Chinese Wikipedia unblocked by government
Friday, July 4, 2008
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![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Wikipedia-logo-zh.png)
Image: Wikimedia Foundation - All Rights reserved.
According to reports, the government ofPeople's Republic of Chinahas stopped restricting access to theChinese Wikipediain some parts of the country starting on July 3.
The report originated on theWikimedia Foundation'smailing list quoting a website saying "Wikipedia Chinese version unblocked."Wikinewshas confirmed that the reports are accurate through discussion with people attempting to access Wikipedia from China.
Despite the report, there are still some issues with accessing the site according to readers of the site. Sources tellWikinewsthat although the English version is unblocked, the Chinese version still remains blocked or hard to access in many parts of the country. This comes after the Chinese unblocking of the all other language variations of Wikipedia in April.
Ian A. Holton, who is an administrator on the English Wikipedia, has confirmed that the Chinese Wikipedia is accessible in theLiaoning Province,although users inShanghai,Shenzhenand some inBeijingare still unable to access the site. The restriction in Beijing does not appear to cover the entire area: sources have toldWikinewsthe site can be accessed in many parts of Beijing.
There has been some doubt on whether Wikipedia will remain accessible after the Olympic games. Christiano Moreschi, another active contributor to the English Wikipedia, said that "I doubt this will last 5 minutes beyond the end of the closing ceremony of the Olympics."
TheInternational Olympic Committeewarned China in April that it wanted the internet freely accessible for the entire duration of theOlympic Summer Games.Unrestricted access is guaranteed to the 30,000 reporters and media staff expected for the Olympics underBeijing's'host city contract'.
Related
- "China lifts ban on non-Chinese versions of Wikipedia"—Wikinews,April 3, 2008
Sources
- "Wikipedia Chinese version unblocked"—Danwei,July 4, 2008
- Wikimedia Foundation. "Chinese Wikipedia unblocked in Mainland China"—Nabble,July 4, 2008
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