Chinese censorship abroad

{{Gallery

|title=The "Three Ts and Two Cs"

|width=100 |height=80

|align=center

|footer=

|File:Flag of Tibet.svg

|alt1=Flag of Tibet

|Tibet (including human rights in Tibet, the Central Tibetan Administration and the Dalai Lama)

|File:Chinese tanks in Beijing, July 1989.png

|alt2=Photograph of army tanks deployed in Beijing during the 1989 protests

|1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre

|File:Flag of World Taiwanese Congress.svg

|alt3=Flag of Taiwan (independence version)

|Taiwan (including Taiwan independence movement, One Country on Each Side principle and other challenges to the One China policy)

|File:Falun Dafa fifth meditation exercise.jpg

|alt4=Falun Gong practitioner engaging in fifth meditation exercise

|Cult (the CCP's label for Falun Gong)

|File:Stop Communism 1.svg

|alt5=Anti-communism logo

|Criticism of the Chinese Communist Party (including by the democracy movements of China)

}}

Traditionally, foreign companies wishing to do business in China needed to avoid references to "The Three Ts and Two Cs": Tibet, Taiwan, the Tiananmen Square massacre, cult (the CCP's label for Falun Gong), and criticism of the Chinese Communist Party.{{cite news|last1=Qin|first1=Amy|last2=Creswell|first2=Julie|title=China Is a Minefield, and Foreign Firms Keep Hitting New Tripwires|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/08/world/asia/china-nba-tweet.html|access-date=11 October 2019|work=The New York Times|date=8 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010150503/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/08/world/asia/china-nba-tweet.html|archive-date=10 October 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Watts|first1=Jonathan|title=Backlash as Google shores up great firewall of China|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2006/jan/25/news.citynews|access-date=13 October 2019|work=The Guardian|date=25 January 2006|archive-date=20 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920143016/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2006/jan/25/news.citynews|url-status=live}}{{cite book|last1=Baron|first1=Dennis|title=A Better Pencil: Readers, Writers, and the Digital Revolution|date=2012|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199914005|page=212|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-m9nDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA212|language=en|access-date=22 April 2020|archive-date=20 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920143016/https://books.google.com/books?id=-m9nDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA212&hl=en|url-status=live}} This included related topics such as the Dalai Lama, who the Chinese government considers a subversive Tibetan "splittist" and opposes any expressions of support from foreign governments or organisations.{{cite news|title=Analysis: Why the Dalai Lama angers China|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/02/18/analysis.china.dalai.lama/index.html|access-date=15 October 2019|publisher=CNN|date=18 February 2010|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015121222/http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/02/18/analysis.china.dalai.lama/index.html|archive-date=15 October 2019|url-status=live}}

In the early 21st century, companies faced potential backlash on a broader range of issues relating to China, such as failing to include Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan as part of China on their websites in violation of the One China Policy. Further sensitive topics include: comments about current CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping's weight,{{cite news|title=9-year-old asks Chinese President Xi Jinping to lose weight, letter goes viral|url=https://yp.scmp.com/news/china/article/92974/9-year-old-asks-chinese-president-xi-jinping-lose-weight-letter-goes-viral|access-date=14 March 2020|work=Young Post|date=18 December 2014|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403204330/https://yp.scmp.com/news/china/article/92974/9-year-old-asks-chinese-president-xi-jinping-lose-weight-letter-goes-viral|archive-date=3 April 2020|url-status=live}} including comparisons to rotund children's character Winnie the Pooh;{{cite news|last1=Romano|first1=Aja|title=China reportedly censored PewDiePie for supporting the Hong Kong protests. He's not the only one.|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/10/24/20925473/pewdiepie-china-ban-censor-hong-kong-protests|access-date=14 March 2020|work=Vox|date=24 October 2019|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313134104/https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/10/24/20925473/pewdiepie-china-ban-censor-hong-kong-protests|archive-date=13 March 2020|url-status=live}} the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution, disregard of the Chinese government's nine-dash line in the South China Sea dispute; the internment camps and other human rights abuses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang;{{cite news|last1=Hayes|first1=Anna|title=What China's censors don't want you to read about the Uyghurs|url=https://theconversation.com/what-chinas-censors-dont-want-you-to-read-about-the-uyghurs-32383|access-date=14 March 2020|work=The Conversation|date=2 October 2014|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231005344/https://theconversation.com/what-chinas-censors-dont-want-you-to-read-about-the-uyghurs-32383|archive-date=31 December 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Leibold|first1=James|title=Despite China's denials, its treatment of the Uyghurs should be called what it is: cultural genocide|url=https://theconversation.com/despite-chinas-denials-its-treatment-of-the-uyghurs-should-be-called-what-it-is-cultural-genocide-120654|access-date=14 March 2020|work=The Conversation|date=24 July 2019|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102183315/https://theconversation.com/despite-chinas-denials-its-treatment-of-the-uyghurs-should-be-called-what-it-is-cultural-genocide-120654|archive-date=2 January 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Handley|first1=Erin|last2=Mantesso|first2=Sean|title=Uyghurs are facing 'cultural genocide' in China but in Australia they're fighting for their history|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-10/uyghur-culture-under-threat-in-china-thrives-in-australia/11673636|access-date=14 March 2020|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=10 November 2019|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311202554/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-10/uyghur-culture-under-threat-in-china-thrives-in-australia/11673636|archive-date=11 March 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Ramzy|first1=Austin|title=China Targets Prominent Uighur Intellectuals to Erase an Ethnic Identity|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/05/world/asia/china-xinjiang-uighur-intellectuals.html|access-date=14 March 2020|work=The New York Times|date=5 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213234758/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/05/world/asia/china-xinjiang-uighur-intellectuals.html|archive-date=13 December 2019|url-status=live}} expressions of support for the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests,{{cite news|last1=Xu|first1=Vicky Xiuzhong|title=China's Youth Are Trapped in the Cult of Nationalism|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/10/01/chinas-angry-young-nationalists/|access-date=13 October 2019|work=Foreign Policy|publisher=Slate Group|date=1 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009191335/https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/10/01/chinas-angry-young-nationalists/|archive-date=9 October 2019|url-status=live}} and the government's censorship of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news|date=7 February 2020|title=Coronavirus kills Chinese whistleblower doctor|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51403795|access-date=30 August 2020|archive-date=6 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206171115/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51403795|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=15 April 2020|title=China didn't warn public of likely pandemic for 6 key days|url=https://apnews.com/68a9e1b91de4ffc166acd6012d82c2f9|access-date=30 August 2020|website=AP NEWS|archive-date=13 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713112149/https://apnews.com/68a9e1b91de4ffc166acd6012d82c2f9|url-status=live}}

There is growing concern that the Chinese government is trying to silence its critics abroad, particularly in academic settings.{{cite news|last1=Zhang|first1=Tao|title=How can scholars tackle the rise of Chinese censorship in the West?|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/features/how-can-scholars-tackle-rise-chinese-censorship-west|access-date=15 October 2019|work=Times Higher Education|date=4 January 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015130726/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/features/how-can-scholars-tackle-rise-chinese-censorship-west|archive-date=15 October 2019|url-status=live}} Historically, censorship in China was contained within the country's borders, but following the ascension of Xi Jinping to General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party in 2012, the focus has expanded to silencing dissent and criticism abroad, particularly in academia.{{cite news|last1=Maxwell|first1=Daniel|title=Academic censorship in China is really a global issue|url=https://www.studyinternational.com/news/academic-censorship-china-global-issue/|access-date=23 October 2019|work=Study International|date=5 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023114031/https://www.studyinternational.com/news/academic-censorship-china-global-issue/|archive-date=23 October 2019|url-status=live}}

There have been a number of incidents of Chinese students studying abroad in Western universities seeking to censor academics or students who espouse views inconsistent with the official Chinese Communist Party position. This includes intimidation and violence against the University of Auckland and University of Queensland protesters demonstrating in support of Hong Kong and Uyghurs,{{cite news|last1=Garcia|first1=Jocelyn|title='I was shocked': UQ protest against Chinese government turns violent|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/i-was-shocked-uq-protest-against-chinese-government-turns-violent-20190724-p52aeq.html|access-date=13 October 2019|work=Brisbane Times|publisher=Nine Newspapers|date=24 July 2019|language=en|archive-date=20 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920143019/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/i-was-shocked-uq-protest-against-chinese-government-turns-violent-20190724-p52aeq.html|url-status=live}} challenging lecturers whose course materials do not follow the One China Policy by listing Hong Kong and Taiwan as separate countries,{{cite news|last1=Ho|first1=Gwyneth|title=Australia universities caught in China row|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-41104634|access-date=13 October 2019|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=5 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909100631/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-41104634|archive-date=9 September 2019|url-status=live}} and tearing down Lennon Walls in support of the Hong Kong democracy movement.{{cite news|title='Lennon wall' incidents a sign of 'anxiety': professor – Taipei Times|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/10/12/2003723813|access-date=13 October 2019|work=Taipei Times|date=12 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013063039/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/10/12/2003723813|archive-date=13 October 2019|url-status=live}}

In 2019, the PRC Consul-General in Brisbane, Xu Jie, faced legal proceedings by Drew Pavlou, a student who had organised a demonstration in support of the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests. Pavlou alleged that Jie incited death threats by accusing him of "anti-Chinese separatism".{{cite news|last1=Doherty|first1=Ben|title=Queensland student sues Chinese consul general, alleging he incited death threats|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/23/queensland-student-sues-chinese-consul-general-alleging-he-incited-death-threats|access-date=23 October 2019|work=The Guardian|date=23 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023044857/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/23/queensland-student-sues-chinese-consul-general-alleging-he-incited-death-threats|archive-date=23 October 2019|url-status=live}} The court dismissed the suit on the basis of diplomatic immunity.{{cite news|last1=Roberts|first1=George|title=Queensland court dismisses university student Drew Pavlou's case against Chinese Consul General|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-10/drew-pavlou-case-dismissed-against-chinese-consul-general/12540570|access-date=10 August 2020|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=10 August 2020|language=en-AU|archive-date=10 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810203007/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-10/drew-pavlou-case-dismissed-against-chinese-consul-general/12540570|url-status=live}} Pavlou was later suspended for two years by the university over allegations of discriminatory bullying and harassment of university staff and students, which he claimed was intended to silence his criticism of the university's close links to the PRC and reliance on Chinese student tuition fees.{{cite news|title=Drew Pavlou suspended by University of Queensland over pro-Hong Kong protest|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/university-of-queensland-suspends-prohong-kong-activist-drew-pavlou/news-story/1e9ea9af689c394a5539c76d7b384a19|access-date=29 May 2020|work=The Australian|date=29 May 2020|archive-date=31 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831000018/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fnation%2Funiversity-of-queensland-suspends-prohong-kong-activist-drew-pavlou%2Fnews-story%2F1e9ea9af689c394a5539c76d7b384a19&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=e7756a5bcfa0930821ccae905bed1fcf-1598832018|url-status=live}}

Academics in British universities teaching on Chinese topics were also warned by the Chinese government to support the Chinese Communist Party or be refused entry to the country. Professors who disregarded the warnings to speak more positively about the CCP have had their visas cancelled which prevents them from doing fieldwork in China.{{cite news|last1=Das|first1=Shanti|title=Beijing leans on UK dons to praise Communist Party and avoid 'the three Ts — Tibet, Tiananmen and Taiwan'|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/beijing-leans-on-uk-dons-to-praise-communist-party-and-avoid-the-three-ts-tibet-tiananmen-and-taiwan-mdt3vjnb6|access-date=13 October 2019|work=The Sunday Times|date=23 June 2019|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013132110/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/beijing-leans-on-uk-dons-to-praise-communist-party-and-avoid-the-three-ts-tibet-tiananmen-and-taiwan-mdt3vjnb6|archive-date=13 October 2019|url-status=live}}

File:Self-censorship in a Chinese academic journal.png as it could cause trouble with the "authorities"]]

American universities have engaged in self-censorship on Chinese issues, including North Carolina State University cancelling a visit by the Dalai Lama in 2009 and University of Maryland Chinese student Yang Shuping apologising after harsh reaction to her commencement speech praising the "fresh air" of democracy and freedom in the United States.{{cite magazine|last1=Stone Fish|first1=Isaac|title=The Other Political Correctness|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/150476/american-elite-universities-selfcensorship-china|access-date=13 October 2019|magazine=The New Republic|date=4 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013133443/https://newrepublic.com/article/150476/american-elite-universities-selfcensorship-china|archive-date=13 October 2019|url-status=live}} In November 2019, Columbia University cancelled a panel on human rights in China titled "Panopticism with Chinese Characteristics: Human rights violations by the Chinese Communist Party and how they affect the world."{{Cite news|url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/Columbia-U-Canceled-an-Event/247576|title=Columbia U. Canceled an Event on Chinese Human-Rights Violations. Organizers See a University Bowing to Intimidation.|last=Zahneis|first=Megan|date=19 November 2019|work=The Chronicle of Higher Education|access-date=29 November 2019|language=en-US|issn=0009-5982|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123004732/https://www.chronicle.com/article/Columbia-U-Canceled-an-Event/247576|archive-date=23 November 2019|url-status=live}} Panel organizers criticized the university for allegedly compromising academic freedom by acquiescing to undue influence and threats of disturbances.{{Cite news|url=https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20191123044804581|title=Why did Columbia cancel Chinese rights violations event?|last=Zahneis|first=Megan|date=23 November 2019|work=The Chronicle of Higher Education|access-date=29 November 2019|language=en-US|issn=0009-5982|archive-date=20 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920143019/https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20191123044804581|url-status=live}}

