Chinese law would apply to all media

By Joseph Kahn The New York TimesMONDAY, JULY 3, 2006

A Chinese draft law that threatens to fine news media for reporting on "sudden incidents" without permission applies to foreign as well as domestic news organizations, an official involved in preparing the legislation said Monday. The law, now under consideration by the legislature, calls for fines of up to $12,500 if news media produce unauthorized reports on outbreaks of disease, natural disasters, social disturbances or other so-called sudden incidents that officials determine to be false or harmful to China's social order. Wang Yongqing, vice minister of the legislative affairs office of China's State Council, or cabinet, said at a news conference that the law should apply to all news organizations, including foreign newspapers, magazines and broadcast outlets that usually operate under different rules than local Chinese media.
"I think they should be included - the same as if a Chinese reporter goes to France or Britain, he also has to abide by your laws," Wang said, responding to a question about the law's applicability to foreigners. "It's aimed at the activity. If you engage in reporting activities, you also have to obey these rules." Foreign news organizations with offices inside China face travel restrictions and are monitored closely by security forces. But the authorities in charge of propaganda generally have not sought to censor foreign news reports the way they do those of domestic publications. As a result, foreign newspapers and magazines sometimes investigate sensitive political and social issues, including protests and outbreaks of disease, that local media report cannot report freely. Wang's briefing was aimed at reassuring the news media that the proposed law aims mainly to punish government officials who do a poor job of managing sudden incidents, like health emergencies or coal mine accidents. The clause pertaining to the media, Wang said, is intended only to prevent malicious behavior by news media that willfully mislead the public.