No end to the dispute over internet censorship in China

 The dispute over Chinese internet censorship during the Olympic Games continues: The spokesman for the Chinese organizing committee, Sun Weide, reiterated on Thursday that Beijing would stick to its measures. Only some websites will be blocked, Weide was quoted as saying by SDA. Like other countries, China controls the Internet in accordance with national laws. It does not allow websites that spread illegal news or harm the national interest. On Wednesday, Beijing had admitted to restricting Internet access for foreign journalists, contrary to earlier promises (see ). The human rights organization Amnesty International (AI) held the International Olympic Committee (IOC) partly responsible for the censorship. The IOC had failed with its principle of "quiet diplomacy", said AI China expert Verena Harpe. There had been a window of opportunity in which it was clear how important it was to the Chinese that the Games succeed. The IOC should have exerted pressure during this window of opportunity, but it did not do so. The international journalist organizations RSF and the International Federation of Journalists also protested against the censorship.