China blocks LiveJournal

Companies like Google, Yahoo and Microsoft have sucked up to China's totalitarian regime, arguing that by helping to get some websites into China, they will gently lead it to democracy. Yeah, right. How's that working out for ya, Mr Chinese Dissident LiveJournaller?

The timing of the block coincides with the National People's Congress meeting in Beijing, says Xiao Qiang, a Chinese dissident and founder of the China Digital Times.

According to Xiao, the event is often accompanied by stepped up security and a worsening of China's notorious internet censorship policies.

"The security is tight and the control is upgraded because they don't want (political voices)," says Xiao. While he is not sure the block is related to the March event, it's very possible, he says.