DATE=        JANUARY 12, 1998

TYPE=        EDITORIAL

NUMBER=      0-07602

TITLE=       EDITORIAL:  CHINESE RESTRICTIONS ON INTERNET



CONTENT=THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO EDITORIALS BEING RELEASED FOR 

BROADCAST JANUARY 12, 1998.



ANNCR:

THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE 

VARIETY OF ISSUES.  NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF

THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.



VOICE:



    THIS IS AN AGE, AS PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON HAS SAID, "WHERE 

CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION ARE MULTIPLYING ALL THE TIME -- FROM 

THE SHORTWAVE RADIO TO SATELLITES. . .FROM PHONE TO FAX TO THE 

INTERNET.  LET US USE THESE TOOLS," SAID PRESIDENT CLINTON, "TO 

SHARE THE BENEFITS OF WISDOM, LEARNING AND COOPERATION WITH ONE 

ANOTHER."



    ONE COUNTRY WHERE USE OF INFORMATION TOOLS IS EXPANDING IS 

CHINA.  RECENTLY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ADOPTED NEW REGULATIONS 

GOVERNING USE OF THE INTERNET.  ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS, ONE 

REGULATION SAYS THE INTERNET CANNOT BE USED TO DEFAME THE CHINESE

GOVERNMENT.  ANOTHER SAYS THE INTERNET MUST NOT BE USED TO SPLIT 

THE COUNTRY.  THE NEW RULES IMPOSE CRIMINAL PUNISHMENTS FOR 

VIOLATORS.  THE UNITED STATES IS CONCERNED THAT CHINESE 

AUTHORITIES MIGHT USE THE NEW REGULATIONS TO INTERFERE WITH THE 

PEACEFUL EXPRESSION OF POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS IDEAS.  



    THE U.S. SUPPORTS THE FREE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS THROUGHOUT THE 

WORLD.  THE INTERNET IS A DYNAMIC AND USEFUL MECHANISM FOR 

DISSEMINATING INFORMATION TO SCHOLARS, OFFICIALS AND PEOPLE IN 

ALL WALKS OF LIFE.  AS WITH OTHER FORMS OF COMMUNICATION, THE 

FREEST POSSIBLE FLOW OF INFORMATION VIA THE INTERNET IS 

CONSISTENT WITH THE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HUMAN RIGHTS OF 

FREE SPEECH AND FREE EXPRESSION.  CHINESE GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO 

PREVENT REASONABLE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, OR TO BLOCK ACCESS TO 

WEB SITES FOR POLITICAL REASONS, ARE CONTRARY TO THESE 

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS.



ANNCR:



    THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED 

STATES GOVERNMENT.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, 

PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 

20547, U-S-A.  YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043.  

YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.



09-Jan-98 2:14 PM EST (1914 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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