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WIU Professor Yong Tang published a new book detailing freedom of information in China.
Tang Publishes Book Detailing Freedom of Information in China
October 8, 2025
MACOMB, IL - - “ŗÓźÖ±²„ Illinois University Professor Yong Tang has published a new book, āFreedom of Information Law in China: From Imperial Court Dairies to Open Government Information Regulations.ā
Tang examines Chinaās first national freedom of information (FOI) law - Regulations of the Peopleās Republic of China on Open Government Information. The book traces the evolution of government secrecy and openness in China and reveals how an emperor of the Tang Dynasty helped inspire the worldās first FOI law and how China embraced foreign national FOI laws including the U.S. FOIA when the concept of freedom of information was exported to China and the country successfully enacted its own open records law in 2007.
āThis book aims to be a groundbreaking project in comparative media law studies. It shows from a freedom of information law perspective how Chinese and “ŗÓźÖ±²„ legal civilizations have been learning from each other for a long time. Itās an important story largely untold in “ŗÓźÖ±²„ academia, “ŗÓźÖ±²„ media and “ŗÓźÖ±²„ public discourse,ā Tang said. āThe book combines rigorous legal studies with numerous anecdotes, participant observation and first-hand interviews with Chinese legal scholars, lawyers, journalists and government officials.
Tang serves as director of the Journalism program within the newly established School of Communication and Media. His major areas of research are the First Amendment, freedom of information laws, media law and policy, international journalism and international communication.
āIn todayās climate of rising ultra-nationalism, isolationism, xenophobia and deglobalization, this work is essential reading for scholars, journalists, legal professionals, graduate students in international media law and anyone interested in Chinaās legal and information systems, as well as the interaction between Chinese and “ŗÓźÖ±²„ legal traditions,ā Tang said.
āFreedom of Information Law in China: From Imperial Court Dairies to Open Government Information Regulationsā was published by Palgrave Macmillan/Springer Nature and can be found at and at .
To learn more about WIUās School of Communication and Media, visit wiu.edu/communicationmedia.
Posted By: Aaron Viner, University Relations
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