China, the Party's new crusade against "Western lifestyles"

The government had ordered all news organizations to avoid references to the private lives of celebrities, to their earnings or their reputation. The "entertainment" industry must follow the moral lines of the Communists. Law on the cinema sector being drafted.


Beijing (AsiaNews) – In the umpteenth attempt to control all forms of public expression, the Chinese central government has prohibited the dissemination of news - even entertainment gossip - that promotes a "Western lifestyle". The new note bans the transmission of material "in any form" that "makes fun of the Chinese traditional values ​​or the classics”, as well as any gossip on celeb love stories.

The State Administration for print, radio, movies and television issued an order addressed to all the national media: in the text, the censors explain that the "entertainment" industry must remain "clean" and must "adapt in tone and manner of speaking to the ideologies of the Communist Party. "

And not only: "The Administration will forcibly censor” stories on the "quickly accumulated wealth" or "fame obtained using intrigues against others." In essence, Xinhua news agency summarizes "the whole process of news gathering must comply with what the authorities believe to be politically correct." Among the penalties for those who fail to comply with the new rules are "public criticism, the program's suspension or revocation of production license".

The "war against the West" has been going on for some time and also involves religions. The Party has supported the battles of some state universities against the celebrations of the Christian Christmas, banning meetings, parties, greeting cards.

The Chinese central government also seems obsessed with control of information. Over the last year it issued ordinances that try to control the internet content, live streaming and of course the press and television. But the authorities have even arrived at physically occupying an "noncompliant" newspaper to force it to print a fake issue of the same newspaper.

Film and television production is also being targeted. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (the real legislative body of the country) is in fact studying a revision of the law on the industry of cinema to make sure that those who work in the field "are recognized for professional excellence and integrity". The first draft of the new document should be published next October.