“Wikipedia blocked in China” the original uncensored article.

While the entire wikipedia is blocked by the Chinese government, wikipedia itself also deleted many important information about the blockage, it seems that China and wikipedia are working together.

here is the original uncensored article which wikipedia administrators do not want the world to know the truth.

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On several occasions, the government and [[Internet service provider]]s of the [[People's Republic of China]] (PRC) have blocked [[Wikipedia]] in [[mainland China]] due to [[Internet censorship in mainland China|strict censorship laws]] enacted by the PRC.

The blocks function in a similar way to a [[content filter]]. As with [[Internet censorship in mainland China|Internet censorship in the PRC]] in general, the territories of [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]], which have separate legal systems, are not affected. Wikimedia sites have been blocked at least three times in their history.

In April 2006, Chinese [[search engine]] company [[Baidu]] launched [[Baidu Baike]], a [[wiki]]-like [[Chinese language]] online encyclopedia, based in [[mainland China]]. Baidu Baike’s content policies differ from those of Wikipedia,<ref>{{zh icon}} {{cite web| url=http://www.baidu.com/search/baike_help.html#n7| title=百科原则| accessdate=2006-12-24| publisher=Baidu Baike}}</ref> and the site has not been subject to blocking. The encyclopedia contains more articles than all language editions of Wikipedia besides the English version.

In June 2007, the block was lifted except for the Chinese version of Wikipedia and a select number of articles (including [[Falun Gong]] and [[Tiananmen Square protests of 1989]]) which remain inaccessible to users in China.

==Blocks==
===First block===
The first block spanned [[June 2]] and [[June 21]], [[2004]]. It began when access to the [[Chinese Wikipedia]] from [[Beijing]] was blocked on the 15th anniversary of the [[Tiananmen Square protests of 1989]].

Possibly related to this occurrence, on [[May 31]] an article from the IDG News Service was published,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,116323,00.asp| title=Chinese Build Free Net Encyclopedia| accessdate=2006-12-24| publisher=PC WORLD}}</ref> discussing the Chinese Wikipedia’s treatment of the protests. The Chinese Wikipedia also has articles on various topics considered controversial within China, such as [[Taiwan independence]], written by contributors from Taiwan and elsewhere, [[Falun Gong]], the [[Tiananmen Square protests of 1989]], and so on. A few days after the initial block of Chinese Wikipedia, all [[Wikimedia]] sites were blocked in mainland China.

In response to the blocks, two [[sysop]]s on the Chinese Wikipedia, ‘Shizhao’ and ‘Mountain’, contacted their respective ISPs, and confirmed that the Wikimedia sites had been blocked. Shizhao’s ISP, China Science & Technology Net, expressed willingness to submit an appeal to lift the block. Shizhao and Mountain then drafted an appeal, which was submitted on [[June 15]], 2004. The appeal stated that Wikipedia was an encyclopedia that does not serve any political bias, strives to be neutral, and provides an avenue for foreigners to understand [[China]] and [[Chinese culture]]. The appeal also compared the Chinese Wikipedia’s coverage of controversial topics to coverage in existing encyclopedias in China, and suggested that the blocking of Wikipedia would prevent sysops from removing undesirable content. All the Wikimedia sites were unblocked between [[June 17]] and [[June 21]], [[2004]].

There was no explanation for the block, either before or after its occurrence. The block had an effect on the vitality of Chinese Wikipedia, which suffered sharp dips in various indicators such as the number of new users, the number of new articles, and the number of edits. In some cases, it took anywhere from 6 to 12 months in order for these to return to their levels of May 2004.

===Second block===
The second and less serious block lasted between [[September 23]] and [[September 27]], [[2004]]. During this 4-day period, access to Wikipedia was erratic or unavailable to some users in mainland China — this block was not comprehensive and some users in mainland China were never affected. The exact reason for the block was unknown, but it may have been linked with the closing down of [[YTHT BBS]], a popular [[Peking University]]-based BBS that was shut down a few weeks earlier for hosting overtly radical political discussions. Former users from the BBS had arrived en masse on Chinese Wikipedia. Chinese Wikipedians once again prepared a written appeal to regional ISPs, but the block was lifted before the appeal was actually sent out.

===Third block===
The third block began on [[19 October]] [[2005]]. Nearly a year later on [[10 October]] [[2006]], the block was partially lifted.

In response to the block, the [[:zh:|main page]] of the Chinese Wikipedia has added a message at the top directing any mainland China user who succeeds in getting through to a special [[:zh:Wikipedia talk:状况回报|status page]]. Dozens of editors from across [[mainland China]] have reported on the status page that they can only access Wikipedia using [[proxy servers]].

