China Blocks YouTube

Jacksonville – Without explanation, China has once again blocked video sharing web site YouTube.

First blocked by the Chinese government just about a year ago during the riots in Tibet, users attempting to access the site early Wednesday morning were met with a message that YouTube’s servers were taking too long to respond. Events in Tibet may be at the heart of China’s decision to block YouTube, which is owned by Google, this time as well. A Tibetan exile group released a video allegedly showing Tibetans being kicked and beaten by Chinese police during and after the riots. Speculation is that the Chinese government is attempting control access to the video.

Although the official Chinese news agency says the video has been doctored to influence the international community, the Tibetan government in exile claims the footage is a rare look at police beating protesters and establishing a paramilitary presence in Tibet’s capital, Lhasa.

China has routinely restricted access to websites and broadcasts that features coverage of sensitive political or policy issues, but has so far not addressed the latest YouTube blocking incident.