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| Reuters |
By Jung Min-ho
China has blocked access to the website of ABC, Australia's public broadcaster, claiming it violated China's internet laws and regulations.
But many see Beijing's move as "revenge" against the Australian government's decision to bar two Chinese companies ― Huawei and ZTE ― from supplying equipment to Australia's 5G network.
According to an ABC report on Monday, access to its website stopped a day after the Australian government announced rules that would block the telecoms giants on Aug. 23,
Officials at two Chinese government departments have declined to specify how the ABC violated Chinese laws or cite any content as an example.
But in a statement to ABC, an official from the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission said: "China's internet is fully open. We welcome internet enterprises from all over the world to provide good information to the netizens of China.
"However, state cyber sovereignty rights shall be maintained toward some overseas websites violating China's laws and regulations, spreading rumors, pornographic information, gambling, violent terrorism and some other illegal harmful information that will endanger state security and damage national pride."
Although it is unclear whether the Australian government's decision triggered the move, it is no secret that the Chinese government often uses the power of its vast markets and big companies to cow and co-opt foreign governments and companies.
Not long ago, Beijing "retaliated" against Seoul by throttling its tourism industry over the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in Korea.
