China has never shut down any overseas websites and its management over websites aims to protect China's national security and consumers' interests, said Lu Wei, director of the State Internet Information Office at a press conference on Thursday.
A transcript of Lu’s comments was published on the Xinhua website. Below are some excerpts:
TV Asahi: I have two questions. The first is, Facebook and other Western websites are inaccessible in China, why has China shut down these websites. The second question is, in recent times there has been a clear increase in the degree of website deletions and account closures in China, and there is information indicating that the SIIO will issue administrative measures on mobile applications, does this mean that China wants to restrict online speech? In the future how will you balance Internet regulation and free speech?
You asked three questions. I didn't hear clearly which Western websites cannot be accessed in China. I have no experience using these websites, and I don't know if they are blocked or not. But I believe its possible that some websites may not be accessible. But what I want to make clear is that our administration is done in accordance with PRC law, and every measure that we take is for the protection of China's national security and the interests of China's consumers. What I want to make clear is that we have not shut down a single overseas website. Your website is in your home, how can we run over to your home and shut down the website in your home. Since time immemorial China has been hospitable and welcoming, but if someone comes to our home as a guest, I get to choose. I can say two things, I have no way to change you, but I have the right to choose my friends. I hope everyone who comes to China is a friend, a true friend. Thanks.
The second question, you say that the degree of website deletions and account closures has increased, but I don't get that feeling. But I can tell you, the Fourth Plenum of the 18th Party Congress has just concluded, and it raised the goal of ruling the country in accordance with the law. To rule the country in accordance with the law it is necessary to rule the Internet in accordance with the law, and to rule the Internet in accordance with the law it is necessary to use rule of law thinking to promote the rule of law-ism in the Internet space. Ruling the Internet in accordance with the law it is first necessary to rule the Internet in accordance with the Constitution, and all the regulations that we promulgate, for example the "Nine Prohibiteds" and "Seven Bottom Lines," every single provision was promulgated in accordance with China's Constitution. For example, Article 1, Clause 1 of the Constitution provides that "The socialist system is the basic system of the People's Republic of China. Sabotage of the socialist system by any organization or individual is prohibited." Now we must further strengthen ruling the Internet in accordance with the law, operating the Internet in accordance with the law, managing the Internet in accordance with the law, going online in accordance with the law, and using the law to regulate behavior in Internet spaces.
. . . .
Phoenix TV Reporter: You just mentioned the Facebook website, I recall that you had said that there is no way this kind of website would be allowed to enter China, and that China immediately implemented an Internet security screening system. What to do you think about the critiques of outsiders who say that the implementation of this system of ours is obstructing certain foreign enterprises from entering China?
Lu Wei
You also asked two questions. First, when I was in Davos I did in fact notice that various media were asking me whether "Facebook" could enter China. The media said I said "absolutely not." Today I can tell you, this is false reporting. Of course, I also did not say that "Facebook" could enter. I neither said it could not enter China, nor did I say it could enter China. What I want to say is that China's policy of openness to the outside will not change, because it is one of our fundamental policies. For foreign Internet companies wanting to enter China, our bottom line is that must comply with China's laws and regulations. Laws an regulations have two bottom lines, the first is not harming the national interests of China, the second is not harming the interests of China's consumers. What we will not permit is getting a piece of China's market, earning China's money, and in return harming China. This sort of situation is something we are unwilling to tolerate. All that is required is obeying China's laws and regulations, and we welcome all Internet companies in the world to enter the China market. The China market really is too big.
You also mentioned a question about the Internet security screening system, and the fact is we did issue some information about establishing an Internet security screening system. Where does our Internet security screening system come from? It is something learned from America and other Western countries. Our Internet security screening system is intended to safeguard Internet security and national security, and safeguard the healthy development of the economy and society, and safeguard the interests of China's consumers. We are not targeting a particular country or a particular enterprise. Of course it will also include all countries and all enterprises.
朝日电视台
我有两个问题，第一个问题，西方一些网站比如说Facebook在中国无法访问，请问中国为什么要关闭这些网站？第二个问题，近段时间中国各家网站删贴关闭帐号力度明显加大，有消息称，网信将出台APP管理办法，这是不是中国政府要收紧网上言论？未来怎么平衡互联网管理和言论自由？
你问了三个问题。我没听清你是说哪一个西方的网站在中国无法访问。我没有用过这些网站的体验，我不知道它们是不是被关闭。但有些网站无法访问的情况，我想可能是存在的。但是我要说明的是，我们的管理都是按照中国法律进行的，我们所采取的一切措施都是依法维护中国的国家安全和中国消费者的利益。我还要说明的是，我们没有关过境外的任何一家网站，你的网站在你家里，我怎么可能跑到你家去关你家的网站呢？中国历来都是好客热情的，但是谁到我家作客，我是有选择的。我可以讲两句话，我没有办法改变你，但是我有权利选择朋友，我希望到中国来的都是朋友，是真朋友。谢谢。
第二个问题，你说各家网站的删帖、关闭帐号的力度加大，我没有这方面的感觉，但是我可以告诉你，中国中共十八届四中全会刚刚闭幕，提出了依法治国的目标。要依法治国，就要依法治网，依法治网就是要用法治的思维推动网络空间法治化。依法治网首先是依宪治网，我们出台的所有法规，比方说“九不准”，还有“七条底线”，每一条都是对照中国宪法来出台的。比方说宪法第一章第一条就规定“社会主义制度是中华人民共和国的根本制度，禁止任何组织或个人来破坏社会主义制度”。我们现在要进一步加强依法治网、依法办网、依法管网、依法上网，用法治来规范网络空间的行为。[ 2014-10-30 16:32 ]
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[凤凰卫视记者]
刚才提到Facebook这样的网站，我记得您表示过这样的网站不可能让它进入中国，中国马上实施网络安全审查制度，请问您怎么看待外界一些评论，认为我们这个制度的实施就是在阻止有些外国的企业进入中国？谢谢。
[鲁炜]
你也问了两个问题。第一，我当时在达沃斯的时候确实注意到了有个别媒体问我“脸谱”能不能进入中国？媒体说是我说的“绝不可能”。我今天可以跟你说，这是一条虚假新闻，当然，我也没说“脸谱”就可以进入。我既没有说它不可以进入中国，也没有说它可以进入中国。我想说，中国对外开放的政策是不会变的，因为它是我们的基本国策，外国互联网企业进入中国，我们的底线就是要符合中国的法律法规。法律法规就两条底线，一是不得损害中国的国家利益，二是不得伤害中国的消费者利益。我们现在不能允许的是，既占了中国市场，又挣了中国的钱，还来伤害中国，这种情况我们是不能允许的。只要遵守中国的法律法规，我们欢迎世界所有的互联网企业进入中国市场，中国市场确实太大了。
[鲁炜]
你刚才又谈到一个网络安全审查制度的问题，确实我们发布了建立网络安全审查制度的消息，我们网络安全审查制度是从哪儿来的呢？是从美国等西方发达国家学来的。我们的网络安全审查制度是为了维护网络安全和国家安全、维护经济社会健康发展、维护中国消费者的利益，我们不针对某一个国家、某一个企业。当然，也包括一切国家和所有的企业。谢谢。
On October 31, 2014, the state sponsored Global Times published an article entitled “Beijing Has ‘Never Shut Down’ Overseas Websites.” According to that article:
