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)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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