Periodicals in China

I am in Beijing at the moment, where the International Federation of the Periodical Press (FIPP) is holding its 36th World Magazine Conference. One can't help wondering the connection between this "timely" conference and the WTO complaint against China on trading rights and distribution services for foreign periodicals.

In a speech by Director-General Liu of the General Administration of Press and Publication, he stressed that both local and foreign media enjoy "equal protection in China" so long as they carry out "lawful businesses".