In March 2021, British Uyghur expert Joanne Smith Finley was sanctioned by China after she referred to the situation in Xinjiang as a genocide in comments given to the Associated Press.{{cite web|last1=Kang|first1=Dake|title=Chinese authorities order video denials by Uyghurs of abuses|url=https://apnews.com/article/asia-pacific-technology-f6ffda9288b1671da741c07d8f4f8afc|website=apnews.com|date=20 May 2021|agency=Associated Press|access-date=20 May 2021|archive-date=7 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107190502/https://apnews.com/article/asia-pacific-technology-f6ffda9288b1671da741c07d8f4f8afc|url-status=live}}

In July 2021, more than 100 winners of the Nobel Prize published an open statement rebuking the Chinese government for pressuring the National Academy of Sciences to rescind a speaking invitation they had extended to Taiwanese Nobel Chemistry Prize winner Yuan T. Lee.{{cite web|last1=Trager|first1=Rebecca|title=Nobel laureates accuse China of attempting to censor Taiwanese chemist|url=https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/nobel-laureates-accuse-china-of-attempting-to-censor-taiwanese-chemist/4014112.article|website=www.chemistryworld.com|publisher=Chemistry World|access-date=4 August 2021|archive-date=5 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405024433/https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/nobel-laureates-accuse-china-of-attempting-to-censor-taiwanese-chemist/4014112.article|url-status=live}}

{{see also|Criticism of Confucius Institutes|Braga incident}}

Concerns have been raised about the activities of Chinese government-funded Confucius Institutes in western universities, which are subject to rules set by Beijing-based Hanban that prevent the discussion of sensitive topics including Tibet, Tiananmen Square and Taiwan.{{cite news|last1=Jakhar|first1=Pratik|title=Is China's network of cultural clubs pushing propaganda?|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49511231|access-date=13 October 2019|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=7 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012133456/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49511231|archive-date=12 October 2019|url-status=live}} Institute learning materials also omit instances of humanitarian catastrophes under the Chinese Communist Party such as the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution.{{cite news|last1=Fulda|first1=Andreas|title=Chinese Propaganda Has No Place on Campus|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/10/15/confucius-institute-chinese-propaganda-campus-communist-party-censorship/|access-date=15 March 2020|work=Foreign Policy|date=15 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200427111748/https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/10/15/confucius-institute-chinese-propaganda-campus-communist-party-censorship/|archive-date=27 April 2020|url-status=live}} Foreign Policy has likened Confucius Institutes to the "anaconda in the chandelier"; by their mere presence, they impact what staff and students feel safe discussing which leads to self-censorship. American critics include FBI director Christopher Wray and politicians Seth Moulton, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.{{cite news|last1=Redden|first1=Elizabeth|title=Colleges move to close Chinese government-funded Confucius Institutes amid increasing scrutiny|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/01/09/colleges-move-close-chinese-government-funded-confucius-institutes-amid-increasing|access-date=15 March 2020|work=Inside Higher Ed|date=9 January 2019|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200119025806/https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/01/09/colleges-move-close-chinese-government-funded-confucius-institutes-amid-increasing|archive-date=19 January 2020|url-status=live}}

Human Rights Watch considers the Confucius Institutes to be extensions of the Chinese government that prioritise political loyalty in their hiring decisions.{{cite book|title=World Report 2019: Rights Trends in China|chapter=China: Events of 2018|chapter-url=https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/china-and-tibet|publisher=Human Rights Watch|access-date=13 October 2019|language=en|date=28 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012162109/https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/china-and-tibet|archive-date=12 October 2019|url-status=live}}

Concerns arose following the 2014 Braga incident, in which materials for the Hanban-sponsored European Association for Chinese Studies 2014 conference in Braga were stolen and censored on the orders of Xu Lin, Director-General of Hanban and Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters. Lin ordered the removal of references to Taiwanese academic institutions on the basis that they were "contrary to Chinese regulations",{{cite news|last1=Redden|first1=Elizabeth|title=Accounts of Confucius Institute-ordered censorship at Chinese studies conference|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/08/06/accounts-confucius-institute-ordered-censorship-chinese-studies-conference|access-date=14 March 2020|work=Inside Higher Ed|date=6 August 2014|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809132045/https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/08/06/accounts-confucius-institute-ordered-censorship-chinese-studies-conference|archive-date=9 August 2014|url-status=live}} which The Wall Street Journal described as a "bullying approach to academic freedom".{{cite news|title=Beijing's Propaganda Lessons|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/beijings-propaganda-lessons-1407430440|access-date=14 March 2020|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=7 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425114543/https://www.wsj.com/articles/beijings-propaganda-lessons-1407430440|archive-date=25 April 2017|url-status=live}} The incident led to a number of universities banning Confucius Institutes from their campuses,{{cite book|last1=Wu|first1=Yan|last2=Wang|first2=Qi|last3=Liu|first3=Nian Cai|title=World-Class Universities: Towards a Global Common Good and Seeking National and Institutional Contributions|date=2018|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-38963-2|page=206|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=92d9DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA206|language=en|access-date=22 April 2020|archive-date=20 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920143040/https://books.google.com/books?id=92d9DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA206&hl=en|url-status=live}} including Stockholm University, Copenhagen Business School, Stuttgart Media University, the University of Hohenheim, the University of Lyon, the University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan and McMaster University.{{cite news|last1=Benakis|first1=Theodoros|title=Confucius Institutes under scrutiny in UK|url=https://www.europeaninterest.eu/article/confucius-institutes-scrutiny-uk/|access-date=15 March 2020|work=European Interest|date=20 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404013239/https://www.europeaninterest.eu/article/confucius-institutes-scrutiny-uk/|archive-date=4 April 2020|url-status=live}} Public schools in Toronto and New South Wales have also ceased their involvement in the program.{{cite news|last1=Baker|first1=Jordan|last2=Chung|first2=Laura|title=NSW schools to scrap Confucius Classroom program after review|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-schools-to-scrap-confucius-classroom-program-after-review-20190822-p52juy.html|access-date=15 March 2020|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Nine Newspapers|date=22 August 2019|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227203255/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-schools-to-scrap-confucius-classroom-program-after-review-20190822-p52juy.html|archive-date=27 December 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Moczulski|first1=J. P.|title=TDSB votes to officially cut ties with Confucius Institute|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/toronto-school-board-votes-to-sever-ties-to-confucius-institute/article21376636/|access-date=15 March 2020|date=29 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424005128/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/toronto-school-board-votes-to-sever-ties-to-confucius-institute/article21376636/|archive-date=24 April 2020|url-status=live}}

In 2019, media reports emerged that four of the University of Queensland's courses relating to China had been funded by the local Confucius Institute, with the university's senate ending such deals in May 2019.{{cite news|last1=Rubinsztein-Dunlop|first1=Sean|title=The Chinese government co-funded at least four University of Queensland courses|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-15/chinese-government-cofunded-four-university-of-queensland-course/11601946|access-date=23 October 2019|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=15 October 2019|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026194737/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-15/chinese-government-cofunded-four-university-of-queensland-course/11601946|archive-date=26 October 2019|url-status=live}} The university's vice-chancellor, Peter Høj, had previously been a senior consultant to Hanban.

Several Confucius Institute contracts included clauses requiring the host university to follow Confucius Institute Headquarters' edicts on "teaching quality", raising concerns about foreign influence and academic freedom.{{cite news|last1=Hunter|first1=Fergus|title=Universities must accept China's directives on Confucius Institutes, contracts reveal|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/universities-must-accept-china-s-directives-on-confucius-institutes-contracts-reveal-20190724-p52ab9.html|access-date=14 March 2020|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Nine Newspapers|date=24 July 2019|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421180321/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/universities-must-accept-china-s-directives-on-confucius-institutes-contracts-reveal-20190724-p52ab9.html|archive-date=21 April 2020|url-status=live}} In 2020, the University of Melbourne and University of Queensland renegotiated their contracts to safeguard teaching autonomy in light of new Federal government laws requiring transparency on foreign influence.{{cite news|last1=Hunter|first1=Fergus|title=Universities rewrite Confucius Institute contracts amid foreign influence scrutiny|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/universities-rewrite-confucius-institute-contracts-amid-foreign-influence-scrutiny-20200310-p548my.html|access-date=14 March 2020|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Nine Newspapers|date=10 March 2020|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312230305/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/universities-rewrite-confucius-institute-contracts-amid-foreign-influence-scrutiny-20200310-p548my.html|archive-date=12 March 2020|url-status=live}}

{{main|Chinese Students and Scholars Association}}

{{Further|Transnational repression by China}}

The Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) has branches in various overseas university campuses.{{Cite web|last=Allen-Ebrahimian|first=Bethany|title=China's Long Arm Reaches Into American Campuses|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/03/07/chinas-long-arm-reaches-into-american-campuses-chinese-students-scholars-association-university-communist-party/|access-date=26 October 2020|website=Foreign Policy|language=en-US|archive-date=7 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607012330/https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/03/07/chinas-long-arm-reaches-into-american-campuses-chinese-students-scholars-association-university-communist-party/|url-status=live}} Many, though not all, of the associations are partly funded by, and report back to, the local Chinese Embassy.{{Cite web|last=Allen-Ebrahimian|first=Bethany|title=Chinese Government Gave Money to Georgetown Chinese Student Group|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/02/14/exclusive-chinese-government-gave-money-to-georgetown-chinese-student-group-washington-china-communist-party-influence/|access-date=26 October 2020|website=Foreign Policy|date=14 February 2018 |language=en-US|archive-date=21 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221213217/http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/02/14/exclusive-chinese-government-gave-money-to-georgetown-chinese-student-group-washington-china-communist-party-influence/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Christodoulou|first1=Mario|last2=Rubinsztein-Dunlop|first2=Sean|last3=Koloff|first3=Sashka|last4=Day|first4=Lauren|last5=Bali|first5=Meghna|title='Universities have a really serious issue on their hands': Chinese student group's deep links to Beijing revealed|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-13/cssa-influence-australian-universities-documents-revealed/11587454|access-date=13 October 2019|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=13 October 2019|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013072235/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-13/cssa-influence-australian-universities-documents-revealed/11587454 |archive-date=13 October 2019|url-status=live}} One of the aims of the Association is to "love the motherland". There is a history of branches pressuring their host university to cancel talks relating to Tibet, democracy movements of China, Uyghurs, the Hong Kong protests, and Falun Gong.{{cite news|last1=Saul|first1=Stephanie|title=On Campuses Far From China, Still Under Beijing's Watchful Eye|work=The New York Times|date=4 May 2017|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/04/us/chinese-students-western-campuses-china-influence.html|access-date=12 December 2023|agency=The New York Times|archive-date=5 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505194325/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/04/us/chinese-students-western-campuses-china-influence.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Allen-Ebrahimian|first=Bethany|title=A pro-Hong Kong resolution at British university failed after Chinese student opposition|url=https://www.axios.com/hong-kong-british-university-chinese-student-opposition-72ad086b-ee61-4dda-9a46-529dc48c258b.html|access-date=26 October 2020|website=Axios|date=26 May 2020|language=en|archive-date=29 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029210657/https://www.axios.com/hong-kong-british-university-chinese-student-opposition-72ad086b-ee61-4dda-9a46-529dc48c258b.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Horwitz|first1=Josh|title=Chinese students in the US are using "inclusion" and "diversity" to oppose a Dalai Lama graduation speech|url=https://qz.com/908922/chinese-students-at-ucsd-are-evoking-diversity-to-justify-their-opposition-to-the-dalai-lamas-graduation-speech|access-date=12 December 2023|agency=Quartz|archive-date=10 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210210410/https://qz.com/908922/chinese-students-at-ucsd-are-evoking-diversity-to-justify-their-opposition-to-the-dalai-lamas-graduation-speech|url-status=live}} The CSSA has also been found to put pressure on Chinese students overseas not to criticize the Chinese government.{{cite news|last1=Zhang|first1=Congcong|last2=Denyer|first2=Simon|title=A Chinese student praised the 'fresh air of free speech' at a U.S. college. Then came the backlash.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/05/23/a-chinese-student-praised-the-fresh-air-of-free-speech-at-a-u-s-college-then-came-the-backlash|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042034/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/05/23/a-chinese-student-praised-the-fresh-air-of-free-speech-at-a-u-s-college-then-came-the-backlash |access-date=12 December 2023|archive-date=1 December 2017|agency=The Washington Post}}

The McMaster University branch in Canada had its club status revoked in 2019 after coordinating its opposition to a speech by Uyghur activist Rukiye Turdush with the local Chinese consulate, including sending back footage, in violation of student union rules.{{cite news|last1=Churchill|first1=Owen|title=Chinese students' group in Canada loses status after Uygur speaker protest|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3030395/student-union-canadian-university-revokes-status|access-date=13 October 2019|work=South China Morning Post|date=26 September 2019|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013061539/https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3030395/student-union-canadian-university-revokes-status|archive-date=13 October 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Chase|first1=Steven|title=McMaster student union strips Chinese club's status amid allegations group is tool of Chinese government|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-mcmaster-student-union-strips-chinese-clubs-status-amid-allegations/|access-date=13 October 2019|work=The Globe and Mail|date=26 September 2019|archive-date=20 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920143043/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-mcmaster-student-union-strips-chinese-clubs-status-amid-allegations/|url-status=live}} The University of Adelaide branch was deregistered for failing to follow democratic procedures.

