The Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China is an internal division of the Communist Party of China, and therefore is not formally considered to be a Government of the People's Republic of China. Nevertheless, it is the de facto highest office to enforce media censorship and control in China, as well as in charge of the propaganda in the People's Republic of China, even though no state law explicitly gives it such authority. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (Chinese: 中国共产党中央委员会 pinyin: Zhōngguó Gòngchǎndǎng Zhōngyāng Wěiyuánhuì) is the highest authority within the Communist Party of China between Party Congresses. ... The Communist Party of China (CPC) (official name) also known as Chinese Communist Party (CCP) (Simplified Chinese: 中国共产党; Traditional Chinese: 中國共産黨; Pinyin: Zhōngguó Gòngchǎndǎng) is the ruling political party of the Peoples Republic of China. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Central Peoples Government. ... The Rhodesia Herald of September 21, 1966. ... Chinese poster saying: Chairman Mao is the Red sun in our hearts. ...

Its scope is to give instructions to the media on what is and what is not to be said about certain "delicate" issues, like Taiwan, Tibet, etc., that can affect state security, or the rule of the Communist Party. Tibet (older spelling Thibet; Tibetan: བོད་, Bod, pronounced pö in Lhasa dialect; Chinese: ; pinyin: Xīzàng or Simplified Chinese: 藏区; Traditional Chinese: {{{1}}}; pinyin: {{{p}}} [the two names are used with different connotations; see Name section below]) is a region in Central Asia and the home of the Tibetan people. ... Security agency is an organization which conducts intelligence activities for the internal security of a nation, state or organization. ...

These guidelines are not known to the public, but are communicated to media workers via secret bulletins. Such directives are considered imperative, and are enforced by disciplines within the Party, as all media in China are required to be loyal to the Party, and are to serve as propaganda organs for the Party in principle. Operational and reporting freedom has significantly increased in the Chinese media in the recent decade. However, open defiance against the Central Propaganda Department directives is rare, as dissenting media organizations or journalists risk severe punishment, including restructuring, closure and/or dismissal from post. It has been suggested that Propaganda in the United States be merged into this article or section. ...

It's not unusual that Chinese journalists disclosing the secret Propaganda Department directives to foreign media be charged with the very grave accusation of divulging state secrets. Classified information is information to which access is restricted by law or corporate rules to particular hierarchical classes of people. ...