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.
“May the radiant sun General Kim Jong-un shine forever!”
Since directives are sometimes communicated orally to journalists and editors, who then leak them online, the wording published here may not be exact. The original publication date is noted after the directives; the date given may indicate when the directive was leaked, rather than when it was issued. CDT does its utmost to verify dates and wording, but also takes precautions to protect the source.
Central Propaganda Department: Use only Xinhua wire copy in reporting North Korea labelling Ri Yong-ho a counter-revolutionary. Do not make other reports or commentary. (November 26, 2012)
中宣部：对朝鲜将李英浩定性为反革命分子，只用新华社通稿，不作其他报道评论。
Central Propaganda Department: Use only Xinhua wire copy with regards to Vietnam passing an anti-corruption bill. Do not make other reports or commentary. (November 26, 2012)
中宣部：对越南通过反腐法案，只用新华社通稿，不作其他报道评论。
Central Propaganda Department: Use only Xinhua wire copy with regards to the reopening of the investigation of the cheap sale of Wu Ying’s property. (November 26, 2012)
中宣部：对吴英财产贱卖案重审及相关问题只采用新华社通稿。
Once one of China’s richest business people, Wu Ying was detained in 2007 and eventually convicted of illegal fundraising. Sentenced to death in 2009, a retrial in May changed this to a two-year commuted death sentence, a punishment which often ends with the convicted averted execution. Meanwhile, Wu Ying argued for herself in court on Tuesday concerning the cheap sale of 14 of her companies’ properties, which she claims was fraudulent [zh].
Central Propaganda Department: Do not reprint, report, or comment on the female Heilongjiang TV anchor reporting a People’s representative to the authorities. (November 27, 2012)
中宣部：对黑龙江女主播举报人大代表一事不转不报不评。
On November 23, anchor Wang Dechun revealed that she has been sexually assaulted by a representative of the National People’s Congress.
Central Propaganda Department: In reports and commentary on the mine explosion in Xiangshui, Guizhou, do not implicate the political system. (November 27, 2012)
中宣部：对贵州响水煤矿爆炸事故的报道评论不联系体制。
Central Propaganda Department: Do not reprint, report, or comment on the paean to Kim Jong-un carved into a mountainside by North Korea. (November 27, 2012)
中宣部：对网上有关朝鲜刻写歌颂金正恩大幅标语一事不转不报不评。
A 548-meter slogan in praise of Kim Jong-un has been carved into a mountain in North Korea. Each word is 20 meters high, spelling out the slogan, “May the radiant sun General Kim Jong-un shine forever!”
Central Propaganda Department: With regards to online discussion of the vulgar Chongqing photos implicating six other officials, use on information issued by authoritative departments, and do not exaggerate. (November 27, 2012)
中宣部：对网传重庆不雅照还涉及其他6名官员，只采用权威部门发布的信息，不炒作。
Central Propaganda Department: All media are to maintain a positive spin on the national civil service examination. Do not independently report or comment on the situation surrounding test-taker Xuan Hai (who is visually impaired). (November 27, 2012)
中宣部：对国家公务员考试，各媒体要坚持正面宣传，对考生宣海（视力有障碍）参加考试相关情况，不单独报道评论。
Central Propaganda Department: Traditional media are not to reprint, report, or comment on online rosters of CCP Central Committee member posts. (November 28, 2012)
中宣部：网上关于中央委员现任职务的盘点，传统媒体不转载不报道不评论。
Central Propaganda Department: Do not reprint or report on Larry Hsien Ping Lang’s idea of China’s economy facing eight major crises [zh]. (November 28, 2012)
中宣部：对郎咸平有关中国经济面临八大危机的观点不转载不报道。
Central Propaganda Department: All media are not to report, reprint, or comment on the State Council “plan for organizational reform” spread online [zh]. (November 28, 2012)
中宣部：对网传的国务院机构改革方案，各媒体不报道不转载不评论。
Central Propaganda Department: All media are to report in accordance with the scope of Xinhua copy the death of J-15 Chief Designer Luo Yang. (November 28, 2012)
中宣部：对歼-15飞机总设计师罗阳逝世一事，各媒体按新华社稿的口径报道。
