Information control over the national minority affairs in the People's Republic of China after 1978

The study deals with the historical development of information policy in relation to national minorities living on the territory of the People’s Republic of China. In particular, mechanisms of censorship and control of public information and public discussion of ethnic issues are analyzed. When the reform and opening-up policy had started (1978-2012), information policy was implemented to reduce interethnic tensions and enhance the legitimacy of the government. Information policy system in the PRC is a unified extended and distributed complex managing all social institutions. Strict control over the national minority affairs maintains the exported image of interethnic harmony in the country, forms the national identity of the PRC, and influences the self-determination of its minorities.