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When has China blocked Internet sites and why? China's censorship of New York Times Web sites is just the latest effort to blocked online and TV coverage deemed unfavorable. Click through to see a few recent high-profile topics that provoked censorship.
Visitors wait to take a turn surfing the Internet at an international computer exhibition in Beijing in 1996. That year, China began Internet censorship with regulations, codified a year later, that have broad categories under which sites could be blocked.
Greg Baker
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AP
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1. Reporting that the prime minister's family is worth billions
An explosive article about the massive wealth accumulated by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's family prompted Beijing to block English- and Chinese-language New York Times Web sites on Oct. 26. China called the article a ''smear.'' Read the Internet-blocking story and the Times investigation.
Christophe Karaba
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European Pressphoto Agency
2. Reporting on Vice President Xi Jinping's family wealth
Bloomberg News’ Web sites were blocked after its report June 29 about the family of Xi. The report caused consternation because Xi, like Wen, has publicly criticized corruption in China. Xi is expected to be among younger leaders handed power this year from President and Communist Party chief Hu Jintao and Wen, the prime minister. As Xi rose, Bloomberg reported, "his extended family expanded their business interests to include minerals, real estate and mobile-phone equipment.''
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Reuters
3. Anniversary of Tiananmen Square
Chinese authorities on June 4 blocked access to search terms related to the 23rd anniversary of the 1989 crackdown against protesters in Beijing. No results for returned on Chinese search engines for phrases such as ''six four'' (the date), "23'' (the anniversary), ''never forget'' or "candle'' (a reference to a candlelight vigil authorities sought to discourage). When the Shanghai stock market fell 64.89 points on June 4 — which some Chinese interpreted as a reference to the date of the massacre — censors tried to wipe out any reference to it on popular microblogs.
Jeff Widener
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AP
4. Even Tiananmen anniversary numbers
When the Shanghai stock market fell 64.89 points on June 4, which some Chinese interpreted as a reference to the date of the Tiananmen massacre, censors tried to wipe out any reference to it on popular microblogs.
Sheng Li
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Reuters
5. Chen Guangcheng
A blind lawyer who caught the ire of authorities for rallying opposition to forced sterilizations, Chen escaped from house arrest on April 22 and made it to Beijing and the U.S. Embassy. China banned from Chinese search engines Chen's name, his initials, the term ''Blind Man,'' his home village and even movie titles that were being used as code words: "The Shawshank Redemption'' and "The Great Escape.'' But social media users got the word out. Read the article
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AP
Official media belatedly acknowledged Chen's escape with broadsides against him and U.S. Ambassador Gary Locke. Outraged readers bombarded the comment section of the Beijing Daily, defending Locke and Chen. Soon, even “Beijing Daily” joined the list of banned search terms. After delicate negotiations, Chen and his wife were allowed to leave China to study in the United States.
Andy Jacobsohn
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Getty Images
6. Ferrari
Chinese censors began banning the word ''Ferrari'' after reports came in of a fatal crash in Beijing on March 18 involving a black Ferrari 458 Italia Spyder, reportedly driven by the son of a senior official. Police would not release details of the driver's identity, and Web sites such as Sina and the popular QQ online chat service deleted reports on the topic. Sina blocked online searches as well.
Roberto Pfeil
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AP
7. Neil Heywood
Weeks after the 41-year-old British business consultant was found dead in a hotel room in Chongqing, Chinese censors had banned searches for his Chinese name, Hai Wu De.
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AP
8. Aspects of the Bo Xilai case
The case of Heywood helped lead to the downfall of Bo Xilai, a regional political boss and rising political star.
Jason Lee
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Reuters
On March 15, news reports announced that Bo had lost his job as Communist Party boss. Authorities in April said Bo's wife, Gu Kailai, and a household aide were suspected of killing Heywood. Gu was tried and convicted of murder. Bo lost his party post Oct. 26.
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CCTV via AFP/Getty Images
Before being ousted, Bo had become known for his populist style, under which Chongqing promoted initiatives such as the "Red Culture" campaign, aimed at celebrating the past glories of China's Communist Party, which organized gatherings like the one pictured to sing "revolutionary songs" in public parks.
Keith B. Richburg
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The Washington Post
9. A live U.S.-China summit news conference
Chinese authorities blacked out live coverage from BBC, CNN and other outlets of the news conference between President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao on Jan. 19, 2011. When Hu was asked about human rights, he responded: "A lot still needs to be done ...'' And then a BBC television clip of the event went black as well.
Joshua Roberts
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Bloomberg News
The official Xinhua news agency provided no transcript or details of questions and answers from the news conference. The Communist organ People's Daily did not mention human rights, and the conference was not covered live by CCTV, the main Chinese television station, nor was there video available on its Web site.
Liu Jin
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AFP/Getty Images
10. Jasmine Revolution
The professional networking site LinkedIn was blocked in February 2011, apparently after a user began a discussion group called "Jasmine Voice.'' The group had asked followers to comment on the possibility of a Jasmine Revolution in China, akin to the revolutions that swept North Africa and the Mideast. Authorities also banned searches for the words "Tunisia," "Egypt," "jasmine" and the Chinese name for then-U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr. LinkedIn's blocking followed that of Skype, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Foursquare, Vimeo, Blogger, Blogspot, Wikileaks and Hulu — some for objectionable material or to give Chinese-owned social networks an advantage at home.
Carlos Barria
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Reuters
11. The Nobel Peace Prize
In December 2010, China blocked broadcasts and video feeds of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, which gave the award to Liu Xiaobo, who was imprisoned in China. The Web sites of BBC, CNN, Britain's Channel 4 and Norwegian television NRK were among those blocked. China also prohibited family members from attending the ceremony.
Will Burgess
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Reuters
Liu, a literary critic, was jailed after writing Charter '08, a pro-democracy manifesto. He was honored by the Nobel committee for ''his long and nonviolent struggle for fundamental human rights.'' He has called for free elections and the end of single-party rule in China. "Mr. Liu reminds us that human dignity ... depends upon the advance of democracy, open society and the rule of law," President Obama said after Liu's Nobel award. "The values he espouses are universal, his struggle is peaceful.''
Heiko Junge
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AP
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