China has launched a "spring campaign" against illegal and
pirated publications that will last until May, as problems with
such materials reemerged in some areas of the country.
An official with the national office responsible for combating
pornographic and illegal publications said during the campaign,
publications illegally compiled, published or reprinted will be
confiscated, while illegal activities of smuggling overseas
newspapers and periodicals will be stringently banned.
China's customs will intensify their examinations in order to
locate passengers carrying illegal publications from overseas. The
battle will also extend to the Internet, where online illegal
publications and relevant information will be blocked, the official
said.
Printing houses are banned from publishing illegal overseas
publications and reprinting other illegal publications.
China previously launched a 100-day nationwide campaign against
pirated audio and video products and computer software from July 15
to late October in 2006.
According to the official statistics, 19.46 million illegal
publications were seized each month on average from July through
September, more than double the monthly average for the
January-June period last year.
(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2007)