In 2018, the Civil Aviation Administration of China sent letters to 44 international airlines demanding that they cease referring{{Cite web|last=Allen-Ebrahimian|first=James Palmer, Bethany|title=China Threatens U.S. Airlines Over Taiwan References|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/04/27/china-threatens-u-s-airlines-over-taiwan-references-united-american-flight-beijing/|access-date=26 October 2020|website=Foreign Policy|date=27 April 2018 |language=en-US|archive-date=29 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029132627/https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/04/27/china-threatens-u-s-airlines-over-taiwan-references-united-american-flight-beijing/|url-status=live}} to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau as separate countries on their websites, or risk being classified as "severely untrustworthy" and subject to sanctions.{{cite news|last1=Xu|first1=Vicky Xiuzhong|title='Orwellian nonsense': China retaliates after US slams territory warning to international airlines|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-07/china-retaliates-after-white-house-slams-its-warning-to-airlines/9734026|access-date=13 October 2019|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=7 May 2018|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922065719/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-07/china-retaliates-after-white-house-slams-its-warning-to-airlines/9734026|archive-date=22 September 2019|url-status=live}} Despite being criticised by the United States government as "Orwellian nonsense", all airlines complied.{{cite news|last1=Birtles|first1=Bill|title=Last remaining US airlines give in to Chinese pressure on Taiwan|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-25/us-airlines-give-in-to-chinese-pressure-on-taiwan/10035874|access-date=13 October 2019|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=25 July 2018|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011221615/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-25/us-airlines-give-in-to-chinese-pressure-on-taiwan/10035874|archive-date=11 October 2019|url-status=live}} In 2020, Taiwan News reported that Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had convinced 22 airlines to undo the change.{{cite news|title=22 airlines correct their listings for Taiwan|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3931676|access-date=27 June 2020|work=Taiwan News|date=11 May 2020|archive-date=27 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627121635/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3931676|url-status=live}}

{{see also|List of TV and films with critiques of Chinese Communist Party|Film censorship in China}}

Hollywood producers generally seek to comply with the Chinese government's censorship requirements in a bid to access the country's restricted and lucrative cinema market, with the second-largest box office in the world as of 2019.{{Cite news|last1=Zhou|first1=Yu|last2=Yang|first2=Lin|date=9 August 2020|title=Report: Made in Hollywood, Censored by Beijing|publisher=Voice of America|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/east-asia-pacific_voa-news-china_report-made-hollywood-censored-beijing/6194112.html|url-status=live|access-date=9 August 2020|archive-date=20 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920143044/https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/voa-news-china/report-made-hollywood-censored-beijing}}{{cite news|last1=Whalen|first1=Jeanne|title=China lashes out at Western businesses as it tries to cut support for Hong Kong protests|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/10/08/china-lashes-out-western-businesses-it-tries-cut-support-hong-kong-protests/|access-date=13 October 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=8 October 2019|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014040110/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/10/08/china-lashes-out-western-businesses-it-tries-cut-support-hong-kong-protests/|archive-date=14 October 2019|url-status=live}} Western productions also engage in self-censorship on topics and themes that may trigger censorship and backlash in mainland China in order to access its lucrative domestic market, and to appease their financial investors.{{Cite web|last=Li|first=Shirley|date=2021-09-10|title=How Hollywood Sold Out to China|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/09/how-hollywood-sold-out-to-china/620021/|access-date=2022-03-25|website=The Atlantic|language=en|archive-date=26 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326195559/https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/09/how-hollywood-sold-out-to-china/620021/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=2020-08-06|title=Hollywood censors films to appease China, report suggests|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-53676789|access-date=2022-03-25|archive-date=8 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108190658/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-53676789|url-status=live}} A memo issued by China's Ministry of Radio, Film and Television, sent to Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association and addressed to Chinese film offices, banned cooperation with the Hollywood studios that produced Red Corner (MGM/United Artists), Kundun (Disney) and Seven Years in Tibet (Columbia TriStar), as films that "viciously attack China [and] hurt Chinese people's feelings... Although . . . all kinds of efforts have been made, those three American companies are still pushing out above films... In order to protect Chinese national overall interests, it has been decided that all business cooperation with these three companies to be ceased temporarily without exception."{{cite news|last1=Waxman|first1=Sharon|title=China Bans Work With Film Studios|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1997/11/01/china-bans-work-with-film-studios/9f3a23e3-4d83-4749-898c-bd1fef276f03/|access-date=11 June 2022|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 1, 1997|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142348/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1997/11/01/china-bans-work-with-film-studios/9f3a23e3-4d83-4749-898c-bd1fef276f03/|url-status=live}}

Testifying before the United States Senate Committee on Finance, Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness on "censorship as a non-tariff barrier" in 2020, Richard Gere, chairman of the board of directors for the International Campaign for Tibet, stated that economic interest compel studios to avoid social and political issues Hollywood once addressed, "Imagine Marty Scorsese's Kundun, about the life of the Dalai Lama, or my own film Red Corner, which is highly critical of the Chinese legal system. Imagine them being made today. It wouldn't happen."{{cite news|last1=Siegel|first1=Tatiana|title=Hollywood Is "Increasingly Normalizing" Self-Censorship for China, Report Finds|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-is-increasingly-normalizing-censorship-china-report-finds-1305935|access-date=11 June 2022|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 5, 2020|archive-date=27 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127002420/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-is-increasingly-normalizing-censorship-china-report-finds-1305935|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Bunch|first1=Sonny|title=China is turning American movies into propaganda. Enough is enough.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/08/20/china-is-turning-american-movies-into-propaganda-enough-is-enough/|access-date=11 June 2022|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=August 20, 2020|archive-date=12 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212133737/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/08/20/china-is-turning-american-movies-into-propaganda-enough-is-enough/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Trade and Online Censorship Challenges|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?473509-1/trade-online-censorship-challenges|access-date=11 June 2022|publisher=C-SPAN|date=June 20, 2020|archive-date=7 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307235139/https://www.c-span.org/video/?473509-1%2Ftrade-online-censorship-challenges|url-status=live}}

Red Corner, a 1997 American film, was censored in China due to its unflattering portrayal of China's judicial system. Lead actor Richard Gere was vocal about how the film is "... a different angle of dealing with Tibet" and a political statement about China's oppression of Tibet, even though Tibet is never mentioned in the film.{{cite news|last1=Guthmann|first1=Edward|title=Gere's 'Corner' on Saving Tibet / Actor's new movie focuses on China and injustices he's been crusading against for years|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/Gere-s-Corner-on-Saving-Tibet-Actor-s-new-2824364.php|access-date=8 March 2021|publisher=San Francisco Chronicle|date=October 26, 1997}} Chinese officials visited MGM, the film's studio and distributor, to ask why the studio was releasing the movie during the U.S. visit of CCP General Secretary Jiang Zemin.{{cite news|last1=Orwall|first1=Bruce|title=MGM Clashes With Richard Gere Over Politics of Red Corner Film|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB878507489110743500|access-date=11 June 2022|publisher=Wall Street journal|date=November 3, 1997|archive-date=9 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509023458/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB878507489110743500|url-status=live}} Gere claims his political activism regarding Tibet and his friendship with the Dalai Lama has disrupted his film career and effects the financing, production and distribution of films he is connected with.{{cite news|last1=Siegel|first1=Tatiana|title=Richard Gere's Studio Exile: Why His Hollywood Career Took an Indie Turn|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/richard-geres-studio-exile-why-his-hollywood-career-took-an-indie-turn-992258|access-date=11 June 2022|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 18, 2017|archive-date=25 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925092241/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/richard-geres-studio-exile-why-his-hollywood-career-took-an-indie-turn-992258|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Miller|first1=Julie|title=Richard Gere Has a Theory About Why Mainstream Hollywood Dumped Him|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/04/richard-gere-hollywood-china|access-date=11 June 2022|publisher=Vanity Fair|date=April 18, 2017|archive-date=20 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120080612/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/04/richard-gere-hollywood-china|url-status=live}}

A 2019 article by The Washington Post stated that Hollywood "tried to avoid content that authorities find morally or politically offensive" to win film distribution slots, and listed Red Dawn modifying the movie's villains as being from North Korea rather than from China as an example. The 2019 DreamWorks animated film Abominable included the PRC's nine-dash line in a map of the South China Sea shown during the movie, which resulted in the film being banned in Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines as it disputes the PRC's claim.{{cite news|title=Vietnam pulls DreamWorks' Abominable film over South China Sea map|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/vietnam-pulls-dreamworks-film-south-china-sea-map-nine-dash-line-11998290|access-date=27 June 2020|work=CNA|date=14 October 2019|language=en|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809213534/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/vietnam-pulls-dreamworks-film-south-china-sea-map-nine-dash-line-11998290|url-status=live}} In 2016, Marvel Entertainment attracted criticism for its decision to cast Tilda Swinton as the "Ancient One" in the film adaptation Doctor Strange, using a white woman to play a traditionally Tibetan character.{{cite news|last1=Shaw-Williams|first1=Hannah|title=Doctor Strange's Erasure Of Tibet Is A Political Statement|url=https://screenrant.com/doctor-strange-china-tibet-ancient-one/|access-date=23 October 2019|work=ScreenRant|date=20 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023114020/https://screenrant.com/doctor-strange-china-tibet-ancient-one/|archive-date=23 October 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnet.com/features/marvel-is-censoring-films-for-china-and-you-probably-didnt-even-notice/|title=Marvel is censoring films for China, and you probably didn't even notice|last=Bisset|first=Jennifer|date=1 November 2019|publisher=CNET|access-date=2 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102104410/https://www.cnet.com/features/marvel-is-censoring-films-for-china-and-you-probably-didnt-even-notice/|archive-date=2 November 2019|url-status=live}} The film's co-writer, C. Robert Cargill, stated in an interview that this was done to avoid angering China:{{cite news|last1=Clymer|first1=Jeremy|title=Doctor Strange Writer Says Ancient One Was Changed To Avoid Upsetting China|url=https://screenrant.com/doctor-strange-ancient-one-whitewash-china/|access-date=23 October 2019|work=ScreenRant|date=24 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021165522/https://screenrant.com/doctor-strange-ancient-one-whitewash-china/|archive-date=21 October 2019|url-status=live}}

{{blockquote|The Ancient One was a racist stereotype who comes from a region of the world that is in a very weird political place. He originates from Tibet, so if you acknowledge that Tibet is a place and that he's Tibetan, you risk alienating one billion people who think that that's bullshit and risk the Chinese government going, "Hey, you know one of the biggest film-watching countries in the world? We're not going to show your movie because you decided to get political."}}

Another instance of China censorship influence on Hollywood productions was when Mission: Impossible III deleted scenes shot in Shanghai, which featured "laundry drying on clotheslines from apartment buildings", that the Chinese censors requested be cut because they believed it presented a backward view of the country to the rest of the world.{{Cite news|title=Hollywood relies on China to stay afloat. What does that mean for movies|language=en|work=NPR.org|url=https://www.npr.org/2022/02/21/1081435029/china-hollywood-movies-censorship-erich-schwartzel|access-date=2022-03-25|archive-date=30 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130205914/https://www.npr.org/2022/02/21/1081435029/china-hollywood-movies-censorship-erich-schwartzel|url-status=live}} According to interviews conducted by human rights group Pen America, LGBT content was removed from Bohemian Rhapsody, Star Trek Beyond, Alien: Covenant and Cloud Atlas, to avoid antagonizing Chinese censors.{{Cite web|date=2020-08-05|title=China continues to exert damaging influence on Hollywood, report finds|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/aug/05/china-hollywood-films-damaging-impact-report|access-date=2022-03-25|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=9 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509023318/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/aug/05/china-hollywood-films-damaging-impact-report|url-status=live}} In 2021, Chinese social media coverage of director Chloé Zhao's Oscar win was censored, as old social media posts of Zhao were considered to be critical of China. The release of Zhao's Nomadland and Eternals, previously thought to be confirmed, were not approved for theatrical release in China.

