This article was published on April 14, 2011

Chinese government asks website owners to promote its new iPad app


Chinese government asks website owners to promote its new iPad app

People’s Daily Online reports that China’s State Council Information Office just unveiled its official iPad app to increase the coverage and influence of the SCIO’s press conferences and white papers, with a goal of enhancing the international image of China to the rest of the world.

The new app is developed by one of the country’s major TV broadcasters, CCTV, and is available in both English and Chinese. It mainly offers on-demand videos, photos and transcripts of the press conferences, official documents, and the “China Image,” which offers two parts of the national image promotional films: “Figures” and “Perspectives.”

In an odd, yet not-so-surprising move, the Chinese government’s Ministry of Truth issued a directive that “requests” all prominent Chinese websites to promote the app online. Here is the quote as seen on China Digital Times:

From the State Council Information Office: All websites are requested to post in a prominent position the article: “China State Council News and Information Office Formally Unveils iPad App to Better Introduce the World to China.”

China is notorious for censoring just about anything that is unfavorable for the government so if you want some insightful, unbiased news about the country, this app might not be the best one to refer to.

The app is available as a free download over on the iTunes.

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