Chinese journalists have become increasingly daring in their reporting of sensitive issues here. But as a recent case reveals, they can still only go so far as they try to push the boundaries.

The case of Bao Yueyang, who was removed from his post as editor of the China Economic Times after giving the go-ahead to a report about an alleged vaccine scandal in Shanxi Province is causing growing controversy here.    

Bao, the publisher and Communist Party boss of the newspaper, was moved from his post after standing by the report, which accused health officials and business interests of colluding to create a monopoly on the vaccination system in Shanxi province. The monopoly was said to be worth nearly 9 million dollars a year.

The report told how vials were left in sweltering conditions in order to stop the government's quality assurance stickers peeling off, while complaints were ignored. It linked the mishandled vaccination vials with the deaths of four children and the illnesses of 74 others.

The report had been a major story in the Chinese press until authorities restricted reporting on Chinese websites and ordered media to use the official news agency Xinhua's reports.