Although Tibet was previously a cause célèbre in Hollywood, featuring in films including Kundun and Seven Years in Tibet, in the 21st century, this is no longer the case.{{cite news|last1=Steger|first1=Isabella|title=Why it's so hard to keep the world focused on Tibet|url=https://qz.com/1565178/how-china-has-shrunk-global-attention-for-tibet-and-the-dalai-lama/|access-date=23 October 2019|work=Quartz|date=28 March 2019|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023114021/https://qz.com/1565178/how-china-has-shrunk-global-attention-for-tibet-and-the-dalai-lama/|archive-date=23 October 2019|url-status=live}} Actor and high-profile Tibet supporter Richard Gere stated that he was no longer welcome to participate in mainstream Hollywood films after criticizing the PRC government in 1993, acting in a 1997 film critical of the PRC's legal system (Red Corner), and calling for a boycott of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.{{cite news|last1=Siegel|first1=Tatiana|title=Richard Gere's Studio Exile: Why His Hollywood Career Took an Indie Turn|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/richard-geres-studio-exile-why-his-hollywood-career-took-an-indie-turn-992258|access-date=23 October 2019|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=18 April 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925092241/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/richard-geres-studio-exile-why-his-hollywood-career-took-an-indie-turn-992258|archive-date=25 September 2019|url-status=live}} Brad Pitt was banned from China between 1997 and 2014 after starring in the film Seven Years in Tibet.{{Cite web|date=2019-12-20|title=That Time Brad Pitt Was Banned from China|url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/that-time-brad-pitt-was-banned-in-china-seven-years-in-tibet|access-date=2022-03-25|website=Interview Magazine|language=en-US|archive-date=1 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401140100/https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/that-time-brad-pitt-was-banned-in-china-seven-years-in-tibet|url-status=live}} Lady Gaga was banned in China a second time since she met with the Dalai Lama in 2016 at the 84th Annual U.S. Conference of Mayors in Indianapolis where she joined with the Dalai Lama to talk about the power of kindness and how to make the world a more compassionate place.{{cite news|last1=Lynskey|first1=Dorian|title=Lady Gaga and Katy Perry: banned in China for 'being vulgar'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/aug/24/banned-china-lady-gaga-perry|access-date=12 June 2022|work=The Guardian|date=August 24, 2011|archive-date=30 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130205928/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/aug/24/banned-china-lady-gaga-perry|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Question and answer with Dalai Lama and Lady Gaga|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K853S_1rzyU|website=youtube.com|date=26 June 2016|publisher=RDT Lady Gaga|access-date=12 June 2022|archive-date=30 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130205915/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K853S_1rzyU|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Lady Gaga and Dalai Lama – Q&A|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2m3L_wQklc|website=youtube.com|date=26 June 2016|publisher=RDT Lady Gaga|access-date=12 June 2022|archive-date=30 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130205914/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2m3L_wQklc|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Lam|first1=Charles|title=Lady Gaga Banned From China Following Dalai Lama Meeting: Report|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/lady-gaga-banned-china-following-dalai-lama-meeting-report-n601051|access-date=12 June 2022|publisher=NBC News|date=June 29, 2016|archive-date=30 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130205915/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/lady-gaga-banned-china-following-dalai-lama-meeting-report-n601051|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Phillips|first1=Tom|title=China 'bans Lady Gaga' after Dalai Lama meeting|access-date=12 June 2022|work=The Guardian|date=June 27, 2016|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jun/28/china-lady-gaga-ban-list-hostile-foreign-forces-meeting-dalai-lama|archive-date=23 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923185858/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jun/28/china-lady-gaga-ban-list-hostile-foreign-forces-meeting-dalai-lama|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Guarino|first1=Ben|title=China Bans Lady Gaga After Superstar Meets With the Dalai Lama|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/06/29/china-bans-lady-gaga-after-the-pop-superstar-meets-with-the-dalai-lama/|access-date=12 June 2022|newspaper=Washington Post|date=June 29, 2016|archive-date=25 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125091751/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/06/29/china-bans-lady-gaga-after-the-pop-superstar-meets-with-the-dalai-lama/|url-status=live}} An order was issued for state-controlled media to condemn this meeting by the Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party. Gaga was added to a list of hostile foreign forces, and Chinese websites and media organizations were ordered to stop distributing her songs.{{cite news|title=China 'bans Lady Gaga' after Dalai Lama meeting|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jun/28/china-lady-gaga-ban-list-hostile-foreign-forces-meeting-dalai-lama|access-date=12 June 2022|first=Tom|last=Phillips|newspaper=The Guardian|date=June 28, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628041101/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jun/28/china-lady-gaga-ban-list-hostile-foreign-forces-meeting-dalai-lama|archive-date=28 June 2016}} In China, her appearance was cut from the Friends: The Reunion special in 2021, and her image was blacked out in reporting on the 2019 Oscars in China.{{cite news|title=Friends reunion: BTS, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber censored in China|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57277952|access-date=12 June 2022|publisher=BBC|date=May 28, 2021|archive-date=19 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619165022/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57277952|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Banim|first1=Julia|title=Lady Gaga 'Deleted' From Chinese Broadcast Of The Oscars|url=https://www.unilad.co.uk/music/lady-gaga-deleted-from-chinese-broadcast-of-the-oscars|access-date=12 June 2022|publisher=Unilad|date=February 27, 2019}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}{{cite news|last1=Li|first1=Lyric|last2=Zeitchik|first2=Steven|title=China Oscars boycott mixes politics with push to curb Hollywood Dominance|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/04/22/china-oscars-boycott-movies/|access-date=12 June 2022|newspaper=Washington Post|date=April 22, 2021|archive-date=6 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206004649/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/04/22/china-oscars-boycott-movies/|url-status=live}} In March 2022, China's major online streaming services such as iQiyi, Tencent Video and Youku removed most of Keanu Reeves' filmography after he made a virtual appearance at a benefit concert for Tibet House, a nonprofit linked to the Dalai Lama.{{Cite web|last=Brzeski|first=Patrick|date=2022-01-28|title=Keanu Reeves Hit With Backlash From Chinese Nationalists Over Tibet Benefit Concert|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/keanu-reeves-china-backlash-1235083112/|access-date=2022-03-25|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US|archive-date=25 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325063130/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/keanu-reeves-china-backlash-1235083112/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Davis|first=Rebecca|date=2022-03-24|title=China streamers scrub Keanu Reeves titles over his support for Tibet|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2022-03-24/china-streamers-scrub-keanu-reeves-titles-over-his-support-for-tibet|access-date=2022-03-25|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|archive-date=25 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325011340/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2022-03-24/china-streamers-scrub-keanu-reeves-titles-over-his-support-for-tibet|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Sharf|first=Zack|date=2022-03-24|title=Keanu Reeves Movies Reportedly Pulled Off Streaming Platforms in China Over His Tibet Support|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/keanu-reeves-movies-china-streamers-tibet-1235214084/|access-date=2022-03-25|website=Variety|language=en-US|archive-date=24 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324234810/https://variety.com/2022/film/news/keanu-reeves-movies-china-streamers-tibet-1235214084/|url-status=live}}

During the promotional tour of Justin Lin's F9 in 2021, John Cena referred to Taiwan as "a country". He was subsequently forced to issue an apology on social media due to China's insistence that it considers Taiwan a part of China.{{cite web|last1=Ni|first1=Vincent|title=John Cena 'very sorry' for saying Taiwan is a country|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/26/john-cena-very-sorry-for-saying-taiwan-is-a-country|website=The Guardian|access-date=June 5, 2021|language=en|date=May 25, 2021|archive-date=30 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130205925/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/26/john-cena-very-sorry-for-saying-taiwan-is-a-country|url-status=live}}

In April 2020, Chinese netizens in Bangkok criticised people who questioned the One-China Principle.{{Cite web|last=hermesauto|date=15 April 2020|title=Young Thais join 'milk tea alliance' supporting HK, Taiwan after Chinese netizens slam local celebrities|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/young-thais-join-milk-tea-alliance-in-online-backlash-that-angers-beijing|access-date=6 December 2020|website=The Straits Times|language=en|archive-date=19 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819102751/https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/young-thais-join-milk-tea-alliance-in-online-backlash-that-angers-beijing|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Will the 'Milk Tea War' Have a Lasting Impact on China-Thailand Relations?|url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/05/will-the-milk-tea-war-have-a-lasting-impact-on-china-thailand-relations/|access-date=6 December 2020|website=thediplomat.com|language=en-US|archive-date=3 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503162509/https://thediplomat.com/2020/05/will-the-milk-tea-war-have-a-lasting-impact-on-china-thailand-relations/|url-status=live}} The statement came as a response to a Thai actor, Vachirawit Chivaaree, who inadvertently liked a Tweet featuring cityscapes, one being Hong Kong, with a caption describing it as a country.{{Cite web|last=McLaughlin|first=Timothy|date=13 October 2020|title=How Milk Tea Became an Anti-China Symbol|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/10/milk-tea-alliance-anti-china/616658/|access-date=6 December 2020|website=The Atlantic|language=en-US|archive-date=10 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210171901/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/10/milk-tea-alliance-anti-china/616658/|url-status=live}} He immediately deleted the image on noticing; however, the issue forced an apology from the actor. In 2017, his ex-girlfriend was found to have shared an Instagram post calling herself a Taiwanese girl wearing Chinese dress. This began a "Thai-Chinese Meme War".{{Cite web|title='In Milk Tea We Trust': How a Thai-Chinese Meme War Led to a New (Online) Pan-Asia Alliance|url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/04/in-milk-tea-we-trust-how-a-thai-chinese-meme-war-led-to-a-new-online-pan-asia-alliance/|access-date=6 December 2020|website=thediplomat.com|language=en-US|archive-date=18 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418213214/https://thediplomat.com/2020/04/in-milk-tea-we-trust-how-a-thai-chinese-meme-war-led-to-a-new-online-pan-asia-alliance/|url-status=live}} The CCP-controlled Global Times claimed his show experienced a backlash in China. According to Reuters, "The Milk Tea Alliance" has become a grassroots democracy movement in Taiwan and Hong Kong.{{Cite news|last=Chow|first=Patpicha Tanakasempipat, Yanni|date=18 August 2020|title=Pro-democracy Milk Tea Alliance brews in Asia|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-asia-protests-idUSKCN25E102|access-date=6 December 2020|archive-date=13 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113054807/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-asia-protests-idUSKCN25E102|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Tanakasempipat|first=Patpicha|date=15 April 2020|title=Young Thais join 'Milk Tea Alliance' in online backlash that angers Beijing|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://in.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-china-internet-idINKCN21X1ZT|access-date=6 December 2020|archive-date=1 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601083406/https://in.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-china-internet-idINKCN21X1ZT|url-status=dead}} On June 25, 2020, GMM Grammy, the parent company of GMMTV, where he is a talent, sent lawyers to the Technology Crime Unit to file lawsuits against social media users accused of spreading malicious messages about him.{{Cite web|url=https://dzrhnews.com.ph/gmm-files-reports-vs-fans-spreading-malicious-comments-against-their-artists|title=GMM files reports vs fans spreading malicious comments against their artists|access-date=29 June 2023|archive-date=11 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711040430/https://dzrhnews.com.ph/gmm-files-reports-vs-fans-spreading-malicious-comments-against-their-artists/|url-status=dead}}

{{see also|Video game censorship#China}}

Censorship affects global releases of Chinese games, or non-Chinese games that are available for Chinese players.{{Cite web|date=2018-11-16|title=Chinese censorship affects games everywhere — and it's getting bigger|url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/11/15/chinese-censorship-affects-games-everywhere-and-its-getting-bigger/|access-date=2021-07-24|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US|archive-date=24 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724034412/https://venturebeat.com/2018/11/15/chinese-censorship-affects-games-everywhere-and-its-getting-bigger/|url-status=live}} This affects content available to players outside China. For example, the chat in the English-language version of Genshin Impact censors not only swear words but also words such as Taiwan, Tibet, Hong, Kong, Falun Gong, Stalin, Hitler and Putin.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-08|title=Genshin Impact players say Chinese game censors 'Taiwan' and 'Hong Kong' chat|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/08/genshin-impact-players-say-chinese-game-censors-taiwan-and-hong-kong-chat|access-date=2021-07-24|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703174850/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/08/genshin-impact-players-say-chinese-game-censors-taiwan-and-hong-kong-chat|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Genshin Impact Is Censoring Words Like 'Taiwan' And 'Hong Kong'|url=https://kotaku.com/genshin-impact-is-censoring-words-like-taiwan-and-ho-1845294645|access-date=2021-07-24|website=Kotaku|date=7 October 2020|language=en-us|archive-date=25 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225193614/https://kotaku.com/genshin-impact-is-censoring-words-like-taiwan-and-ho-1845294645|url-status=live}} A study of about 200 Chinese games found out that over 180,000 words have been subject to blacklisting.{{Cite journal|date=2017-08-14|title=Keyword Censorship in Chinese Mobile Games|url=https://citizenlab.ca/2017/08/chinesegames/|access-date=2021-07-24|website=The Citizen Lab|language=en-US|last1=Knockel|first1=Jeffrey|last2=Ruan|first2=Lotus|last3=Crete-Nishihata|first3=Masashi|archive-date=19 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519135219/https://citizenlab.ca/2017/08/chinesegames/|url-status=live}} Due to the sensitive nature of this topic, many companies, including many outside China like Riot Games, Electronic Arts, Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft, GOG and Krafton, tend to avoid commenting on this issue, preferring silence to the risk of offending either the Chinese authorities or their critics.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-15|title=No cults, no politics, no ghouls: how China censors the video game world|url=http://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/jul/15/china-video-game-censorship-tencent-netease-blizzard|access-date=2021-07-24|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=24 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724073746/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/jul/15/china-video-game-censorship-tencent-netease-blizzard|url-status=live}}

{{see also|Foreign relations of Taiwan#International organizations}}

China strongly opposes the participation of Taiwan in international organisations as a violation of the One China Principle, and Taiwan may only participate in international bodies as "Chinese Taipei" or "Taiwan, China".{{cite news|title=What is "Chinese Taipei"? |url=https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2018/04/09/what-is-chinese-taipei|access-date=24 March 2020|newspaper=The Economist|date=9 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724221004/https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2018/04/09/what-is-chinese-taipei|archive-date=24 July 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Winkler|first1=Sigrid|title=Taiwan's UN Dilemma: To Be or Not To Be|url=https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/taiwans-un-dilemma-to-be-or-not-to-be/|access-date=24 March 2020|work=Brookings Institution|date=20 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331180632/https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/taiwans-un-dilemma-to-be-or-not-to-be/|archive-date=31 March 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Fish|first1=Isaac Stone|title=Stop Calling Taiwan a 'Renegade Province'|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/01/15/stop-calling-taiwan-a-renegade-province/|access-date=24 March 2020|work=Foreign Policy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324101630/https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/01/15/stop-calling-taiwan-a-renegade-province/|archive-date=24 March 2020|url-status=live}}

