The following examples of censorship instructions, issued to the media and/or Internet companies by various central (and sometimes local) government authorities, have been leaked and distributed online. Chinese journalists and bloggers often refer to those instructions as “Directives from the Ministry of Truth.” CDT has collected the selections we translate here from a variety of sources and has checked them against official Chinese media reports to confirm their implementation.
Regarding Guangzhou government employees receiving 1.4 billion yuan [US$219 bn] in free health care annually, surpassing health coverage for 2.1 million peasants: Do not report, comment or republish anything on this issue.
中宣部：关于广州市公务员一年公费医疗14亿，超过210万农民医保的问题不报道，不评论，不转载。
Central Propaganda Department: Li Wangyang’s Death in Shaoyang, Hunan
Regarding the news of Li Wangyang’s death in Shaoyang, Hunan and the foreign media reaction: all media outlets must without exception refrain from granting interviews, reporting or commenting, and must not reprint relevant information from foreign media and websites.
中宣部：对湖南邵阳李旺阳死亡事件及境外反应，各媒体一律不采访、报道和评论，也不转载境外媒体和网上相关信息。
Central Propaganda Department: Yili Milk Powder and Shaanxi Forced Abortion
Regarding heavy metals found in certain batches of Yili Brand milk powder and the seven-month pregnant women in Yuping Village, Cengjia Town, Zhenping County, Ankang City, Shaanxi Province who underwent forced labor: if any media outlet reports on these stories, only Xinhua News Agency’s wire copy may be used. Do not hype these stories, do not exaggerate them, and do not offer in-house reporting or commentary.
中宣部：关于伊利个别批次奶粉重金属含量异常和陕西省安康市镇坪县曾家镇渔坪村怀孕7月孕妇遭强制引产，各媒体如作报道，一律使用新华社通稿，不自行报道和评论，不炒作、不渲染。
Central Propaganda Department: India Arrests Eight Chinese Citizens
According to the Indian media, on June 12 Indian police arrested eight Chinese nationals. No media outlet may report or comment on either this or related incidents, nor may any reprint relevant information or commentary from foreign media and websites.
中宣部：根据印度媒体报道，印度警方当地时间6月12日逮捕了8名中国公民，各媒体对此事及相关事件不报道不评论，也不转载境外媒体和网上相关消息、评论。
Translated by Josh Rudolph.
