MIIT preps netizens for the slow lane

In the run-up to the Communist Party confab next month, Chinese authorities have embarked on their usual pre-event crackdowns, hauling newspaper editors into line, shipping dissidents back home, etc.

Some Chinese web users have complained in recent days that their connections have slowed down and have even speculated that the web might be severely blocked or even shut down during the meeting.

At a government press conference Thursday, MIIT chief engineer Zhu Hongren dismissed this as 'rumour'.

He could have gone on to say that the internet would function normally over the congress period. But no, between the lines of dense bureaucratese he seems to be clearly signalling that service is going to be affected:

“In order to guarantee the secure and smooth communications during the 18th party congress, the relevant work in the aspect of safeguarding communications has been launched, ensuring unimpeded communications network and  equipment, including the end-user equipment of every government agency and user.

"Now, every communications operator has all stepped up their protection of networks and equipment and their overhaul efforts to ensure unimpeded networks over the period of the 18^th Party Congress and that no problems whatsoever will emerge."

In other words: warning, internet roadworks ahead. With all that extra maintenance and surveillance your internet connections are going to get weird over the next two weeks.

Not that that's news to users behind the GFW. But refreshing to have some acknowledgement.

Original text (Chinese) is here.