Chinese Taipei was initially agreed under the Nagoya Resolution as the name to be used for the Taiwanese team at the Olympic Games from the 1980s. Under PRC pressure, Taiwan is referred to by other international organisations under different names, such as "Taiwan Province of China" by the International Monetary Fund and "Taiwan District" by the World Bank. The PRC government has also pressured international beauty pageants including Miss World, Miss Universe and Miss Earth to only allow Taiwanese contestants competing under the designation "Miss Chinese Taipei" rather than "Miss Taiwan".{{cite news|title=Taiwanese beauty queen kicked out of Miss Earth pageant for refusing to change 'Taiwan ROC' sash to 'Chinese Taipei'|url=https://shanghaiist.com/2015/11/23/miss-earth-ting-wen-yin/|access-date=21 October 2019|work=Shanghaiist|date=23 November 2015|archive-date=20 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920143047/https://shanghaiist.com/2015/11/23/miss-earth-ting-wen-yin/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Miss Taiwan in beauty pageant shocker|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/07/11/2003058879|access-date=21 October 2019|work=Taipei Times|date=11 July 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021105758/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/07/11/2003058879|archive-date=21 October 2019|url-status=live}}

In January 2020, as the coronavirus epidemic expanded beyond China's borders and international commentators criticized Taiwan's exclusion from various United Nations agencies, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) blocked numerous Twitter accounts – including ones belonging to Capitol Hill staffers and D.C.-based analysts – after facing online criticism for excluding Taiwan from membership. Both ICAO and their Twitter account were run by Chinese nationals.{{Cite web|last=Allen-Ebrahimian|first=Bethany|title=As virus spreads, UN agency blocks critics of Taiwan policy on Twitter|url=https://www.axios.com/as-virus-spreads-un-agency-blocks-critics-taiwan-policy-on-twitter-e8a8bce6-f31a-4f41-89e0-77d919109887.html|access-date=26 October 2020|website=Axios|date=27 January 2020|language=en|archive-date=27 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127202341/https://www.axios.com/as-virus-spreads-un-agency-blocks-critics-taiwan-policy-on-twitter-e8a8bce6-f31a-4f41-89e0-77d919109887.html|url-status=live}}

On 23 September 2020, Wikimedia's application for the status as an official observer at the World Intellectual Property Organization was rejected by Chinese government because China's representative claimed that they had "spotted a large amount of content and disinformation in violation of [the] One China principle" on webpages affiliated with Wikimedia, and Wikimedia's Taiwan branch has been "carrying out political activities... which could undermine the state's sovereignty and territorial integrity".{{Cite web|url= https://qz.com/1908836/china-blocks-wikimedia-from-un-agency-wipo-over-taiwan-dispute/|title= Beijing blocked Wikimedia from a UN agency because of "Taiwan-related issues"|work= Quartz|date= 25 September 2020|first= Mary|last= Hui|access-date= 13 November 2020|archive-date= 19 November 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201119120833/https://qz.com/1908836/china-blocks-wikimedia-from-un-agency-wipo-over-taiwan-dispute/|url-status=live}}

The PRC limits press freedom, with Xi Jinping telling state media outlets in 2016 that the Chinese Communist Party expects their "absolute loyalty".{{cite news|title=Xi Jinping asks for 'absolute loyalty' from Chinese state media|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/19/xi-jinping-tours-chinas-top-state-media-outlets-to-boost-loyalty|access-date=15 March 2020|work=The Guardian|agency=Associated Press|date=19 February 2016|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331160138/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/19/xi-jinping-tours-chinas-top-state-media-outlets-to-boost-loyalty|archive-date=31 March 2020|url-status=live}} In Hong Kong, inconvenient journalists face censorship by stealth through targeted violence, arrests, withdrawal of official advertising and/or dismissal.{{cite news|last1=Bennett|first1=Philip|last2=Naim|first2=Moises|title=21st-century censorship|url=https://archives.cjr.org/cover_story/21st_century_censorship.php|access-date=15 March 2020|work=Columbia Journalism Review|date=February 2015|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216080303/https://archives.cjr.org/cover_story/21st_century_censorship.php|archive-date=16 December 2019|url-status=live}} Foreign journalists also face censorship given the ease with which their articles can be translated and shared across the country.

Foreign journalists have reported rising official interference with their work, with a 2016 Foreign Correspondents' Club of China survey finding 98% considered reporting conditions failed to meet international standards.{{cite news|last1=Greenslade|first1=Roy|title=Foreign journalists working in China face increased harassment|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2016/nov/15/foreign-journalists-working-in-china-face-increased-harassment|access-date=15 March 2020|work=The Guardian|date=15 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406200430/https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2016/nov/15/foreign-journalists-working-in-china-face-increased-harassment|archive-date=6 April 2020|url-status=live}} Interference includes withholding a visa to work in the country, harassment and violence by secret police and requiring press conference questions to be submitted for pre-screening. Journalists also reported that local sources who speak to them face harassment, intimidation or detention by government officials, leading to a decreased willingness to cooperate with journalists. Foreign journalists also face hacking of their email accounts by the PRC to discover their sources.

The 2017 results indicated increasing violence and obstruction, with BBC reporter Matthew Goddard being punched by assailants who attempted to steal his equipment after he refused to show them footage taken.{{cite news|title=Foreign journalists in China complain of abuse from officials|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2131231/foreign-journalists-china-complain-growing-abuse|access-date=15 March 2020|work=South China Morning Post|date=30 January 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409154947/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2131231/foreign-journalists-china-complain-growing-abuse|archive-date=9 April 2020|url-status=live}} In 2017, 73% of foreign journalists reported being restricted or prohibited from reporting in Xinjiang, up from 42% in 2016. Journalists also reported more pressure from PRC diplomats on their headquarters to delete stories.

Visas have been denied to a number of foreign journalists who wrote articles displeasing to the PRC government, such as the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Expelled journalists include L'Obs reporter Ursula Gauthier, Al Jazeera journalist Melissa Chan in 2012, BuzzFeed China bureau chief Megha Rajagopalan in 2018, and Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, who was denied a visa in 2019 after being hired by AFP.{{Cite web|title=An American Reporter Was Denied A Visa To China. She Said It's Because She Criticized The Communist Party.|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/meghara/afp-china-journalist-visa-bethany-allen-ebrahimian|access-date=26 October 2020|website=BuzzFeed News|date=19 June 2019 |language=en|archive-date=25 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025092615/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/meghara/afp-china-journalist-visa-bethany-allen-ebrahimian|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Maya|title=Another journalist expelled – as China's abuses grow, who will see them?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/28/journalist-expelled-china-abusesmegha-rajagopalan|access-date=15 March 2020|work=The Guardian|date=28 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918022250/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/28/journalist-expelled-china-abusesmegha-rajagopalan|archive-date=18 September 2019|url-status=live}}

As a result of increasing intimidation and the threat of being denied a visa, foreign journalists operating in China have increasingly engaged in self-censorship.{{cite magazine|last1=Parker|first1=Emily|title=China's government Is Scaring Foreign Journalists Into Censoring Themselves|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/115851/censorship-china-how-western-journalists-censor-themselves|access-date=15 March 2020|magazine=The New Republic|date=9 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406200429/https://newrepublic.com/article/115851/censorship-china-how-western-journalists-censor-themselves|archive-date=6 April 2020|url-status=live}} Topics avoided by journalists include Xinjiang, Tibet and Falun Gong. Despite this, controversial stories continue to be published on occasion, such as the hidden wealth of political elites including Wen Jiabao{{cite news|last1=Barboza|first1=David|title=Billions in Hidden Riches for Family of Chinese Leader|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/26/business/global/family-of-wen-jiabao-holds-a-hidden-fortune-in-china.html|access-date=15 March 2020|work=The New York Times|date=25 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314200349/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/26/business/global/family-of-wen-jiabao-holds-a-hidden-fortune-in-china.html|archive-date=14 March 2020|url-status=live}} and Xi Jinping.{{cite news|title=Xi Jinping Millionaire Relations Reveal Fortunes of Elite|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-29/xi-jinping-millionaire-relations-reveal-fortunes-of-elite.html|access-date=15 March 2020|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|date=29 June 2012|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108064509/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-29/xi-jinping-millionaire-relations-reveal-fortunes-of-elite.html|archive-date=8 January 2015|url-status=live}}

The PRC government has also increasingly sought to influence public opinion abroad by hiring foreign reporters for state media outlets and paying for officially sanctioned "China Watch" inserts to be included in overseas newspapers including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and The Daily Telegraph.{{cite news|last1=Lim|first1=Louisa|last2=Bergin|first2=Julia|title=Inside China's audacious global propaganda campaign|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/dec/07/china-plan-for-global-media-dominance-propaganda-xi-jinping|access-date=15 March 2020|work=The Guardian|date=7 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310193251/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/dec/07/china-plan-for-global-media-dominance-propaganda-xi-jinping|archive-date=10 March 2020|url-status=live}}

In April 2021, a diplomatic controversy arose between Sweden and China when Jojje Olsson, a Swedish journalist posted in Taiwan, published a series of threatening and abusive letters sent to him by the Chinese Embassy in Sweden.{{cite web|last1=Everington|first1=Keoni|title=Chinese embassy unwittingly admits Taiwan is independent in threatening email to Swedish journalist|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4176016|work=Taiwan News|date=13 April 2021|access-date=13 April 2021|archive-date=30 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130205914/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4176016|url-status=live}}

Since Xi Jinping took control over foreign affairs for the People's Republic of China, the regime has adopted "a truculent posture"{{Cite news|last=Christensen|first=Thomas J.|date=11 March 2011|title=The Advantages of an Assertive China|journal=Foreign Affairs: America and the World|language=en-US|url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/east-asia/2011-02-21/advantages-assertive-china|access-date=14 May 2020|issn=0015-7120|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121034104/https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/east-asia/2011-02-21/advantages-assertive-china|archive-date=21 November 2019|url-status=live}} in international relations, including what is said about China or its interests. The New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof has observed that "Xi doesn't want to censor information just in his own country; he also wants to censor our own discussions in the West."{{Cite news|last=Kristof|first=Nicholas|date=9 October 2019|title=Opinion {{!}} Let's Not Take Cues From a Country That Bans Winnie the Pooh|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/09/opinion/china-censorship.html|access-date=14 May 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325182031/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/09/opinion/china-censorship.html|archive-date=25 March 2020|url-status=live}} A key example is how Beijing opposes any meeting by foreign politicians with the Dalai Lama, even in a personal capacity.{{cite news|last1=Lau|first1=Stuart|title=Chinese official attacks foreign leaders for meeting Dalai Lama|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2116394/senior-chinese-official-attacks-foreign-leaders-meeting|access-date=21 October 2019|work=South China Morning Post|date=21 October 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021114939/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2116394/senior-chinese-official-attacks-foreign-leaders-meeting|archive-date=21 October 2019|url-status=live}} However, its response differs depending on the political leaders and nations involved.

By November 2019, the PRC refused travel visas to Australian politicians Andrew Hastie and James Paterson after they criticised the Chinese Communist Party, its interference in Australian politics and its poor human rights record.{{cite news|last1=Greenbank|first1=political reporters Amy|last2=Beech|first2=ra|title=Liberal MPs banned from travelling to China for study trip|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-15/andrew-hastie-james-paterson-blocked-by-china-matters-study-tour/11710338|access-date=14 March 2020|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=15 November 2019|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110021642/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-15/andrew-hastie-james-paterson-blocked-by-china-matters-study-tour/11710338|archive-date=10 January 2020|url-status=live}} The Chinese Embassy stated that the pair needed to "repent" before they would be allowed into the country, which Hastie and Paterson refused.{{cite news|last1=Dalzell|first1=Stephanie|last2=Probyn|first2=Andrew|title=Hastie and Paterson defiant in the face of China's calls for repentance|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-17/andrew-hastie-james-paterson-refuse-to-repent-china-criticism/11712160|access-date=14 March 2020|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=17 November 2019|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322053146/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-17/andrew-hastie-james-paterson-refuse-to-repent-china-criticism/11712160|archive-date=22 March 2020|url-status=live}}

In 2015, the PRC detained then deported a Chinese-Canadian politician Richard Lee on the basis he had "endangered national security" by speaking out against PRC interference in Canadian politics.{{cite news|last1=Cooper|first1=Sam|date=29 November 2019|title=B.C. politician breaks silence: China detained me, is interfering 'in our democracy'|language=en|work=Global News|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6228973/b-c-politician-richard-lee-china-detained-interfering-democracy/|url-status=live|access-date=14 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407233953/https://globalnews.ca/news/6228973/b-c-politician-richard-lee-china-detained-interfering-democracy/|archive-date=7 April 2020}}

File:Zdeněk Hřib and Joseph Wu on 1 April 2019.jpg (left), the mayor of Prague, decided to maintain official relations with Taiwan – seen here with the Taiwan Minister, Joseph Wu (right) on 1 April 2019.]]

