China has launched a "spring campaign" against illegal and pirated publications that will last until May, as problems with such materials reemerged in some areas of the country.

An official with the national office responsible for combating pornographic and illegal publications said during the campaign, publications illegally compiled, published or reprinted will be confiscated, while illegal activities of smuggling overseas newspapers and periodicals will be stringently banned.

China's customs will intensify their examinations in order to locate passengers carrying illegal publications from overseas. The battle will also extend to the Internet, where online illegal publications and relevant information will be blocked, the official said.

Printing houses are banned from publishing illegal overseas publications and reprinting other illegal publications.

China previously launched a 100-day nationwide campaign against pirated audio and video products and computer software from July 15 to late October in 2006.

According to the official statistics, 19.46 million illegal publications were seized each month on average from July through September, more than double the monthly average for the January-June period last year.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2007)