China ends retaliation on social media sites

China lifted its three-day block on 16 of the country’s Twitter-like services, including the two largest, which are Sina’s and Tencent’s microblogging sites.

China said it carried out the ban on the sites’ commenting function because microbloggers were using the sites to spread conspiracy theories and rumors about the disappearance of politican Bo Xilai on March 15. Bo was once mayor of Dalia, the party chief of Chongqing, and thought to be a likely candidate for the China’s elite Politburo Standing Committee. Bo vanished a short time after his former chief of police, Wang Lijun, had also been reported missing after he attempted to seek asylum in the United States through a consulate. The government said Wang had left due to stress. Bo’s disappearance came to light when the microbloggers posted the news. China retaliated for what it called illegal chatter about Bo’s disappearances and claims of military operations, weapons fire, and even a purported coup.

Read more: Wikinews.org