Soon after becoming mayor of Prague, Zdeněk Hřib hosted a meeting of foreign diplomats, and was asked by the Chinese ambassador to expel the Taiwanese representative. He refused to do so.{{Cite news|last=Tait|first=Robert|date=3 July 2019|title=Zdeněk Hřib: the Czech mayor who defied China|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/jul/03/zdenek-hrib-the-czech-mayor-who-defied-china-taiwan|access-date=20 September 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919190319/https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/jul/03/zdenek-hrib-the-czech-mayor-who-defied-china-taiwan|url-status=live}} China pointed out that Prague had already agreed to a One-China policy when the previous mayor had entered an agreement to make Beijing Prague's twin city.{{Cite news|last=Rohac|first=Dalibor|title=Opinion {{!}} The Czechs are giving Europe a lesson on how to deal with China|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/09/03/czechs-are-giving-europe-lesson-how-deal-with-china/|access-date=20 September 2020|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=17 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917113355/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/09/03/czechs-are-giving-europe-lesson-how-deal-with-china/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=8 October 2019|title=Prague cuts sister-city ties with Beijing amid 'tangible' public anger|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3032045/prague-cuts-sister-city-ties-beijing-amid-tangible-anger-over|access-date=20 September 2020|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|archive-date=20 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820103517/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3032045/prague-cuts-sister-city-ties-beijing-amid-tangible-anger-over|url-status=live}} When Hřib asked to renegotiate the agreement, China cut off contact, refusing to reply to letters or emails, threatening to withhold funds for a Prague soccer club and unilaterally canceled the Prague Symphony Orchestra's China tour, moves which Hřib described as "bullying".{{Cite web|date=4 February 2020|title=Prague's Sister City Pact with Taipei A Statement Against Bully Beijing|url=https://japan-forward.com/pragues-sister-city-pact-with-taipei-a-statement-against-bully-beijing/|access-date=20 September 2020|website=JAPAN Forward|language=en-US|archive-date=27 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927005658/https://japan-forward.com/pragues-sister-city-pact-with-taipei-a-statement-against-bully-beijing/|url-status=live}} In January 2020, Hřib ended Prague's city-to-city agreement with Beijing, creating a new agreement with Taipei instead.{{Cite web|date=12 January 2020|title=Prague mayor hits out at 'unreliable' China as city ditches Beijing|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3045739/prague-mayors-hits-out-unreliable-china-czech-capital-swaps|access-date=20 September 2020|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|archive-date=7 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907194125/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3045739/prague-mayors-hits-out-unreliable-china-czech-capital-swaps|url-status=live}} When Czech Senator Jaroslav Kubera announced plans to visit Taiwan, China announced that "Czech companies whose representatives visit Taiwan with chairman Kubera will not be welcome in China or with the Chinese people."{{Cite news|last=Carey|first=Raphael Satter, Nick|date=19 February 2020|title=China threatened to harm Czech companies over Taiwan visit: letter|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-czech-taiwan-idUSKBN20D0G3|access-date=20 September 2020|archive-date=24 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924092426/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-czech-taiwan-idUSKBN20D0G3|url-status=live}} Shortly after receiving this threat, Kubera died of a heart attack.

In 2021, China imposed sanctions on five members of the European Parliament and members of the EU human rights and security committee because of EU statements and action regarding the repression of the Uyghurs.{{cite web|title=China sanctions EU officials in response to Uyghur row|url=https://www.dw.com/en/china-sanctions-eu-officials-in-response-to-uyghur-row/a-56948924|website=www.dw.com|publisher=DW|access-date=21 July 2021|archive-date=30 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130205914/https://www.dw.com/en/china-sanctions-eu-officials-in-response-to-uyghur-row/a-56948924|url-status=live}}

In 2016, the Chinese Ambassador to Germany "put massive pressure" on the Chairman of the Bundestag's Human Rights Committee, Michael Brand, a member of the conservative CDU party, in connection to his work exposing human rights abuses in Tibet. He later said, "self-censorship is out of the question".{{Cite web|title=China refuses entry to German chair of human rights committee {{!}} DW {{!}} 11 May 2016|url=https://www.dw.com/en/china-refuses-entry-to-german-chair-of-human-rights-committee/a-19249261|last=Welle|first=Deutsche|publisher=Deutsche Welle|language=en-GB|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921114526/https://www.dw.com/en/china-refuses-entry-to-german-chair-of-human-rights-committee/a-19249261|archive-date=21 September 2018|access-date=16 March 2020}}

In August 2019, a delegation of the German Bundestag due to visit China had all their visas blocked as one of its members, Margarete Bause, a Green, is a vocal supporter of the Muslim Uyghur minority. She believes that to be "an attempt at silencing parliamentarians who support human rights loudly and clearly".{{Cite web|title=China denies entry to German Greens party {{!}} DW {{!}} 4 August 2019|url=https://www.dw.com/en/china-denies-entry-to-german-greens-party/a-49883911|last=Welle|first=Deutsche|publisher=Deutsche Welle|language=en-GB|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806072319/https://www.dw.com/en/china-denies-entry-to-german-greens-party/a-49883911|archive-date=6 August 2019|access-date=16 March 2020}}

In June 2021, China lodged diplomatic and public protests after Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga referred to Taiwan as a country. According to spokesperson Wang Wenbin, "China expresses strong dissatisfaction with Japan's erroneous remarks and has lodged a solemn protest against Japan."{{cite web|title=Japan's PM refers to Taiwan as country, draws fire from China|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/06/7feb56acb3fe-japans-pm-refers-to-taiwan-as-country-draws-fire-from-china.html|website=kyodonews.net|publisher=Kyodo News|access-date=10 June 2021|archive-date=10 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610152731/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/06/7feb56acb3fe-japans-pm-refers-to-taiwan-as-country-draws-fire-from-china.html|url-status=live}}

In March 2021, China blacklisted Lithuanian MP Dovilė Šakalienė because of comments she made regarding human rights.{{cite web|last1=Everington|first1=Keoni|title=Lithuanian MP backs Taiwan de facto embassy, calls China 'bloody authoritarian regime'|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4253782|website=www.taiwannews.com.tw|date=21 July 2021|publisher=Taiwan News|access-date=21 July 2021|archive-date=30 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130141840/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4253782|url-status=live}}

Jenny Shipley was Prime Minister of New Zealand and, after leaving politics, served as a director of China Construction Bank global board for six years from 2007 to 2013, then as Chair of China Construction Bank New Zealand up until 31 March 2019. In a case of what may be compelled speech, rather than restricted speech, the former Prime Minister appeared to write an opinion piece, "We need to learn to listen to China"{{Cite web|title='We need to learn to listen to China' – People's Daily Online|url=http://en.people.cn/n3/2019/0218/c90000-9547114.html|website=en.people.cn|access-date=17 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025234630/http://en.people.cn/n3/2019/0218/c90000-9547114.html|archive-date=25 October 2019|url-status=live}} in the Communist Party controlled newspaper, People's Daily. It contained strong endorsements of current Chinese foreign policy, such as "The belt and road initiative (BRI) proposed by China is one of the greatest ideas we've ever heard globally. It is a forward-looking idea, and in my opinion, it has the potential to create the next wave of economic growth."{{Cite news|last=Roy|first=Eleanor Ainge|date=20 February 2019|title=New Zealand former PM denies writing glowing pro-China piece for Beijing paper|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/20/new-zealand-former-pm-jenny-shipley-denies-writing-pro-china-piece-for-beijing-paper|access-date=17 May 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022005527/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/20/new-zealand-former-pm-jenny-shipley-denies-writing-pro-china-piece-for-beijing-paper|archive-date=22 October 2019|url-status=live}} Ms Shipley later denied ever writing the article."{{Cite web|title=Former NZ PM resigns from China Construction Bank unit|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/2188526/former-new-zealand-prime-minister-jenny-shipley-resigns-china|date=4 March 2019|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|access-date=17 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503021418/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/2188526/former-new-zealand-prime-minister-jenny-shipley-resigns-china|archive-date=3 May 2020|url-status=live}}

In May 2020, efforts were made to silence criticism of China by Winston Peters, the current serving Foreign Minister of New Zealand. Matthew Hooton, a columnist at The New Zealand Herald, said that Peters should be sacked if he insults China one more time.{{Cite news|last=Hooton|first=Matthew|date=18 May 2020|title=Matthew Hooton: Winston Peters should be sacked over China controversy|language=en-NZ|work=The New Zealand Herald|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12332783|url-status=live|access-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519000133/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12332783|archive-date=19 May 2020|issn=1170-0777}}

On 15 November 2019, the Culture Minister of Sweden, Amanda Lind, went against the wishes of the Chinese Communist Party leadership and awarded Gui Minhai the PEN Tucholsky prize in absentia.{{Cite web|title=China cancels Sweden business trips after prize for dissident|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/china-cancels-sweden-business-trips-prize-dissident-191220042410436.html|publisher=Al Jazeera|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316043455/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/china-cancels-sweden-business-trips-prize-dissident-191220042410436.html|archive-date=16 March 2020|access-date=16 March 2020}} Mr Gui, a Chinese-born Swedish citizen{{Cite news|date=16 November 2019|title=China, Sweden escalate war of words over support for detained bookseller|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-sweden-idUSKBN1XP197|access-date=14 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226002826/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-sweden-idUSKBN1XP197|archive-date=26 February 2020|url-status=live}} had published poetry critical of communist China and was said to be preparing a book about the love life of Xi Jinping{{Cite web|title=Hong Kong bookseller Gui Minhai jailed for 10 years in China|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/25/gui-minhai-detained-hong-kong-bookseller-jailed-for-10-years-in-china|date=25 February 2020|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=14 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429135309/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/25/gui-minhai-detained-hong-kong-bookseller-jailed-for-10-years-in-china|archive-date=29 April 2020|url-status=live}} and had been arrested by Chinese security agents whilst being accompanied by Swedish diplomats on a train from Shanghai to Beijing.{{Cite news|last=Phillips|first=Tom|date=22 February 2018|title='A very scary movie': how China snatched Gui Minhai on the 11.10 train to Beijing|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/22/how-china-snatched-gui-minhai-train-beijing-bookseller-hong-kong|access-date=14 May 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513171447/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/22/how-china-snatched-gui-minhai-train-beijing-bookseller-hong-kong|archive-date=13 May 2020|url-status=live}} Following the award, China's embassy in Stockholm released a statement saying that Minister Lind's attendance was "a serious mistake" and that "wrong deeds will only meet with bad consequences". In the days afterwards China's Ambassador to Sweden, Gui Congyou, announced that "two large delegations of businessmen who were planning to travel to Sweden have cancelled their trip"{{Cite web|title=China cancels Sweden business trips after prize for dissident|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/china-cancels-sweden-business-trips-prize-dissident-191220042410436.html|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=14 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316043455/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/china-cancels-sweden-business-trips-prize-dissident-191220042410436.html|archive-date=16 March 2020|url-status=live}} Ms Lind has already been threatened with a ban on entering China if she went ahead with the prize giving. Later that month the Ambassador later gave an interview on Swedish public radio in which he said, "We treat our friends with fine wine, but for our enemies we have shotguns."{{Cite news|title=How Sweden copes with Chinese bullying|newspaper=The Economist|url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2020/02/20/how-sweden-copes-with-chinese-bullying|access-date=14 May 2020|issn=0013-0613|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422155851/https://www.economist.com/europe/2020/02/20/how-sweden-copes-with-chinese-bullying|archive-date=22 April 2020|url-status=live}}

In 2019, the Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom warned that country's politicians against adopting a "colonial mindset" and observing limits in their comments on issues such as the Hong Kong protests and South China Sea dispute with China's neighbours.{{cite news|last1=Sabbagh|first1=Dan|date=9 September 2019|title=Avoid irresponsible remarks on Hong Kong, China warns UK MPs|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/10/avoid-irresponsible-remarks-on-hong-kong-china-warns-uk-mps|url-status=live|access-date=14 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505041712/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/10/avoid-irresponsible-remarks-on-hong-kong-china-warns-uk-mps|archive-date=5 May 2020}} China later suspended the Stock Connect link between the Shanghai and London stock exchanges, in part due to the United Kingdom's support for Hong Kong protesters.{{cite news|title=Exclusive: China halts British stock link over political tensions – sources|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-britain-ipos-exclusive/exclusive-china-halts-british-stock-link-over-political-tensions-sources-idUSKBN1Z108L|access-date=14 March 2020|work=Reuters|date=2 January 2020|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200315005456/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-britain-ipos-exclusive/exclusive-china-halts-british-stock-link-over-political-tensions-sources-idUSKBN1Z108L|archive-date=15 March 2020|url-status=live}}

Cambridge University Press drew criticism in 2017 for removing articles from its China Quarterly covering topics such as the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and the Cultural Revolution to avoid having its Chinese operations shut down.{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Ian|title=Cambridge University Press Removes Academic Articles on Chinese Site|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/18/world/asia/cambridge-university-press-academic-freedom.html|access-date=13 October 2019|work=The New York Times|date=18 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013072908/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/18/world/asia/cambridge-university-press-academic-freedom.html|archive-date=13 October 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Phillips|first1=Tom|title=Cambridge University Press accused of 'selling its soul' over Chinese censorship|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/19/cambridge-university-press-accused-of-selling-its-soul-over-chinese-censorship|access-date=13 October 2019|work=The Guardian|date=19 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013073200/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/19/cambridge-university-press-accused-of-selling-its-soul-over-chinese-censorship|archive-date=13 October 2019|url-status=live}} Attempts of censorship are documented for Brill and Taylor & Francis.{{Cite journal|last=Loubere|first=Nicholas|date=2021-03-07|title=New Censorship, the New Academic Freedom|url=https://journals.univie.ac.at/index.php/jeacs/article/view/5955|journal=The Journal of the European Association for Chinese Studies|volume=1|language=en|pages=239–252 Pages|doi=10.25365/JEACS.2020.1.239-252|access-date=7 September 2021|archive-date=30 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130205920/https://journals.univie.ac.at/index.php/jeacs/article/view/5955|url-status=live}} Springer Nature also acceded to Chinese demands to censor articles relating to Chinese politics, Taiwan, Tibet and human rights.{{cite news|last1=Hernández|first1=Javier C.|title=Leading Western Publisher Bows to Chinese Censorship|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/01/world/asia/china-springer-nature-censorship.html|access-date=13 October 2019|work=The New York Times|date=1 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013073850/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/01/world/asia/china-springer-nature-censorship.html|archive-date=13 October 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Chinese censors issue fresh warning to foreign publishers|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2118580/chinese-censors-issue-fresh-warning-foreign-publishers-after|access-date=21 October 2019|work=South China Morning Post|date=6 November 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021110722/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2118580/chinese-censors-issue-fresh-warning-foreign-publishers-after|archive-date=21 October 2019|url-status=live}} In August 2020, Springer Nature was reported to have rejected the publication of an article at the behest of its co-publisher, Wenzhou Medical University, from a Taiwanese doctor because the word "China" was not placed after "Taiwan."{{Cite news|last=Tang|first=Jane|date=1 September 2020|title=Springer Nature Journal Rejects Article by Taiwan Doctor Over Country Name|work=Radio Free Asia|url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/article-09012020091523.html|access-date=1 September 2020|archive-date=9 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909182115/https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/article-09012020091523.html|url-status=live}} Springer Nature has removed articles without even informing the authors and refused "to reverse the decision but continuing to justify it as being in the best interests of the global academic community and necessary for the advancement of research".

