The Internet in the People's Republic of China

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China logs on to the Internet
The Economist, 7 January 1995. Direct commercial links to the Internet due to begin in January, 1995.
State Council Adopts Draft Rules To Regulate Internet
China News Digest, 3 January 1996. China's State Council has adopted draft rules to govern Internet links to overseas computer information networks. The use of technology to filter out offensive political and pornographic content. Computer information networks are infrastructure useful for the spread of information for China's economy, but there must also be proper controls.
China Tightens Control on Internet
China News Digest, 22 January 1996. In December 1995, the State Council decided to sharply limit the number of gateways to the International Internet.
The Net in the PRC
A dialog on the H-Asia list, February 1996. A dialog on the H-Asia list, February 1996. Report of ready inexpensive Internet access, but congestion due to demand. Danger of government restriction of Internet access.
Controls on Internet Access Being Abandoned
China News Digest, 15 December 1997. Despite previous efforts by the government to limit domestic access to the internet, more and more Chinese people can obtain full worldwide internet access, and the number of individual and commercial subscribers in China is mushrooming. The government commitment to the Internet for development has outweighed its concern for polluting content.
Dissidence in cyberspace worries Beijing
By William J. Dobson, San Jose Mercury News, 28 June 1998. Dissidents call for democracy on the Internet. Foreign intervention by the Tunnel computerized samizdat and the exile government of Tibet. Chinese laws against organizing political opposition or promoting feudal superstition on the Internet. Neverthess, you can still access Playboy in China. Massive project of Internet development.
PRC Internet: Cheaper, More Popular And More Chinese
An October 1998 report from U.S. Embassy Beijing by David Cowhig. Chinese efforts to popularize and boost the Chinese language presence on the Internet through a low-cost domestic-only service, a convenient non-registration Internet service added to the telephone bill, and increased Chinese language content will likely push the total number of Chinese users to over 5 million by the year 2000. It may also limit the globalizing effect of Internet.
Authorities Close Down Web Sites for Opposition Publications
China News Digest, 3 September 2001. Authorities closed down the China Bulletin and the Tianya Zongheng Internet Forum because they oppose China's reversion to capitalism [brief].
China Develops Technology to Access Internet Via Power Line
Xinhua, 29 January 2002. Use of power grid for Internet, the 10MBPS digitized power line (DPL), is expected to rapidly increase Internet usage in China and computer control of electrical equipment. The technology is now ready for commercial use.
Net lessons from China
By Daniel Tynan, CNET via DigAfrica, 14 March 2002. The future of Internet access does not lay in the U.S., but in China. Based on interview with the CEO of CBCom, China's largest private ISP. Contrasts with the U.S. situation today. Far more cellular users in China now than in the U.S. In about five years, Chinese—not English—will be the most common spoken language for Netizens. It won't be long before China dominates the Net.
China's Family Internet Population World's Second Largest
Xinhua, 24 April 2002. A possible 56.6 million Chinese could surf the net with their families, making the China family Internet population, second only to the United States. Nielsen/NetRatings survey. More than 40 percent of surfers use the Internet mainly for news and sending emails. More than 20 percent said they used the Internet for downloading software, listening to music and checking out on-line products.
Internet: Bliss and Pain to Chinese
Xinhua, 28 June 2002. The country's burgeoning cyber cafes. Young people are getting used to receiving education, dates, shopping and playing games online. The Internet makes it possible for ordinary people to take part in government decisions and law making. Growth of e-commerce and job searching. But young people can be ensnared in a virtual community with serious affects on health and development. Good management needed to limit the ill effects of Internet.
China's Internet Industry Wants Self-Discipline
Xinhua, 26 March 2002. Chinese Internet business players sign a public pledge to promote self-discipline in the country's Internet industry. The basic principles of self-discipline are patriotism, observance of the law, fairness and trustworthiness. Laws affect Internet usage, but so far no laws specific to Internet management.