Wang Chen, minister of the State Council Information Office, attended the Ninth Forum on China’s Internet Media and delivered the keynote address, titled "Internet Media Must be Responsible for Internet Security." Wang stressed that "From the stand point of national security, information security, and cultural security, Internet media must adapt to the new requirements and new changes according to the current situation, earnestly implement the central authorities’ important policies and strategies on strengthening Internet development and management, and actively respond to network security challenges based on domestic and international situations. " [3]

Wang Chen said, "China officially connected to the Worldwide Internet in 1994. After 15 years of development, China’s Internet population reached 360 million. The Internet penetration rate is equal to the world average. In recent years, China’s development of the Internet has presented some new features: First, the information form of communication is transforming from text-based to multimedia with audio, video, photos and other forms. It is estimated that currently more than 50% of online communication in China is in the form of audio, video and other multimedia. … Second, the main application area of the Internet is rapidly extending from information communication and consumer entertainment into business services, and e-commerce. The Internet developed rapidly, and has begun to impact the national economy in a deeper and wider way. … Third, the service model is changing from information provider to platform provider. … Fourth, the means of communication is extending from traditional Internet to mobile Internet. With the development of 3G networks, mobile phone Internet is becoming a new trend.

I would like to take this opportunity to make a few comments and suggestions:

1. We need to maintain a sense of responsibility and urgency for effectively enhancing network security. The Internet has become part of our nation’s major infrastructure. On-line information is an important strategic national resource, and is closely related to people’s daily life. Effectively maintaining network security and Internet information flow security is the fundamental requirement for safeguarding national security and people’s fundamental interests, promoting economic development and cultural prosperity, and maintaining social harmony and stability. The more powerful and influential the Internet media communication is, the more security and reliability it requires. … The security of the Internet media information flow not only impacts the image and reputation of the particular media, but also impacts the healthy development of the Internet industry. Maintaining network security is to promote better development of Internet media and the Internet itself.

2. We should earnestly view improving the ability to guide public opinion online as an important measure for maintaining Internet security. China is in a critical period of reform and development, a period when social contradictions are prominent, and various ideas and values are actively interacting. Online public opinion is pluralistic, diverse, and dynamic. Effectively guiding online public opinion is a major means to maintain online information security. It is related to our success and social harmony. In recent years, Internet media has carefully followed the central government’s spirit, firmly grasped the correct orientation, and … effectively assisted the Party and state government’s work. Guiding online public opinion has become a new innovative highlight of the Party’s propaganda and ideological work in the information era.

3. We should effectively treat regulating network communication as a key link in maintaining Internet security. … At present, more than 85% of news and information about current political affairs on China’s Internet is from the central government and local key news websites. Our online news and information communication are standardized and orderly on the whole. … Internet media must carefully implement the "Administrative Regulations of Internet News and Information Services" and other relevant laws and regulations, strictly abide by the news propaganda discipline, and conscientiously improve the information production and dissemination process in order to ensure that the news sources are from legitimate formal sites, and the news content is true and accurate. Relevant authorities should strengthen their supervision over Internet communication according to the law, and severely penalize illegal acts of Internet communication, in order to achieve the timely dissemination of network information flow, while ensuring the security and orderly flow of online information.

4. The effective protection of the physical and mental health of minors must be placed in a prominent position when maintaining Internet security. 

5. We should rely on promoting the online media industry’s self-regulation as an important guarantee for safeguarding Internet security. Internet media practitioners and the majority of Internet users are the main body to maintain Internet security. They are also an important force for safeguarding Internet security. In recent years, with the joint efforts of all parties concerned, the online media industry’s self-regulation has made significant progress, which has played an important role in ensuring Internet security. … First, the Internet industry organizations should play a leading role in building self-regulation, improving the self-regulatory mechanism, expanding the scope of self-discipline, and guiding the industry to build websites, while following the law with integrity and civilization in order to form a safe and orderly business service environment. Second, the Internet operating enterprises and websites must properly undertake their social responsibility to further strengthen network security, consciously accept supervision and guidance from government authorities, improve the internal information security management system, and consciously accept public supervision. Third, we should carry out widespread Internet security education to raise public awareness of network security issues, strengthen their self-defense capability, and form a good trend toward the whole society jointly safeguarding Internet security.

