China tightens rules on publishing information about military online

China has announced new rules limiting what information can be shared about the military, Report informs via South China Morning Post.

Beijing said the rules were designed to protect defense sources and the People’s Liberation Army’s public image, but they may mean it will be harder to monitor the development and evolution of China’s military.

From March 1 “online military information providers” will be banned from “producing, copying, publishing, or disseminating” previously undisclosed information, including details of weapon systems and military facilities.

The new rules ban the publication of information involving “military and national defense technology secrets”. These include information about “research and development, production, testing, transportation, equipment status and the maintenance of weapons and equipment, [as well as] the tactical and technical performance of weapons and equipment”.

It also bans the release of information about the armed forces’ organizational structure, its chain of command, previous commanders and details about military units that have not been officially disclosed.

The rules also took aim at “false military information and the leakage of military secrets on the internet”, according to the People's Liberation Army’s (PLA) official social media accounts.

They were outlined in a document signed by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the political work department of the Central Military Commission and other departments, which was made public on Saturday.

The new directive also bans the publication of information that “denies or attacks China’s national defense policy and military strategy”, including the “construction, development, and use of strategic nuclear forces”.