Uncertainties abound in this very political year in China. The Communist Party is installing new leaders later in 2017 to rule the country for another five years, and speculation is rife about who will be in and who will be out.

For many Chinese internet companies, one thing is certain: They are feeling a heavier hand from the government. And they know they should heed it.

Last week the internet regulator in Beijing ordered the country’s most popular internet portal, Tencent Holdings ’ QQ.com, to shut down its “Think Big” section, which ran commentaries by historians, economists, political scientists and other intellectuals. Three other major portals were told to close sections related to the military, international affairs and Taiwan.

The Beijing Internet Information Office, in a statement posted on a verified social-media account, explained that the portals violated regulations against conducting original reporting and that by doing so they provided news-and-information services that exceeded the scope of their business licenses.

While those rules have been on the books since 2005, running commentaries and coverage of less-controversial news about business, finance and international affairs are well-used workarounds. The portals need original content to stand out and attract readers.