Several leaked internal documents — four to five in total — circulating on overseas social media reveal that China’s central internet regulator and its three major state telecom operators are intensifying control over cross-border internet connections, affecting both businesses and individuals.
On April 2, China’s Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) issued a notice convening a seminar on “Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on building a strong cyber nation,” requiring attendees to surrender their phones and remain in place. A separate notice from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology called on representatives from the three major telecom operators to attend a related meeting. Both notices referenced cross-border dedicated data lines, and sources told reporters that authorities are now investigating “non-compliant” cross-border connections, including dedicated lines and data center relay links, demanding that responsible parties bring documentation and report back within a set timeframe.
On April 6, a technology company in Suzhou, Jiangsu province received an official notice announcing a special crackdown on cross-border internet access starting April 2026. Under the new rules, non-compliant connections will be cut immediately without any grace period for rectification. A network engineer at the firm, identified by the pseudonym Yu Min, noted the sharp shift in approach: where authorities once issued warnings or allowed time to fix violations, they now cut service outright. He warned the crackdown could expand further.
In Shaanxi province, companies received an emergency notice ordering a blanket ban on all overseas traffic — including connections to Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan — and prohibiting VPN and proxy services entirely. Companies must self-audit, and any violations will result in immediate IP blocking with no refunds and no service restoration.
A network technician in Shenzhen told reporters that restrictions on overseas websites have begun appearing across multiple regions in recent days. He noted that in some areas internet speeds are being throttled, VPNs are being detected, and individuals caught circumventing the firewall could face fines or even detention for sharing overseas content domestically.
Source: Radio Free Asia, April 9, 2026
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shehui/2026/04/09/china-internet-vpn-block-greatfirewall/