China's government denied the arrest of any individual for "just releasing his comment on the Internet", implying that any online comment shouldn't challenge nation's regulations and laws.

"Since 2000, China has enacted serial regulations and laws for Internet service providers, by which China manages its Internet market in line with international conventions," said Liu Zhengrong, an official with the Internet Affairs Bureau of the State Council Information Office.

Liu gave the remark in response to questions raised by foreign reporters who had expected him to confirm a case in which reportedly a Chinese dissident was arrested for releasing comment on the Internet at a press conference held on Tuesday.

"It's common that some websites deleted law-breaking content from the webpage, for many international news providers, such as the New York Times and Washington Post, have similar claims in their websites that netizen's comment should comply with relevant laws," he said.

"It is unfair to slam website's deletion of harmful content in China which websites in other countries like the United States regularly do," the official said, "It is double-standard."

Liu said the management of the Internet should not be an obstacle for the development of new technology and the public Internet users should be the master in management.

"China has actively advocated professional guilds' participation in Internet self-discipline and lots of problems have been resolved with their self-discipline work," he said.

Liu also said the Internet has developed in China for a relatively short time and China is ready to learn other countries' success in managing the Internet market.

The authorities will protect foreign web companies' legitimate interests and rights in China, he said, noting that China is not "controlling" but "regulating" the development of the Internet.

"Every market should have some rules for developing in a good order," Liu said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2006)