China, the Internet and Democracy

Xiao Qiang: The Development and the State Control of the Chinese Internet :: China Digital Times (CDT) 中国数字时代

Building a new Chinese Wall in cyberspace is proving to be a rather mammoth undertaking.

Nevertheless, this is what the authorities in China are trying to do. Very large resources evidently goes into this effort, but ultimately it seems bound for failure.

Xiao Qiang is Director of the China Internet Project at the University of California in Berkeley, and recently detailed his views on the ongoing Chinese efforts.

It's interesting in its details - but even more in its conclusions.

Eventually, says Xiao Qiang, the attempt will fail, and the spreading of information through the Internet will help to facilitate the transition of China to a more open and democratic society.

That's when the real peaceful rise of China will start!

We have seen what 20 million people of Taiwan can achieve in a free and democratic Chinese society.

In the rest of China, there are app 65 times as many people.

Think of 65 Taiwans in the global economy, and today's trade disputes over T-shirts will look like peanuts.