6. We should earnestly view promoting Internet creditability as an important foundation for maintaining Internet security."[4]

Xinhuanet published an article on November 25, 2009, stating that to "establish a ‘sense of social responsibility’ is absolutely an important and indispensable element." "First of all, Internet security needs leadership. It is the Government’s responsibility to improve Internet security management and enhance the Internet security’s defense capability. Since the earlier years, when we ‘crossed the river by feeling the stones,’ we were pleased to see that the Chinese government has been making relentless efforts to build Internet security. The authorities have successively promulgated and implemented a series of rules and regulations, issued laws and regulations related to Internet security, and formed an emergency response system to deal with Internet security emergencies. These are our guidelines for building a secure Internet.

Secondly, as an important foundation for today’s information society, Internet media became the first barrier to ensuring Internet security. The media must assume responsibility for being a "security starting point." … The security of Internet media information flow not only impacts that media’s image and reputation, but it also impacts the healthy development of the Internet industry. Maintaining network security will promote better development of Internet media and the Internet itself.

Finally, another strong Internet participating group, Internet users, is also an important force in safeguarding Internet security. … We need all users to assume social responsibility as public opinion supervisors for Internet media, and to work shoulder to shoulder with the Internet industry." [3]

On November 24, Global Times quoted Wang Chen, minister of the State Council Information Office, "In recent years, China’s Internet industry has developed rapidly, and presented many new features in information form, application areas, service models and means of communication, thus raising higher requirements for Internet security. The Internet has brought tremendous changes to social life, while providing a lot of convenience. Internet security issues have become increasingly prominent, especially in the area where pornography and other harmful materials seriously damage the physical and mental health of minors, network hacking, and viruses seriously threaten Internet operation security, and online fraud, theft and other cyber crimes directly endanger the safety of public property. … From the standpoint of national security, information security, and cultural security, Internet media must adapt to the new requirements of the new changes in this situation, earnestly implement the central authorities’ important policies and strategies on strengthening Internet development and management, and actively respond to network security challenges based on domestic and international situations. We should effectively enhance the awareness of Internet security issues, actively develop and strictly manage the Internet according to the law, strengthen self-discipline, and promote honesty. We need to maintain network security while promoting information flow, ensure the security of online information flow, further enhance the influence and credibility of online media, build a healthy, civilized, safe and orderly network environment, and create an Internet development path with Chinese characteristics." [1]

"Declaration of Building a Secure Internet" commitments: Grasp how to guide public opinion in the correct direction. Adhere to positive news reporting and encourage unity and stability. Insist on serving the nation’s interests and the people’s interests; strive to report touching, credible and influential online news with Internet characteristics; and do a solid job in guiding public opinion by pooling people’s wisdom, allaying public confusion, diverting people’s grievances, rallying public opinion and winning people’s hearts. Through reporting and guidance, (we should) ensure that the Internet is dominated by positive and healthy contents and rational and civilized opinions. Adhere to the goal of building a civilized Internet, and strengthen Internet media self-discipline. Always give priority to social benefits, and conscientiously assume social responsibility. Resolutely resist all negative information that damages social stability and the public interest, and resolutely eliminate pornographic and other harmful information. … Conscientiously follow laws and regulations, operate and manage websites according to the law. Raise legal awareness, prevent (the spread of) illegal information, and maintain normal order for online communication. Strengthen the development of website security systems, strictly standardize the security procedure for information production and delivery, and effectively safeguard the security, authority and credibility of Internet media and online information. … Focus on improving the awareness of Internet information security, and vigorously promote internet integrity … and widespread Internet security knowledge, and enhance public self-defense capabilities. … We should provide guidance to netizens so that they form good habits of being honest and trustworthy online. …To enhance the development of Internet media platforms, improve information security. To strengthen technical innovation, management innovation, and operation innovation, enhance the overall power of Internet media, and make Internet media a powerful body and main foundation for maintaining Internet and information security. Strengthen the Internet infrastructure and technology development, actively promote research development and technological progress, optimize Internet structure, improve communication capacity, and provide reliable safeguards for Internet information security.

