTok and its sister Chinese app Douyin, to dissolve its strategic investment unit has lent support to concerns that Beijing is working on a plan to undermine the investment decision-making power at the country’s largest internet firms.
ByteDance said in a brief statement on Wednesday that its decision to disband the strategic investment unit was part of an internal reorganisation, without referring to government policy.
The CAC also said in its statement that it would find and punish those responsible for spreading the rumours.
The latest development comes at a time when multiple Chinese government agencies are said to be working out rules and regulations to implement the Chinese leadership’s requirement that “traffic lights” be set up for capital expansion. Under China’s top-down political system, this often leads to glitches and miscommunication in implementing actual policy.
The idea of the CAC having a say in the fundraising plans of private firms, as well as their external investment deals, has been discussed internally but is far from a regulation, according to one regulatory source based in Beijing.

But it is clear that the wind is blowing in the direction of enhanced supervision and the role of the cyberspace administration, which has traditionally not got involved in vetting financing or investment activities by tech firms, cannot be ignored.
The CAC has been given a mandate to conduct cybersecurity reviews for overseas initial public offerings by Chinese internet firms with at least 1 million users, a move that came after the New York listing of ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing angered China’s regulators.
Sources from the strategic investment teams at two of China’s largest internet firms, each having reached the threshold of “at least 100 million users”, told the Post that they now routinely inform the CAC about new deals as a matter of courtesy, but not to seek approval.
The CAC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The rules on how mainland Chinese tech firms go through a screening process at the CAC remain vague, according to insiders. The process is like “crossing the river by touching the stones”, according to one executive at a Hong Kong-listed mainland firm, citing a phrase used by former Chinese leader Deng Xiaopeng about the country’s process of reform and opening up.
It is impossible to find a senior official at CAC to sign a letter saying “this company is absolutely safe”, according to the company executive. Still, companies must prove to investors that CAC is informed and has no objections, the executive added.
The current solution is a written record of conversation between the company lawyer and a CAC clerk, which says there are no existing laws or regulations to stop the listing.
Different government agencies, with varying priorities and authority, are becoming increasingly visible in regulating the country’s Big Tech. For example, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the antitrust watchdog, continues to look into mergers and acquisitions deals by the likes of Post owner Alibaba Group Holding and Tencent Holdings, and has issued fines to those who did not report such transactions for antitrust review.

For many years, Chinese tech giants have pursued a strategy of growth through external acquisitions and investments, building their business empires in a relatively short period of time, with little regulatory oversight. However, those days are now over according to China’s state leaders, who say this “barbaric growth” must be tamed.
Social media and video gaming giant Tencent recently divested its holdings in JD.com, a major Chinese e-commerce platform, and trimmed its stake in Sea, a Singapore-based e-commerce operator that owns Shopee.
At the same time, the Chinese government has made it clear that the new regulations, which have wiped billions of dollars off market values, are intended to promote “healthy” development of internet platforms.
China’s National Development and Reform Commission, the economic planning agency, joined eight other ministries on Wednesday to jointly release a policy guideline on “promoting regulated, healthy and sustainable development” of internet platforms.


China’s internet watchdog says it has not issued a policy requiring vetting of investment deals at Big Tech firms

A decision by ByteDance to dissolve its strategic investment unit has lent support to concerns that Beijing wants a say in deals made by the country’s largest internet firms. Photo: Shutterstock Images

An American flag is seen in front of the logo for Didi Global Inc during its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange,  June 30, 2021. Photo: Reuters

A woman walks past the offices of Chinese technology firm Alibaba in Beijing, Aug. 10, 2021. Photo: AP

Tech

Big Tech

Policy

Tech Trends

Business

China Business


The official denial came after reports circulated online that platforms with at least 100 million users would have to seek approval for external investment deals
Different government agencies, with varying priorities and authority, are becoming increasingly visible in regulating the country’s Big Tech companies



China’s cyberspace watchdog said it has not issued a policy to vet investment deals by internet firms, although sources say internal discussions are under way on how to enhance its supervision of the sector.