On [[21 October]] 2005, ‘Shizhao’ once again submitted an appeal to his ISP, and stated, “”If nothing goes wrong, the block should be lifted within one week.”” On [[October 24]], Shizhao posted, “”The block will be lifted by Wednesday [''[[October 26]]”]. According to procedure (the details of which are unknown), after the appeal is submitted, a reply will come within 3 business days, and my appeal has already been submitted by the ISP on Friday. My ISP has said that so far they haven’t encountered a case where an appeal has failed. This should be good news, but it’s still impossible to know the reason for the block.””

The appeal submitted strove to be closer to the position of the Chinese government than the first appeal submitted in 2004. It stated, “”… [t]he most effective approach is not to reject [this project] outside our borders, but to participate in it actively. If we block Wikipedia, we lose the opportunity to speak with the world with a Chinese voice, and allow forces such as evil cults and Taiwan independence [to] control the development of content in the project, thus presenting to the world a twisted [image of] China; as users, we lose a channel through which we could access knowledge, a channel whose importance is rising constantly; such an act [i.e. blocking] is no different from cutting away our own voice and tongue, or shutting our own eyes and ears; it is closing the doors to our country in the age of the internet.”” ([[:zh:Wikipedia:应对封禁/申告材料2|~Original text~]])

In the morning of [[31 October]] [[2005]], [[Chinese Standard Time]] (UTC +8), Wikipedians from all parts of mainland China began to report that they could access Wikipedia without using proxies. It was initially thought that the block had indeed been lifted, but later on the apparent “unblocking” was linked to the deployment of an [[LVS load balancer]] in front of the [[squid cache|squid]] in the Korean [[server cluster]], which changed the [[IP address]] of Wikimedia sites for users in China, thus circumventing the block. In any case, within a few hours normal access to Wikipedia was once again impossible.

There has been some discussion that a self-censored version could be made available to users in mainland China, and supporters argue that 99% of Wikipedia would remain intact. However, these ideas have not been put into practice.

===Unblocking and reblocking===
Beginning from [[October 10]], [[2006]], conflicting reports came in from different parts of China about a possible lifting of the block. The first report of a change was by a [[blogger]] in [[Liuzhou]], [[Guangxi]], who posted his finding to an online forum at about 6 pm on [[October 10]], [[2006]], [[Chinese Standard Time|Beijing Time]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.chinese-forums.com/showthread.php?t=13293| title=”Wikipedia Unblocked?” thread| accessdate=2006-12-24| publisher=Chinese-forums.com}}</ref> However, access appears to differ depending on location and Internet service provider as a result of more fine-grained blocking. According to initial reports by bloggers within China, [[China Netcom]] residential DSL in Beijing allowed access to English Wikipedia but denied access to Chinese Wikipedia. Meanwhile [[China Telecom]] DSL in [[Shanghai]] allowed access to both, as did [[CETC-CHINACOMM Communications Co. Ltd]] in Beijing. Various providers in [[Anhui]] blocked access to Chinese Wikipedia but not to the English version.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.andrewlih.com/blog/2006/10/11/china-partially-unblocks-wikipedia/| title=China PARTIALLY unblocks Wikipedia| accessdate=2006-12-24| publisher=andrewlih.com blog}}</ref> Posters to the [[Slashdot]] online forum who stated that they were in Beijing further noted that while they could access the English language version of the {{srlink|Tiananmen Square}} article, which includes a brief description of the 1989 protests, the {{srlink|Tiananmen Square protests of 1989}} article remained blocked.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://yro.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=200323&cid=16403351| title=”I’m In Beijing and Here I Go…”| accessdate=2006-12-24| publisher=Slashdot user perfectlynormalbeast}}</ref> There was a similar report that the article {{srlink|democracy}} was available on English Wikipedia, while {{srlink|Falun Gong}} was unavailable.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.danwei.org/internet/wikipedia_unblocked_but_is_nan.php| title=”Wikipedia unblocked, but is Nanny throttling Youtube uploads?” | accessdate=2006-12-24| publisher=DANWEI blog user}}</ref> In contrast, [[Reporters Without Borders]] stated on [[12 October]] that English Wikipedia appeared entirely unblocked, including the article on the 1989 protests, but that the Chinese language version was unaccessible for most Chinese. The advocacy organization criticized the government shift as meant “to appease its critics abroad while continuing to censor the information available to its own population,” while congratulating “those in charge of Wikipedia, especially [[Jimmy Wales]]”.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=15374| title=”China: Government unblocks access to Wikipedia’s English-language version” | accessdate=2006-12-24| publisher=Reporters Without Borders press release}}</ref> Wikipedia users state that other language editions, including [[German Wikipedia|German]], [[Japanese Wikipedia|Japanese]], and [[Korean Wikipedia|Korean]] are available at this time.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia%3AVillage_pump_%28news%29&diff=81562442&oldid=81113373| title=Wikipedia:Village pump (news) | accessdate=2006-12-24| publisher=Statement by Wikipedia user m.e.}}</ref>

