WRITTEN QUESTION E-3384/00 by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Council. Opportunities for internet companies in the People's Republic of China.
Date: 2000-11-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: China, Internet access provider, World Trade Organisation, common foreign and security policy, export restriction, extra-EU trade, freedom of communication, tariff negotiations

C 174 E/44

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

(2001/C 174 E/044)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3384/00

by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Council

(6 November 2000)

Subject: Opportunities for internet companies in the People(cid:146)s Republic of China

According to press reports the Chinese government has issued, within the space of a week, forty new
regulations concerning Internet companies operating in China. The new regulations limit foreign invest-
ments and also require the detailed filtering of (cid:145)subversive material(cid:146). The regulations threaten to close down
any firm which does not possess the licence required in the country.

According to the Chinese official news agency Xinhuan, Internet service providers are required to retain
information about the material they provide, and about all their customers, for 60 days. If necessary this
information must be sent to the Chinese authorities.

Business operators have 60 days to send private data about their activities to the Chinese ministry of
information in order to obtain an operating licence. Firms without such a licence will be fined or closed
down altogether.

How does the Council of the European Communities propose to act to protect the human rights of

1.
Chinese citizens, and in particular the freedom to transmit information?

The Chinese government is threatening to close down all Internet service providers which do not
2.
have the above-mentioned licence. Does the Council consider that this provision jeopardises the business
activities in China of operators from EU Member States?

How does the Council propose to take account of these new Chinese regulations in its WTO

3.
negotiations with China?

Reply

(26 February 2001)

like the Commission, will be keeping watch on implementation of

The Council,
the new Chinese
regulations applying to Internet companies operating in China to ensure that there is no discrimination
against European undertakings. Human rights violations, including unjustifiable restrictions on freedom of
expression and access to information, could be raised in the course of the EU-China dialogue on human
rights.

China has undertaken, in the context of the negotiations for its accession to the WTO, to consider the
gradual opening-up of its market to all telecommunications services,
including the Internet. Like the
Commission, the Council is endeavouring to ensure that China will abide by the commitments entered into
in the WTO context in all areas.

(2001/C 174 E/045)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3385/00

by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 November 2000)

Subject: Opportunities for internet companies in the People(cid:146)s Republic of China

According to press reports the Chinese government has issued, within the space of a week, forty new
regulations concerning Internet companies operating in China. The new regulations limit foreign invest-
ments and also require detailed filtering for (cid:145)subversive material(cid:146). The regulations threaten to close down
any firm which does not possess the licence required in the country.

According to the Chinese official news agency Xinhuan, Internet service providers are required to retain
information about the material they provide, and about all their customers, for 60 days. If necessary this
information must be sent to the Chinese authorities.