China will block VPN for individuals

The Chinese government wants to oblige national Internet providers to block private access to the VPN from February 1, 2018, an anonymous source familiar with the situation said.

According to him, the instructions have already been received by the state-owned China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom, the country's largest communications companies.
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New restrictions can completely close the only way to access many sites blocked in the country . The Internet in China is one of the most regulated in the world. Foreign sites are blocked under the pretext of maintaining "social stability and public security." Secretary General Xi Jingping has a policy of “digital sovereignty.” Blocking paths bypassing the “Great Chinese Firewall” fully fits into this program.

VPN services in China are popular not only among foreigners, but also among businessmen working with foreign audiences and customers. However, companies providing such services, from a legal point of view, work in the gray zone. The Ministry of Communications in January of this year has already stated that companies should stop providing circumvention services for individuals, and use VPN only for business needs. Some VPN providers are already forced to close. So, GreenVPN informed customers that they are suspending work from July 1, "after a letter from the regulatory authorities."

Companies operating in China can connect to the uncensored Internet, but for this they must register with the operator, collect information about the use of the channel and transfer to the authorities.

UPD 2017.07.13:
Chinese authorities commented on a Bloomberg article :
“Legal access to the Internet will not be violated.
... Trade and foreign companies that need access to the global Internet can officially contact telecommunication companies and request dedicated channels or other tools. ”

In other words, companies will have access to the world Internet, and no one promises anything to private individuals.