beijing chinese distributors overseas publications must verify content legal china beijing say late sunday major western publisher block access content country cite local regulations springer nature publish science magazines nature scientific american say last week pull access less percent article china say regrettable necessary avoid content block publications import chinese market must accord chinese laws regulations publications import management company responsible carry content check publications state council information office chinese government information propaganda arm say fax response request comment send reuters last wednesday chinese government make similar statement britain cambridge university press cup august remove reposted 300 paper book review publish china quarterly journal chinese website president xi jinping beijing heighten censorship tighten control internet strengthen communist party authority academia institutions cup decision originally take request chinese government publisher say time cup late reverse decision outcry academics say decision impinge upon academic freedom springer nature statement last week deny decision limit content form editorial censorship say move local china take comply specific regulations enforce distributors publisher say comply would mean run risk ban distribute content china say interest author customers wide scientific academic communities least 1,000 springer nature article block china contain sensitive key word like taiwan tibet cultural revolution financial time report one springer nature china distributors state-run china national publications import export group corp immediately respond request comment contact reuters monday unclear decision springer nature block content follow request one china distributors number different distributors also unclear whether distributor request make behest chinese government china warn overseas content springer nature pull article