Endnotes:
[1] Global Times, November 24, 2009
http://china.huanqiu.com/roll/2009-11/641482.html
[2] Xinhua, November 24, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-11/24/content_12533354.htm
[3] Xinhua, November 25, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-11/25/content_12538119.htm
[4] Xinhua, November 24, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newmedia/2009-11/24/content_12530246.htm

MPS: Anticipate and Prevent the Enemy’s Actions in China and Overseas; Prevail by Using Preemptive Strikes

December 18, 2009

Since the year 2009, we have faced the new situation of China’s economy being deeply impacted by the international financial crisis, and the heavy task of maintaining social stability. We have also faced the new challenge of the complicated situation of struggling against our enemies, and new social security problems. Under the strong leadership of the CCCCP, the State Council, and various levels of local party committees and governments, the nation’s public security authorities have firmly adhered to the requirement of "maintaining growth, maintaining people’s livelihood, and maintaining stability," and focused our work around the main goal of the security tasks for the 60th anniversary of establishing the PRC. With overall coordination and planning, we have put our best effort into strictly guarding against and cracking down on the hostile forces’ sabotage activities both inside and outside of China. We have properly and quickly taken care of major massive unrest triggered by social conflict. We have focused on maintaining the social stability of Urumqi City, of the whole Xinjiang area, of Tibet, and of other Tibetan areas. We have carried out anti-crime, explosives, and gun control public security operations. We have covered more areas carrying out activities of the "Great Visit" [2] and we have comprehensively strengthened and improved social management and services. With all these, we have effectively and persistently safeguarded the country’s overall social stability, and have made new contributions in promoting steady and rapid economic growth and ensuring that people live peacefully and joyfully.

At the same time, we are clearly aware that, at present, the country is at a special historic period of socioeconomic transition and prone to frequent social conflicts. The international financial crisis is still having an effect; the world economic and political structures are undergoing profound changes; and we are still facing various foreseeable and unforeseeable risks and challenges from both inside and outside of China. The main factors that affect national security and social stability include western anti-China forces’ plots to westernize and disintegrate China, conflicts and disputes between countries, the hostile forces disruptive and sabotage activities, increasingly complex and diverse conflicts among the people, and all kinds of traditional and new public security problems. In the new year, the situation for maintaining stability won’t be easy and the pressure won’t be any less. … (We ought to) focus on the following six tasks:

First, firmly grasp the initiative in combat against the enemies.(We should) further enhance our political sensitivity and discernment; do in-depth studies to correctly understand the new changes and characteristics of the enemies; vigorously enhance intelligence work; keenly guard against and crack down on sabotage activities by domestic and foreign hostile forces, ethnic separatist forces, violent and terrorist forces, religious extremist forces, and "Falun Gong"; and strive to predict, prevent, and preempt the enemies’ actions. We should conscientiously carry out the deployment of the CCCCP; properly handle the critical relationship between current and long term issues, domestic and overseas issues, the struggle against the enemy, and conflicts among our own people; comprehensively strengthen the working mechanism and grass-roots infrastructure buildup to maintain the stability of Xinjiang and Tibet; continuously improve the ability to initiate combat, prevent attacks, and handle emergencies; and give our best effort to maintain the social stability of Xinjiang and Tibet.

Second, we must do everything possible to safeguard social stability. 1) We should thoroughly carry out the task of resolving conflicts and disputes. We should resolve problems at the roots, actively participate in the development of a social stability risk assessment system, and the "Great Mediation" [3] system, improve the early-warning mechanism of massive unrest, and focus more on accurately comprehending public opinion and timely collecting intelligence. We need to prevent the occurrence of massive social unrest at the roots. 2) We should establish and improve the mechanism for handling emergent situations. We should enhance the study of the characteristics of handling major emergent incidents and constantly improve an emergency response system that meets our needs in real situations. We should also clearly understand the command jurisdiction and procedure, and on-site processing options and requirements, so as to make sure that whenever major emergencies occur, the key leadership of the local public security authorities is able to arrive at the command position at the earliest time to coordinate available resources and take care of everything in a timely, appropriate, and efficient manner. 3) We should focus on improving on-site handling ability. … Coordinate well the handling of emergencies, taking domestic and international influences into consideration, prevail in both battlefields of the Internet and other forms of mass media, effectively strengthen the work of guiding public opinion, and properly responding to reactions both inside China and overseas. 4) Strengthen the development of support for emergent situations. Vigorously strengthen the development of special forces with a main focus on the special police unit; further enhance the abilities of the police force to provide security safeguards and emergency responses. …

Third, we should fully implement comprehensive management and control measures on public security. 1) Adhere to the “strike hard” policy to harshly crack down on all serious criminal activities. … 2) Follow the unified deployment of the Committee for the Comprehensive Management of Public Security to fix critical security issues and carry out the cleanup of places with poor public security. … 3) Focus on strengthening social security management and control measures; be determined to prevent loopholes in the areas of management and control. … 4) Build a prevention and control network based on a street-level monitoring network and actively advance a dynamic prevention and control system of public security. Promptly institutionalize societal patrols in large and medium-size cities; extend the tentacles of prevention and control to reach farther into the communities and work places, as well as residential areas inside cities, suburban areas, and the junctions of administrative regions; focus on building a dynamic and multi-dimensional prevention and control network of public security that combines manpower, equipment, and technology, and integrates both the Internet and other mass media. Strive for accomplishing the prevention and control system at the provincial, municipal, and county levels within three years, starting next year.