On [[10 November]] [[2006]], blogger [[Andrew Lih]] reported that Chinese Wikipedia appeared to have been fully unblocked.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.andrewlih.com/blog/2006/11/10/chinese-wikipedia-now-fully-unblocked/| title=”Chinese Wikipedia now fully unblocked?” | accessdate=2006-12-24| publisher=andrewlih.com blog}}</ref> Lih confirmed the full unblocking several days later and offered a partial analysis of the effects based on the rate of new account creation on Chinese Wikipedia. Prior to the unblocking, 300-400 new accounts were created on Chinese Wikipedia daily. In the four days since the unblocking, the rate of new registrations more than tripled to over 1,200 daily, jumping into the second fastest growing Wikipedia after the English version. Similarly, there were 75% more articles created in the week ending on November 13th than during the week before. Coming on the same weekend that Chinese Wikipedia passed the 100,000 article mark, Lih predicted that the second 100,000 would come quickly but that the existing body of Chinese Wikipedia users would have their hands full teaching the new users and teaching them basic Wikipedia policies and norms.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.andrewlih.com/blog/2006/11/13/chinese-wikipedias-surge-in-growth/| title=”Chinese Wikipedia’s Surge in Growth” | accessdate=2006-12-24| publisher=andrewlih.com blog}}</ref>

On [[16 November]], [[2006]], [[Reuters]] news agency reported the main page of the [[Chinese language]] version of Wikipedia ([[:zh:|zh.wikipedia.org]]) could be displayed and searches for apolitical terms turned up results, but some subjects remained blocked, such as “[[Tiananmen Square protests of 1989|June 4]]”.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyID=2006-11-16T131905Z_01_PEK60024_RTRUKOC_0_US-CHINA-INTERNET.xml&src=111606_0854_ARTICLE_PROMO_also_on_reuters| title=”Wikipedia unblocked in China after year-long ban”| accessdate=2006-12-24| publisher=Reuters}}</ref> However, subsequent reports suggested that both the Chinese and English versions had been reblocked the next day on [[17 November]]. It is not yet confirmable if the unblocking that occurred in October and November 2006 was due to technical problems of the so-called “[[Great Firewall of China]]” or for any other reasons.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.danwei.org/internet/the_nanny_changes_her_mind_wik.php| title=”The Nanny changes her mind: Wikipedia blocked again”| accessdate=2006-12-24| publisher=DANWEI}}</ref>

On [[15 June]] [[2007]], the block was lifted, with the exception several “sensitive” articles and the Chinese Wikipedia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.computerworlduk.com/management/online/new-media/news/index.cfm?newsid=3540 |title=English Wikipedia unblocked in China |accessdate=2007-06-20}}</ref> On [[25 July]] [[2007]], the Chinese Wikipedia was unblocked as well, only to be blocked again shortly thereafter.

The number of blocked articles is slowly increasing, and now includes several talk pages. Users in China who attempt to access a blocked article or any page on the Chinese Wikipedia are prevented from accessing any Wikimedia site for a period of sixty seconds.

==[[Chinese mainland]] administrators working under blockage==

Over one billion Chinese are blocked from using the Wikipedia. Mainland China has the largest number of administrators for the [[Chinese Wikipedia]], total of 30. Even though the Chinese government has spent billions of [[RMB]] on building the [[Golden Shield Project]] to prevent people to get connected to sites such as wikipedia, the mainland Chinese administrators are able to bypass this expensive project without any problems.

The capital city – [[Beijing]] has 6 administrators, [[Shanghai]] has 5, [[Guangdong]] province has 7, [[Hunan]] province has 1, [[Jiangsu]] province has 3, [[Shanxi]] province has 1, [[Shandong]] province has 1, [[Zhejiang]] province has 1, [[Heilongjiang]] province has 1, [[Hubei]] has 1, [[Hebei]] has 1, other area has 1. <ref>[http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:管理员名单 List of Moderators]</ref>

One administrator from the capital city Beijing [http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Shizhao Shizhao] is also a Wikipedia Bureaucrat. Three others from Guangdong are also [[Wikipedia:Bureaucrats]]. At the same time, none of the sixteen administrators from [[Hong kong]] is a bureaucrat.

The administrators in several Chinese cities are able to openly advertise for meetings and have met in person. No one has reported any police spying activities during those meetings.

