The Glorious People's Republic of China has been hacking around with online versions of  President Barack Obama's inauguration speech. China's media censor has been visiting blog and news sites with orders to remove references in the speech to communism and dissent.

The quote which seems to have floored them was this one "Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions.” But it all backfired when the lines omission from Chinese translations drew even more attention to the words on Internet forums.

When the State broadcaster China Central Television broadcast the speech live the channel cut to an awkwardly smiling news reader when the words were said. The other quote that got them cross was "To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”

China's two biggest Internet portals Sina and Sohu omitted the word communism from the translations of the speech on their websites and cut the line about dissent entirely.