Health workers hoped the advertisement would be the first step of a media campaign to raise awareness of HIV and combat the coy attitude that many Chinese have about sex. But the State Administration for Industry and Commerce banned the advertisement after the second showing on Tuesday. The World Health Organisation has said China needs far-reaching AIDS control to avoid widespread infection. It is estimated that more than 400,000 people in the country have already been infected. However, Aids prevention workers complain that their efforts are being stymied by conservative government officials, who are deeply concerned that advocating condom use will promote promiscuity.
Television advertisements are very important because their audience is very large.
People in the cities and the countryside can watch them. But health experts say the proportion of sexual infections could double in the next two to three years. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.