China has recently announced comprehensive regulations aimed at tightening the release of information about its military online. These rules, set to take effect on March 1, are part of China's efforts to modernize its People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and enhance national security.
The regulations target the spread of false military information and the leakage of military secrets on the internet. They prohibit the production, copying, publishing, and dissemination of military secrets, national defense technology, industry secrets, and other undisclosed information related to the military.
These rules will impact Chinese military bloggers and commentators who often share images and information about new weapons systems, troop movements, and personnel appointments. The regulations also cover a wide range of topics, including the development and testing of weapons systems, military drills, deployment, and organizational structures of military units.
The regulations apply to individual users as well as online military information service providers, such as dedicated military websites, columns, and social media accounts focused on the military. Issued jointly by 10 government and Communist Party departments, the rules indicate a significant tightening of control over military-themed content on the Chinese internet.
Open source information has been crucial for monitoring China’s military progress in the past. However, the impact of these new regulations on foreign media reporting on the Chinese military remains uncertain.
Analysts suggest that these regulations could signal a broader effort to control and restrict the flow of military-related information online in China.
