WTO and China's Responses in the Regulation of the New Media

Special Regulation on New Media

Out of Cultural Consideration

According to Li (2002), cultural consideration is of most flexibility in WTO and future negotiation on the regulations with each country is expected. He & Zhu (2003) stated that the adverse impact of the new media on the local culture and people's morals is put on top of the agenda of Chinese government, and, therefore, it has largely manipulated the regulations in this area. Focuses has been put on:
  • Pornography, violence and gambling - content that is deemed to have an adverse impact on the youth;
  • Expressions by dissident religious groups that threatens the rule of the government;
  • Internet bars that are mushrooming in the country.