Fourth, we should do well in the security work for the Shanghai World Expo and the Guangzhou Asian Games. 1) Fully borrow successful experiences from the Beijing Olympics, the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, and the 11th National Games. … 2) Under the unified leadership of the CCCCP, relying closely on the local party committees and governments, widely mobilize all social forces, balance and coordinate them together, and form a security structure where the working forces includes the general Chinese people in addition to  special forces. … 3) Focus on overall prevention and control. The public security authorities in Shanghai and Guangdong should fully utilize the integrated effects of manpower, technology, and equipment; make a tight and dense social prevention and control network; strictly control hazardous materials; strictly protect key positions; strictly govern crucial hidden risks; and strictly prevent individual extreme violence, major criminal offences, and major security incidents from happening. Public security authorities in the areas surrounding Shanghai and Guangdong should keep in mind that it is a coordinated effort all over the country as on a “single chess-board,” Be actively supportive and fully cooperative, construct a solid security line of moat-like defense, have strict personal, vehicle, and goods inspections, and give your best effort to filtering out all kinds of insecure factors and blocking them from the outside. … 4) Strengthen the information and intelligence consultation system, perfect all kinds of pre-arranged work planning, improve capabilities of timely detection, proactive attacks, and preemptive strikes on enemies, resolutely prevent hostile forces and elements from creating significant damage and major incidents, resolutely prevent the occurrence of violent terrorist attacks, resolutely prevent the occurrence of major mass incidents that could impact the World Expo and the Asian Games, ensure the absolute safety of security objects and security targets, and ensure the absolute safety of the open park ceremony at the World Expo, the opening and closing ceremonies at the Asian Games, and important contests at the Asian Games. …

Fifth, further promote the “Three Basics” Project [4] and the “Three Developments.” [5] 1) Accelerate the development of information technology in public security authorities. Build a “Grand Intelligence” information system within the public security system and comprehensively promote the second stage of the “Golden Shield Project.” Strive to finish the intelligence information platform at the provincial, municipal, and county levels before the end of next year, and achieve a high degree of information sharing and a high efficiency of information linkage and applications. … 2) Vigorously strengthen the development of standardization of law enforcement procedures. … 3) Strive to build a harmonious relationship between the police and the public. … 4) Further strengthen the grass-roots development of public security work. Continue to deepen the policing strategies in residential communities and rural areas; scientifically and reasonably arrange security manpower and organize police activities; work hard to make the security offices in rural areas be the first line of defense for maintaining stability as well as the first platform for serving the people. …

Sixth, we should further strengthen and improve the public security team. 1) Thoroughly implement the policy of the party’s Fourth Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee. … Improve the team’s overall competency and performance in all aspects as well as their capabilities for completing their duties. 2) Further enhance the efforts in education and training. For next year, focus on doing a good job in running the three training classes for directors of municipal police stations, political directors of provincial and municipal public security authorities, and leaders of provincial and municipal information departments of the public security authorities. The provincial and municipal public security authorities shall give extensive training to all grass roots level police station chiefs. … 3) Further intensify supervision and management. …

Endnotes:
[1] Heilongjiang Information Net, December 28, 2009
http://www.hljic.gov.cn/xxhsd/fzygh/t20091228_473803.htm
[2] The “Great Visit” is a project launched by the Ministry of Public Security that calls for policemen nationwide to walk into the homes of individual families to solve problems or handle social conflicts. It was initially a temporary project for the period around the Chinese New Year, from the end of 2008 to March 2009. Later the MPS advised the national police force to make it a long-term mechanism. It is believed to be a channel for the MPS to collect grass-root level information from Chinese households while strengthening social control.                                   
[3] The “Great Mediation” system is a societal mediation system that the Communist Party and the central and local administration have implemented. Private individuals, administrative agencies, and judicial organs are used to guide the mediation of social conflicts.                        
[4] The “Three Basics” Project refers to: Focusing on the basic level of police forces, improving the basic infrastructure of police work, and training every policeman in basic skills.
[5] The “Three Developments” refers to: Development of information technology in the public security system; development of standard law enforcement procedures; development of a harmonious relationship between the police and the public.