Japan-related book publishing 'banned' in Beijing

Intensifying political tensions have begun to affect a wider range of Japan-related businesses in China through an apparent ban on book publishing in Beijing that may spread to other areas, Japanese publishing sources said Wednesday.

The sources said several Chinese publishers in Beijing were notified by authorities Friday that they must halt the planned publication of books written by Japanese or protected by Japanese copyrights, and books related to Japan that are being written by Chinese authors.