In follow up to the hacking of Google by Chinese hackers, the US government has taken up the issue of Internet Freedom and in a speech, the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton specifically named China.

The Chinese complained about the speech.

I found the Chinese arguments interesting, but weak:

• The Chinese Internet is open
• The American demand for an unfettered Internet was a form of information imperialism
• The U.S. campaign for uncensored and free flow of information on an unrestricted Internet is a disguised attempt to impose its values on other cultures in the name of democracy,
• the United States employs the Internet as a weapon to achieve worldwide hegemony

Note the use of the word "imperialism"

The question is what will happen now:

• Will US Chinese relations be hurt?
• Will this start a trade war?
• Is Google going to leave China?
• Will Chinese citizens get upset about the censoring of the Internet?

References:

• China Says U.S. Criticism of Its Internet Policy Harms Ties

Labels: china's future