China blocked access to YouTube after a video appeared on the site allegedly showing Chinese soldiers abusing people in a Tibetan monastery. This is another example of Beijing restricting access to unwanted resources, including foreign media and sites linked to Taiwan and Wikipedia. Despite no official confirmation, according to BBC News, most users in China can no longer open YouTube.
YouTube is far from the only resource outside China whose access has been blocked. Earlier, Beijing cut off access to The New York Times, BBC News, and Voice of America.Authorities regularly block various websites, in particular sites whose authors advocate Taiwan’s independence, as well as some Wikipedia articles. As part of a campaign against internet pornography that began on January 5, Chinese authorities shut down 1,250 websites and arrested 41 people.
This time, Chinese authorities blocked access to YouTube because shortly before that a video appeared there showing hundreds of soldiers dressed in Chinese army uniforms storming a Tibetan monastery, while several soldiers beat a man with batons.
In another segment, soldiers also kick, beat with batons, and strangle several people lying on the ground, including one monk. Some of the victims have their hands tied, and several people are unconscious.
Beijing does not confirm the blocking of the popular resource; however, according to BBC News, most Chinese people cannot access YouTube. According to representatives of China’s Foreign Ministry, the authorities are not afraid of the internet.