==Chinese Wikipedia self-censorship==
{{main|Chinese Wikipedia}}
November 30th, 2006, CBS published an online article named: [http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2006/11/30/publiceye/entry2218394.shtml Is Wikipedia China Really Wikipedia?]

In December 2006, the [[International Herald Tribune]] Asia-Pacific<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/11/29/news/wiki.php "Chinese-language Wikipedia presents different view of history"] By Howard W. French / The New York Times, Published: November 29, 2006.</ref> published an article that sensitive topics get gentle treatment on Chinese Wikipedia.

{{cquote|But on sensitive questions of China’s modern history or on hot-button issues, the Chinese version diverges so dramatically from its English counterpart that it sometimes reads as if it were approved by the censors themselves.

For some, the Chinese version of Wikipedia was intended as just such a resource, but its tame approach to sensitive topics has sparked a fierce debate in the world of online mavens over its objectivity and thoroughness.

On the evidence of entries like this, for the moment, the fight over editorial direction of Wikipedia in Chinese is being won by enthusiasts who practice self-censorship.}}

== Reaction ==
Chinese Wikipedians have expressed fears about the detrimental effects that a permanent ban would have. First of all, the block deprives a useful resource from the majority of Chinese speakers in the world. Moreover, since mainland Chinese form a significant portion of the Chinese Wikipedia community (46% of all users in March 2005), a long-term block could severely stunt the growth of Wikipedia similar to the June 2004 block. Finally, as the presence of contributors from multiple communities and viewpoints has helped in ensuring neutrality in some controversial topics (e.g. [[Taiwan independence]]), the sudden removal of one community could exacerbate [[systemic bias]] on the Chinese Wikipedia.

As of now, there is a general anti-Chinese government bias on the majority of articles included in the Chinese version of Wikipedia compare to the English version, likely due to the bans. This bias is likely to fuel further bans in mainland China.

== Circumvention of the block ==
Technically adept Internet users in China are currently able to circumvent the block fairly easily (using almost any [[anonymous proxy]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Advice_to_users_using_Tor_to_bypass_the_Great_Firewall|title=”Wikipedia:Advice to users using Tor to bypass the Great Firewall|accessdate=2007-02-14| publisher=en.wikipedia.org}}</ref> They may view but not edit Wikipedia in this manner, as a proposed Wikipedia policy ([[Wikipedia:No open proxies]]) prevents users from editing using open proxies and many administrators block open proxies in a way so even registered users can not use them to edit articles.

[[Psiphon]] software, announced in December 2006, claims to allow Internet-blocked countries such as China to access [[Wikipedia]]. Michael Hull, Psiphon’s lead engineer, told [[CBC News]] Online, “We’re aiming at giving people access to sites like Wikipedia.”<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2006/12/01/censor-tool.html| title=”Tool to circumvent internet censorship set to launch”| accessdate=2006-12-24| publisher=cbc.ca}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=35em}}

== See also ==
*[[Chinese Wikipedia]]
*[[Internet censorship in mainland China]]
*[[Golden Shield Project]]
*[[Politics of the People's Republic of China]]
*[[Human rights in the People's Republic of China]]
*[[Baidu Baike]]

== External links ==
{{wikinews|Chinese ban of Wikimedia enters tenth week}}
{{meta|China block}}

*[http://zh.wikipedia.org/ Chinese Wikipedia]

News reports
*[http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=15374 Reporters without Borders article]
*[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/16/technology/16wikipedia.html?ex=1318651200&en=ff16408103d54a91&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss New York Times Article]
*[http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2006/11/30/publiceye/entry2218394.shtml CBS News Article]
*[http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyID=2007-06-20T054446Z_01_PEK218139_RTRIDST_0_TECH-PRIVACY-CHINA-COL.XML Reuters Canada Article]
*[http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/56E47A37-840F-4CC3-B2FA-DE5F839F7ACE.htm Aljazeera Article].
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6154444.stm ''China 'unblocks' Wikipedia site''] (BBC News)
*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/19/AR2006021901335.html ''Reference Tool On Web Finds Fans, Censors''] (Washington Post Foreign Service)
*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/19/AR2006021900851.html ''Full Text: Cui Objects to Wikipedia Shutdown''] (translated by The Washington Post Beijing Bureau)
*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/18/AR2006021800672.html ''Full Text: Shi's Defense of Wikipedia''] (translated by The Washington Post Beijing Bureau)
*[http://www.cnn.com/interactive/world/0603/explainer.china.internet/frameset.exclude.html China and Internet Censorship] (CNN.com)
*[http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/69963 Authorities block access to online encyclopaedia] (International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX))
* [http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/video.php?id=1089 Wikipedia Versus China] ”[[The Hour]]” with [[George Stroumboulopoulos]], interview with Jimmy Wales, 13 Oct. 2006