China's customs has been encouraged by a media watchdog to conduct stricter luggage checks in order to prevent "harmful publication" from entering the country, according to state media firm Xinhua. Beijing is currently implementing a selective crackdown on foreign media to maintain social order.

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During a meeting held in the city of Zhuhai, the National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications urged customs authorities to inspect all the luggage entering the border at selected checkpoints. Xinhua cited a meeting circular saying the officials should check for "harmful publications."

Xinhua also said the circular did not give specific details to determine what publication is harmful. Stricter screening processes have already been implemented across the Hong Kong border to prevent dissident print publications from coming through.

Beijing had recently blocked four popular American TV shows from being shown on Chinese websites. The blocked shows include The Big Bang Theory. This ban caused criticism to spread among the show's Chinese fans.

China's campaign against foreign media threatens to affect the revenue of international content providers. It has also taken a chunk off the share values of several Chinese Internet firms such as Sina Corp. The latter operates the Chinese microblogging platform, Weibo Corp, as well as video sharing website Youku Tudou.

On Monday, Reuters reported that CCTV, a network owned by the central government, had acquired the rights to broadcast the blocked show The Big Bang Theory. This transaction has caused many to think that China is more concerned about the effect of the show on state-owned firms' revenue rather than the content itself.

Google and other foreign media and publishing firms have previously been blocked, banned, or lambasted by state media for delivering pornographic or immoral content. However, critics say the purpose of these campaigns is not really to prevent sexually-related content from entering the country. Rather, they say these initiatives are designed to prevent political criticism and protect the market share of Chinese media firms.