In 2017, the Australian publisher Allen & Unwin refused to publish Clive Hamilton's book Silent Invasion about growing Chinese Communist Party influence in Australia, fearing potential legal action from the Chinese government or its local proxies under the auspices of the United Front Work Department.{{cite news|last1=Williams|first1=Jacqueline|title=Australian Furor Over Chinese Influence Follows Book's Delay|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/20/world/australia/china-australia-book-influence.html|access-date=13 October 2019|work=The New York Times|date=20 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190919142017/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/20/world/australia/china-australia-book-influence.html|archive-date=19 September 2019|url-status=live}}

Publishers using Chinese printers have also been subject to local censorship, even for books not intended for sale in China.{{cite news|last1=Lew Linda|title=How Chinese censorship laws hit foreign publishers|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3024150/chinese-censorship-laws-could-prompt-foreign-book-publishers|access-date=13 October 2019|work=South China Morning Post|date=25 August 2019|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013134535/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3024150/chinese-censorship-laws-could-prompt-foreign-book-publishers|archive-date=13 October 2019|url-status=live}} Books with maps face particular scrutiny, with one Victoria University Press book Fifteen Million Years in Antarctica required to remove the English term "Mount Everest" in favour of the Chinese equivalent "Mount Qomolangma". This has led publishers to consider printers in alternative countries, such as Vietnam.

Whistleblower Edward Snowden criticised Chinese censors for removing passages in the translated version of his book Permanent Record, in which passages about authoritarianism, democracy, freedom of speech and privacy were removed.{{cite news|last1=Kuo|first1=Lily|title=Edward Snowden says autobiography has been censored in China|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/12/edward-snowden-says-autobiography-permanent-record-censored-in-china|access-date=30 November 2019|work=The Guardian|date=12 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119022339/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/12/edward-snowden-says-autobiography-permanent-record-censored-in-china|archive-date=19 November 2019|url-status=live}}

{{see also|Censorship by Apple#China|Cisco#Censorship in China|Censorship by Google#China|Criticism of Microsoft#Censorship in China|Criticism of Myspace#MySpace China|Skype#Service in the People's Republic of China|Criticism of Yahoo#Work in the People's Republic of China}}

Several American technology companies cooperate with Chinese government policies, including internet censorship, such as helping authorities build the Great Firewall to restrict access to sensitive information.{{cite magazine|last1=James|first1=Randy|title=A Brief History of Chinese Internet Censorship|url=http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1885961,00.html|access-date=13 October 2019|magazine=Time|publisher=TimeWarner|date=18 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012223758/http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1885961,00.html|archive-date=12 October 2019|url-status=live}} Yahoo drew controversy after supplying the personal data of its user Shi Tao to the PRC government, resulting in Tao's 10-year imprisonment for "leaking state secrets abroad".{{cite web|last1=MacKinnon|first1=Rebecca|title=Shi Tao, Yahoo!, and the lessons for corporate social responsibility|url=https://rconversation.blogs.com/YahooShiTaoLessons.pdf|access-date=14 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601111521/https://rconversation.blogs.com/YahooShiTaoLessons.pdf|archive-date=1 June 2019 |url-status=live}} In 2006, Microsoft, Google, Yahoo! and Cisco appeared before a congressional inquiry into their Chinese operations where their cooperation with censorship and privacy breaches of individuals faced criticism.{{cite news|title=Race to the Bottom – Corporate Complicity in Chinese Internet Censorship|url=https://www.hrw.org/report/2006/08/09/race-bottom/corporate-complicity-chinese-internet-censorship|access-date=15 March 2020|publisher=Human Rights Watch|date=9 August 2006|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824090703/https://www.hrw.org/report/2006/08/09/race-bottom/corporate-complicity-chinese-internet-censorship|archive-date=24 August 2017|url-status=live}} U.S. video conferencing company Zoom, which bases most of its research and development team in China, closed the account of a U.S.-based user who held a Zoom vigil commemorating the Tiananmen Square massacre.{{Cite web|last=Allen-Ebrahimian|first=Bethany|title=Zoom confirms Chinese government asked it to suspend activists over Tiananmen Square meetings|url=https://www.axios.com/zoom-chinese-government-tiananmen-fb1272bb-6c91-4c8f-b42e-5ced37d732d4.html|access-date=26 October 2020|website=Axios|date=11 June 2020|language=en|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030003422/https://www.axios.com/zoom-chinese-government-tiananmen-fb1272bb-6c91-4c8f-b42e-5ced37d732d4.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Allen-Ebrahimian|first=Bethany|title=Zoom closed account of U.S.-based Chinese activist "to comply with local law"|url=https://www.axios.com/zoom-closes-chinese-user-account-tiananmen-square-f218fed1-69af-4bdd-aac4-7eaf67f34084.html|access-date=26 October 2020|website=Axios|date=10 June 2020|language=en|archive-date=10 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610192255/https://www.axios.com/zoom-closes-chinese-user-account-tiananmen-square-f218fed1-69af-4bdd-aac4-7eaf67f34084.html|url-status=live}}

The Chinese government is increasingly pressuring overseas individuals and companies to cooperate with its censorship model, including in relation to overseas communications made by foreign people for non-Chinese audiences.{{cite news|last1=Mozur|first1=Paul|title=China Presses Its Internet Censorship Efforts Across the Globe|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/02/technology/china-technology-censorship-borders-expansion.html|access-date=21 October 2019|work=The New York Times|date=2 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020080216/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/02/technology/china-technology-censorship-borders-expansion.html|archive-date=20 October 2019|url-status=live}}

WeChat, the China-based social media platform owned by Tencent has been described by the BBC as a "powerful weapon of social control".{{Cite web|last=Kharpal|first=Arjun|date=8 May 2020|title=Chinese tech giant Tencent reportedly surveilled foreign users of WeChat to help censorship at home|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/08/tencent-wechat-surveillance-help-censorship-in-china.html|access-date=7 December 2020|publisher=CNBC|language=en|archive-date=6 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206174243/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/08/tencent-wechat-surveillance-help-censorship-in-china.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=7 June 2019|title=China social media: WeChat and the Surveillance State|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-china-blog-48552907|access-date=7 December 2020|archive-date=21 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621120755/https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-china-blog-48552907|url-status=live}} WeChat is known to have censoring messages concerning the coronavirus.{{Cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3064832/how-wechat-censored-even-neutral-messages-about-coronavirus|title=How WeChat censored even neutral messages about the coronavirus in China|last=Zhou|first=Cissy|date=3 March 2020|work=South China Morning Post|access-date=15 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314160138/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3064832/how-wechat-censored-even-neutral-messages-about-coronavirus|archive-date=14 March 2020|url-status=live}} A report by the Citizen Lab found that Tencent also uses the platform for the surveillance of foreign nationals.

In December 2020, WeChat blocked a post by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison during a diplomatic spat between Australia and China. In his WeChat post Morrison had criticized a doctored image posted by a Chinese diplomat and praised the Chinese-Australian community. The company claimed to have blocked the post because it "violated regulations, including distorting historical events and confusing the public".{{cite news|last1=Needham|first1=Kirsty|title=China's WeChat blocks Australian PM in doctored image dispute|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-china-tweet/australias-prime-minister-sends-wechat-message-to-chinese-diaspora-in-spat-idUSKBN28C01T|work=Reuters|date=2 December 2020|access-date=7 December 2020|archive-date=5 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205165301/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-china-tweet/australias-prime-minister-sends-wechat-message-to-chinese-diaspora-in-spat-idUSKBN28C01T|url-status=live}}

On 4 June 2021, the 32nd anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, searches for the Tank Man image and videos were censored by Microsoft's Bing search engine worldwide. Hours after Microsoft acknowledged the issue, the search returned only pictures of tanks elsewhere in the world. Search engines that license results from Microsoft such as DuckDuckGo and Yahoo faced similar issues. Microsoft said the issue was "due to an accidental human error".{{cite news|title=Microsoft says error led to no matching Bing images for Tiananmen 'tank man'|url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/microsoft-bing-raises-concerns-over-lack-image-results-tiananmen-tank-man-2021-06-04/|work=Reuters|date=4 June 2021|access-date=5 June 2021|archive-date=5 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705124052/https://www.reuters.com/technology/microsoft-bing-raises-concerns-over-lack-image-results-tiananmen-tank-man-2021-06-04/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Microsoft blocks Bing from showing image results for Tiananmen 'tank man'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jun/04/microsoft-bing-tiananmen-tank-man-results|work=The Guardian|date=5 June 2021|language=en|access-date=5 June 2021|archive-date=30 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130205923/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jun/04/microsoft-bing-tiananmen-tank-man-results|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Bing Censors Image Search for 'Tank Man' Even in US|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/qj8v9m/bing-censors-tank-man|work=VICE|language=en|access-date=5 June 2021|archive-date=11 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811104028/https://mb.moatads.com/s/v2?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vice.com%2Fen%2Farticle%2Fqj8dj5%2Ffacebook-phone-number-data-breach-telegram-bot&pcode=vicenews874000816896&ord=1628678423659&jv=792239162&callback=BrandSafetyNadoscallback_76716643|url-status=live}} The director of Human Rights Watch, Kenneth Roth, said he found the idea it was an inadvertent error "hard to believe". David Greene, Civil Liberties Director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said that content moderation was impossible to do perfectly and "egregious mistakes are made all the time", but he further elaborated that "At worst, this was purposeful suppression at the request of a powerful state."{{cite news|last1=Tilley|first1=Aaron|title=Microsoft's Bing Temporarily Blocked Searches of Tiananmen Square 'Tank Man' Image|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/microsofts-bing-temporarily-blocked-searches-of-tiananmen-square-tank-man-image-11622845011|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=4 June 2021|access-date=5 June 2021|archive-date=27 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527023233/https://www.wsj.com/articles/microsofts-bing-temporarily-blocked-searches-of-tiananmen-square-tank-man-image-11622845011|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Microsoft says error caused 'Tank Man' Bing censorship|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57367100|work=BBC News|date=5 June 2021|access-date=5 June 2021|archive-date=21 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521185058/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57367100|url-status=live}}

Apple has allowed political censorship for the Chinese market to spill into other markets.{{cite web|last1=Kwan|first1=Campbell|title=Citizen Lab finds Apple's China censorship process bleeds into Hong Kong and Taiwan|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/citizen-lab-finds-apples-china-censorship-process-bleeds-into-hong-kong-and-taiwan/|website=ZDNet|publisher=ZDNet|access-date=19 August 2021|archive-date=30 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130205915/https://www.zdnet.com/article/citizen-lab-finds-apples-china-censorship-process-bleeds-into-hong-kong-and-taiwan/|url-status=live}}

A 2023 study of TikTok by Rutgers University researchers found a "strong possibility that content on TikTok is either amplified or suppressed based on its alignment with the interests of the Chinese government."{{Cite news|last=Maheshwari|first=Sapna|date=21 December 2023|title=Topics Suppressed in China Are Underrepresented on TikTok, Study Says|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/21/business/tiktok-china.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222180837/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/21/business/tiktok-china.html|archive-date=22 December 2023|access-date=22 December 2023|work=The New York Times|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} Commenting on the study, The New York Times stated, "[a]lready, there is evidence that China uses TikTok as a propaganda tool. Posts related to subjects that the Chinese government wants to suppress — like Hong Kong protests and Tibet — are strangely missing from the platform."{{Cite news|last=Leonhardt|first=David|date=2024-04-24|title=TikTok's Pro-China Tilt|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/24/briefing/tiktok-ban-bill-congress.html|access-date=2024-05-09|work=The New York Times|language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=3 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503070531/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/24/briefing/tiktok-ban-bill-congress.html|url-status=live}}

In August 2024, Rutgers University researchers released a new report based on user journey data.{{Cite news|last1=Clanton|first1=Alicia|last2=Aisha|first2=Counts|date=August 9, 2024|title=TikTok Shows Less 'Anti-China' Content Than Rivals, Study Finds|url=https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/tiktok-shows-less-anti-china-193350953.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9kdWNrZHVja2dvLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAA9B5FocQN5aVLncD0xVc6Vjgbq15gGAI9NmxsFYihWNffVC9YiKG0UxHGmOj1piK16Vztk41o0cD9as8qjOiT7zt9W8i5vP6ThRXV5g-rXn1nCe5lHrRvJ_X3JT8QFLClO6XM5ytXRHEbTQHp2cNRtCvADYOCt4Pz3rN7TP3OIb|access-date=August 12, 2024|work=Bloomberg via Yahoo}} By searching for four keywords — Uyghur, Xinjiang, Tibet, and Tiananmen — on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, the researchers found that TikTok's algorithm displayed a higher percentage of positive, neutral, or irrelevant content related to China's human rights abuses compared to the other two apps. The researchers also found that users spending three hours or more daily on TikTok were significantly more positive about China's human rights records than non-users. TikTok dismissed NCRI's study.

