China has ordered a sweeping crackdown on newspapers and publications in a further effort to control the media.
A Communist Party document circulated to newspaper editors spells out tough new regulations dealing with politically incorrect articles. The rules are to come into effect on Sunday, the 80th anniversary of the Communist Party.
Already eight publications in China have been closed down or suspended this month for publishing allegedly offensive articles.
According to the document, publications will be shut permanently, without warning, if editors break rules or express opposition to the party line.
Previously, there was a three-step disciplinary process, with a warning and suspension before closure for repeat offenders.
The censorship move is linked to political sensitivities before the 16th Communist Party Congress, due to take place late next year, at which many of the party's leaders, including the general secretary, Mr Jiang Zemin, are expected to step down.
The document, details of which were published in the South China Morning Post, lists several criteria for punishment.
Articles speculating on leadership changes or calling for political reforms in the lead-up to next year's congress are strictly forbidden. Articles violating the "cardinal principles of Marxism", material contradicting state policies and pornography are also banned.
Published material containing military or other state secrets, or articles threatening social stability, will also be blacklisted.
The new rules also ban newsgathering on major corruption scandals, major criminal cases and human and natural disasters. All publications are required to use only dispatches from Xinhua for these items.
One senior official said yesterday that leaders had become alarmed about "active thinking" among intellectuals and fear critical articles, especially those calling for political reform, in the build up to next year's congress.
Already the Chinese President, Mr Jiang Zemin, has ordered the 2,000-word document to be circulated to all publications.
The measures are the harshest censorship rules adopted since he became leader.
The chief editors of 150 key periodicals have been summoned to attend a two-day conference with propaganda chiefs in Beijing next week to study the publicity directions. There will be a similar conference for chief editors of newspapers in early August after the celebrations of the Communist Party's 80th anniversary.
Among publications closed down in the last month are the Hubei periodical Jinri Mingliu (Today's Celebrities), which published articles on the "Gang of Four", the Jiangsu journal the Business Morning Daily, which published a sarcastic piece about President Jiang, and Hunan periodical Hunan Shipin (Hunan Food), which published allegedly fabricated reports.
Also censured was the Guangxi Business Daily, which was operated by a private company in violation of government rules, which say all media must be state-owned. The editors and staff of the publications have been disciplined.