Chinese government tells military to ignore internet in wake of coup talk
Source: Reuters
China's top military newspaper has told troops ignore rumours on the internet and steel themselves for "ideological struggle" – an apparent reference to talk of a coup as the ruling Communist party faces a leadership transition.
The Liberation Army Daily did not mention the outlandish rumours of a foiled junta that spread on the Internet in past weeks, after the ousting of Bo Xilai, an ambitious contender for a spot in the new central leadership to be settled later this year.
But in a sign of jitters in Beijing, the newspaper in a front-page commentary left no doubt the party leadership wants to inoculate People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops against rumours that could erode the authority of President Hu Jintao, who also serves as head of the party and chairman of the Central Military Commission, which commands the PLA.
Some websites and internet services were shut down or restricted as the regime rushed to stamp out the coup claims.
Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/06/china-military-ignore-internet-coup