The Chinese government has banned individuals and organizations from providing meteorological survey venues and information to overseas services without approval.

The Method on Foreign-related Meteorological Exploration and Data Management was jointly released by the China Meteorological Administration and the National Administration for Protection of State Secrets.

The regulation, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2007, bans foreign-related meteorological exploration stations from military areas and regions that are either closed or crucial to national security.

Zheng Guoguang, deputy director of the China Meteorological Administration, said more foreign organizations and individuals were entering China for meteorological exploration.

"Some of them are illegal, which not only infringes on China's sovereignty, but also poses a menace to national security," he said.

The administration said 20 foreign-related meteorological exploration activities have been reported since 2000, and 16 were illegal.

Source: Xinhua