There's no national security without web security: China's Xi calls for stricter internet control 

President Xi Jinping has called for tightened internet laws to ensure social and economic stability in the country. In a recent statement, the Chinese President noted that there can be no national security without web security.

The Jinping-led government is known for monitoring and censoring online content in the country. Worried about the growing influence of the internet on the younger generation China has increasingly tightened its grip on the internet.

"Without web security, there's no national security, there's no economic and social stability, and it's difficult to ensure the interests of the broader masses," Xinhua cited Xi as saying.

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"We cannot let the internet become a platform for disseminating harmful information and stirring up trouble with rumours," he added in comments made at a cybersecurity conference in Beijing.

Earlier this month, reports emerged stating that a Chinese microblogging website, Sina Weibo, was removing "homosexual" content from its platform. The move, which enraged the online gay community in China, prompted a storm of online protests. The hashtag "I am gay" took over the Chinese social media.

The ruling Communist Party has been aiming to purge the internet of content that deviates from its "core values of socialism".

The Chinese kingpins, who sought to get rid of the presidential term limit for General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, made headlines a few months back for reportedly banning the English alphabet 'N' and recently the world-famous cartoon character, the honey-loving bear Winnie the Pooh from its online territories.

Letter 'N' was temporarily banned. Many suggested Chinese censors targetted the mathematical expression of disapproval -- as the expression “N > 2” in mathematics has 'N' as an unknown signifier for an unknown quantity, here referring to Xi’s possible presidential tenure.

China is also looking to take a leading role globally in internet regulation and technology more broadly, which has come into sharp focus amid a trade standoff with the United States and an arms race over technology.

(With inputs from Reuters)