In 2019, ESPN's Chuck Salituro, the channel's senior news director, sent an internal memo to staff banning any discussion of political issues concerning China or Hong Kong when covering the controversy of Daryl Morey's tweet in support of Hong Kong protesters.{{cite news|last1=Wagner|first1=Laura|title=Internal Memo: ESPN Forbids Discussion Of Chinese Politics When Discussing Daryl Morey's Tweet About Chinese Politics|url=https://deadspin.com/internal-memo-espn-forbids-discussion-of-chinese-polit-1838881032|access-date=13 October 2019|work=Deadspin|date=8 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013012937/https://deadspin.com/internal-memo-espn-forbids-discussion-of-chinese-polit-1838881032|archive-date=13 October 2019|url-status=live}} In October 2019, Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey apologized for his tweet featuring the slogan: "Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong."{{Cite web|date=2019-10-23|title=The Daryl Morey controversy, explained: How a tweet created a costly rift between the NBA and China {{!}} Sporting News|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/daryl-morey-tweet-controversy-nba-china-explained/togzszxh37fi1mpw177p9bqwi|access-date=2024-07-07|website=www.sportingnews.com|language=en-us|archive-date=9 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709200009/https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/daryl-morey-tweet-controversy-nba-china-explained/togzszxh37fi1mpw177p9bqwi|url-status=live}} The apology came after China's consulate general in Houston demanded the team to "immediately correct the mistakes".{{Cite news|date=2019-10-07|title=Daryl Morey backtracks after Hong Kong tweet causes Chinese backlash|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49956385|access-date=2024-07-07|language=en-GB|archive-date=8 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008083229/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49956385|url-status=live}} Following Morey's deleted tweet, China's state broadcaster CCTV-5 and Tencent Sports suspended airing and live-streaming Houston Rockets events.{{Cite web|last=Valinsky|first=Jordan|date=2019-10-09|title=How one tweet snowballed into the NBA's worst nightmare {{!}} CNN Business|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/09/business/nba-china-hong-kong-explainer/index.html|access-date=2024-07-07|website=CNN|language=en|archive-date=16 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516140315/https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/09/business/nba-china-hong-kong-explainer/index.html|url-status=live}} The NBA acknowledged that Morey's views "have deeply offended many of our friends and fans in China, which is regrettable," but NBA Commissioner Adam Silver would not apologize for the tweet.{{Cite web|last=Riley|first=Charles|date=2019-10-08|title=NBA chief Adam Silver says profit can't come before the league's principles {{!}} CNN Business|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/08/media/nba-adam-silver/index.html|access-date=2024-07-07|website=CNN|language=en|archive-date=1 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301185909/https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/08/media/nba-adam-silver/index.html|url-status=live}}

In October 2021, Chinese broadcaster and NBA partner Tencent blocked Boston Celtics games after Celtics player Enes Kanter Freedom made Twitter remarks supporting Tibet's freedom.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-21|title=After Kanter's Tibet comments, Celtics blacked out in China|url=https://apnews.com/article/nba-sports-entertainment-business-media-7b77f2d01c84dc014efd61e9b2829a32|access-date=2024-07-07|website=AP News|language=en|archive-date=23 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523111740/https://apnews.com/article/nba-sports-entertainment-business-media-7b77f2d01c84dc014efd61e9b2829a32|url-status=live}} He also called Chinese President Xi Jinping a "dictator" on social media.{{Cite news|date=2021-10-21|title=Enes Kanter: Boston Celtics star under fire for Xi Jinping comments|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-58998423|access-date=2024-07-07|language=en-GB|archive-date=25 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525225121/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-58998423|url-status=live}} China accused Kanter Freedom of "clout-chasing" and "trying to get attention".{{Cite web|date=2021-11-24|title=Enes Kanter and the tangled web of the NBA, Nike, their biggest stars and China|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/enes-kanter-and-tangled-web-of-nba-nike-lebron-james-china-230916548.html|access-date=2024-07-07|website=Yahoo Sports|language=en-US|archive-date=8 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240708212811/https://sports.yahoo.com/enes-kanter-and-tangled-web-of-nba-nike-lebron-james-china-230916548.html|url-status=live}}

At the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans car race, a Taiwanese team was asked by event organizers to switch the Taiwanese national flag for the Chinese Taipei flag.{{cite web|last1=Ting-hsuan|first1=Tseng|last2=Yeh|first2=Joseph|title=Taiwan team asked to remove national flag before Le Mans car race|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/sports/202108220014|website=focustaiwan.tw|date=22 August 2021|publisher=Focus Taiwan|access-date=22 August 2021|archive-date=30 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130205923/https://focustaiwan.tw/sports/202108220014|url-status=live}}

The table below includes notable instances outside China where a government, company or other entity has either censored, or been censored on, a China-related issue.

{{sticky header}}

File:Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.png was established by overseas politicians in 2020 following PRC retaliation against criticism by individual politicians.]]

In 2010, Google opposed China's censorship policies, ultimately leaving the country.{{cite news|last1=Watts|first1=Jonathan|title=Google pulls out of China: what the bloggers are saying|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/jan/13/google-china-bloggers|access-date=11 October 2019|work=The Guardian|date=13 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011125241/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/jan/13/google-china-bloggers|archive-date=11 October 2019|url-status=live}} By 2017, the company had dropped its opposition, including planning a Chinese Communist Party{{nbh}}approved censored search engine named Project Dragonfly.{{cite news|last1=Gallagher|first1=Ryan|title=Google Plans to Launch Censored Search Engine in China, Leaked Documents Reveal|url=https://theintercept.com/2018/08/01/google-china-search-engine-censorship/|access-date=11 October 2019|work=The Intercept|date=1 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801120009/https://theintercept.com/2018/08/01/google-china-search-engine-censorship/|archive-date=1 August 2018|url-status=live}} Work on the project was terminated in 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-49015516|title=Google's Chinese search engine 'terminated'|date=17 July 2019|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=11 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010160242/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-49015516|archive-date=10 October 2019|url-status=live}}

In 2019, Comedy Central's animated sitcom South Park released the episode "Band in China", which satirised the self-censorship of Hollywood producers to suit Chinese censors and featured one character yelling "Fuck the Chinese government!".{{cite news|last1=Brito|first1=Christopher|title="South Park" creators offer fake apology to China after reported ban|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/south-park-band-in-china-fake-apology-nba-controversy-2019-10-08/|access-date=11 October 2019|publisher=CBS News|date=8 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011014942/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/south-park-band-in-china-fake-apology-nba-controversy-2019-10-08/|archive-date=11 October 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|last1=Bradley|first1=Laura|title=South Park Isn't Done Needling the Chinese government|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/10/south-park-china-chinese-censorship|access-date=11 October 2019|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=10 October 2019|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010145250/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/10/south-park-china-chinese-censorship|archive-date=10 October 2019|url-status=live}} This was followed by a mock apology from the show's creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, which also made light of a recent controversy involving the NBA's alleged appeasement of Chinese government censorship:

{{blockquote|Like the NBA, we welcome the Chinese censors into our homes and into our hearts. We too love money more than freedom and democracy. Tune into our 300th episode this Wednesday at 10! Long live the great Communist Party of China. May the autumn's sorghum harvest be bountiful. We good now China?}}

The show was banned in mainland China following the incident. Protesters in Hong Kong screened the episode on the city's streets.{{cite news|last1=Chu|first1=Karen|title=Notorious 'South Park' China Episode Screened on the Streets of Hong Kong|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/south-park-notorious-china-episode-screened-streets-hong-kong-1246561|access-date=11 October 2019|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=9 October 2019|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010213356/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/south-park-notorious-china-episode-screened-streets-hong-kong-1246561|archive-date=10 October 2019|url-status=live}} The musician Zedd was banned from China after liking a tweet from South Park.{{cite news|last1=Beach|first1=Sophie|title=Foreign Companies and the Internalization of Chinese Propaganda|url=https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2019/10/foreign-companies-and-the-internalization-of-chinese-propaganda/|access-date=15 March 2020|work=China Digital Times|date=11 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314231308/https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2019/10/foreign-companies-and-the-internalization-of-chinese-propaganda/|archive-date=14 March 2020|url-status=live}}

On 4 June 2020, politicians from eight democratic countries formed the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, an international cross-party alliance focused on concerns with the PRC and the Chinese Communist Party, including its attempts to censor or punish those making adverse comments.{{Cite news|last=Graham-Harrison|first=Emma|date=5 June 2020|title=Global alliance formed to counter China threat amid rising tensions|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/05/global-alliance-formed-to-counter-china-threat|access-date=6 June 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606040324/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/05/global-alliance-formed-to-counter-china-threat|archive-date=6 June 2020|url-status=live}} It is chaired by Iain Duncan Smith, former leader of the British Conservative Party.{{cite news|last1=Fisher|first1=Lucy|date=5 June 2020|title=MPs from eight nations voice fears over China|work=The Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/mps-from-eight-nations-voice-fears-over-china-b0m569898|url-status=live|access-date=6 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606103009/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mps-from-eight-nations-voice-fears-over-china-b0m569898|archive-date=6 June 2020}}

{{Main|Milk Tea Alliance}}

The Milk Tea Alliance describes an online democratic solidarity movement of netizens from Thailand, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.{{cite news|last1=Tanakasempipat|first1=Patpicha|title=Young Thais join 'Milk Tea Alliance' in online backlash that angers Beijing|url=https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN21X1ZT?__twitter_impression=true|work=Reuters|access-date=18 April 2020|archive-date=23 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823125410/https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN21X1ZT?__twitter_impression=true|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Bunyavejchewin|first1=Poowin|title=Will the 'Milk Tea War' Have a Lasting Impact on China-Thailand Relations?|url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/05/will-the-milk-tea-war-have-a-lasting-impact-on-china-thailand-relations/|website=thediplomat.com|publisher=The Diplomat|access-date=4 May 2020|archive-date=3 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503162509/https://thediplomat.com/2020/05/will-the-milk-tea-war-have-a-lasting-impact-on-china-thailand-relations/|url-status=live}} The Milk Tea Alliance arose in response to the increased presence of Chinese 50 Cent Party, Internet Water Army, and Little Pink trolls and nationalist commentators on social media.{{cite web|last1=McDevitt|first1=Dan|title='In Milk Tea We Trust': How a Thai-Chinese Meme War Led to a New (Online) Pan-Asia Alliance|url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/04/in-milk-tea-we-trust-how-a-thai-chinese-meme-war-led-to-a-new-online-pan-asia-alliance/|website=thediplomat.com|publisher=The Diplomat|access-date=18 April 2020|archive-date=18 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418213214/https://thediplomat.com/2020/04/in-milk-tea-we-trust-how-a-thai-chinese-meme-war-led-to-a-new-online-pan-asia-alliance/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Lau|first1=Jessie|title=Why the Taiwanese are thinking more about their identity|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/international/places/2020/05/taiwanese-independence-taiwan-china-beijing-identity-hong-kong|work=New Statesman|date=15 May 2020|access-date=15 May 2020|archive-date=21 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521210800/https://www.newstatesman.com/international/places/2020/05/taiwanese-independence-taiwan-china-beijing-identity-hong-kong|url-status=live}} Milk tea is used as a symbol of anti-PRC solidarity by south-east Asians as tea is historically consumed with milk in their region, while in mainland China it is not.{{cite web|last1=Deol|first1=Taran|title='We conquer, we kill': Taiwan cartoon showing Lord Rama slay Chinese dragon goes viral|url=https://theprint.in/world/we-conquer-we-kill-taiwan-cartoon-showing-lord-rama-slay-chinese-dragon-goes-viral/443814/|website=theprint.in|date=18 June 2020|publisher=The Print|access-date=18 June 2020|archive-date=18 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618192408/https://theprint.in/world/we-conquer-we-kill-taiwan-cartoon-showing-lord-rama-slay-chinese-dragon-goes-viral/443814/|url-status=live}}

The "Milk Tea Alliance" moniker emerged in 2020 after Chinese nationalist Internet commentators criticised the Thai actor Bright for "liking" an image on Twitter which referred to Hong Kong as a "country", and called for a boycott of his TV programme. Twitter users in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines joined Thai users in what The Telegraph called "a rare moment of regional solidarity".{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Nicola |title=#MilkTeaAlliance: New Asian youth movement battles Chinese trolls|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/03/milkteaalliance-new-asian-youth-movement-battles-chinese-trolls/|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=3 May 2020|access-date=7 August 2020|archive-date=2 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702050917/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/03/milkteaalliance-new-asian-youth-movement-battles-chinese-trolls/|url-status=live}} Australia has also been suggested as a member of the Milk Tea Alliance, although its link to milk tea is tenuous so the baby formula product Aptamil is used instead to represent it.{{cite web|last1=Everington|first1=Keoni|title=Photo of the Day: Australia joins Milk Tea Alliance with Taiwan|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3925084|work=Taiwan News|date=29 April 2020|access-date=30 April 2020|archive-date=1 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501044927/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3925084|url-status=live}} Following the 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes, India has also been included in some formulations of the Alliance with masala chai being their representative variety of milk tea.

Pallabi Munsi, writing in OZY, described the Milk Tea Alliance as "Asia's volunteer army rising against China's internet trolls."{{Cite web|last=Munsi|first=Pallabi|date=15 July 2020|title=The Asian Volunteer Army Rising Against China's Internet Trolls|url=https://www.ozy.com/around-the-world/the-asian-volunteer-army-rising-against-chinas-internet-trolls/334518/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729012850/https://www.ozy.com/around-the-world/the-asian-volunteer-army-rising-against-chinas-internet-trolls/334518/|archive-date=29 July 2020|access-date=30 July 2020|website=OZY}}

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