Taiwan's top security official says China's planned overhaul of its internet information rules is a move toward total control of speech — bad news for Chinese citizens and a new legal weapon aimed at Taiwan.

• China is rewriting its rules for internet information services, tightening what people can post and read.
• Taiwan's national security chief Joseph Wu compared the old and new versions and called the intent an Orwellian grab for control over thought and speech.
• The bigger worry for Taipei: the rules could be used to chase and punish critics outside China's borders.
• Wu warned the new regime gives Beijing another tool for "lawfare" against Taiwan — using legal claims to pressure and intimidate.

Outlook: Expect Beijing to finalize the tighter rules and Taiwan to keep pushing the case internationally that they enable cross-border repression.