China Aims to Justify New Media Restrictions

China moved to justify and explain a series of new restrictions on its media that tightened the government's control of information in the world's No. 2 economy.

In explanations posted online and in official media, Chinese officials suggested recent steps are intended to strengthen control over a fast-growing media industry that it said was prone to excesses. "Recently, Chinese media has been developing like mad, and the media has really been strengthened," said a post on the central government's website. "However, some media workers have abused their positions and the information they have." In particular, the notice criticized those who "spread confidential information and in the course of their work obtain information that they spread on Web-based social platforms without permission."