30 Mar 2001

Growing Influence of the Internet in China
USEST, U.S. Embassy Beijing, China
Supplied note: "The Internet is revolutionizing the way Chinese communicate and interact. Government and business leaders recognize the medium as a key tool for economic reform, and encourage e-commerce and information technology investment. Intellectuals, dissidents, non-governmental groups -- and the Chinese government itself -- have all embraced the Internet to spread information, ideas and opinions. Authorities have reacted to limit 'dangerous' content, and many are deterred from writing or seeking out sensitive material. Many others, however, see Beijing's efforts as speed bumps, not insurmountable barriers. Even the Chinese press is finding the Internet an important tool for circumventing otherwise tight controls. As China's market economy develops, the Internet will almost certainly become a more important, positive force in facilitating rights of Chinese users to be informed, and to be heard."
[A Mar 2001 report from U.S. Embassy Beijing. A follow up on Jan 2000 report "China's Internet 'Information Skirmish'" (www.usembassy-china.org.cn/english/sandt/webwar.htm) - ed.]
URL http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/english/sandt/netoverview.html
Link reported by: David Cowhig (dcowhig@public3.bta.net.cn)
* Resource type [news - documents - study - corporate info. - online guide]: Study
* Scholarly usefulness [essential - v.useful - useful - interesting - marginal]: V.Useful