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China
Background
The People ’ s Republic of China (PRC) is a one-party state ruled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Since the opening of its economy under the leadership of Deng
Xiaoping in the 1980s, the country has undergone drastic changes. These changes are
especially apparent in the information communication technology (ICT) sector, which
has become a subject of considerable signifi cance within PRC policy and discourse.
1
With the total number of Chinese netizens surpassing 450 million at the end of 2010,
the Internet has become increasingly embedded in Chinese society and progressively
more central to the fl ow of information within and across Chinese borders.
2
Although recent and current administrations have emphasized the importance of
Internet development, Chinese policymakers are also wary of the potentially crippling
effects that these changes could have on the CCP ’ s ability to contain sensitive or
threatening information.
3 As changing dynamics in China ’ s relationship with the
international community present new opportunities for increased dialogue, the CCP
has focused signifi cant energy on developing new ways of maintaining close regulation of the information accessed and disseminated within the PRC.
Since 2008, several milestones in China ’ s development, domestic politics, and
foreign relations have presented new challenges to the PRC government, and authorities have responded by launching rigorous campaigns to contain communications,
monitor and control citizens ’ activities, and outweigh public criticism through proactive counterinformation campaigns.
KEY INDICATORS
GDP per capita, PPP (constant 2005 international dollars)
6,200
Life expectancy at birth, total (years)
73
Literacy rate, adult total (percent of people age 15+)
93.7
Human Ddevelopment Index (out of 169)
89
Rule of Law (out of 5)
2.2
Voice and Accountability (out of 5)
0.8
Democracy Index (out of 167)
136 (Authoritarian regime)
Digital Opportunity Index (out of 181)
77
Internet penetration rate (percentage of population)
28.9
Source by indicator : World Bank 2009, World Bank 2008a, World Bank 2008b, UNDP 2010, World Bank
Worldwide Governance Indicators 2009, Economist Intelligence Unit 2010, ITU 2007, ITU 2009. See
Introduction to the Country Profi les, pp. 222 – 223.
China
Background
The People ’ s Republic of China (PRC) is a one-party state ruled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Since the opening of its economy under the leadership of Deng
Xiaoping in the 1980s, the country has undergone drastic changes. These changes are
especially apparent in the information communication technology (ICT) sector, which
has become a subject of considerable signifi cance within PRC policy and discourse.
1
With the total number of Chinese netizens surpassing 450 million at the end of 2010,
the Internet has become increasingly embedded in Chinese society and progressively
more central to the fl ow of information within and across Chinese borders.
2
Although recent and current administrations have emphasized the importance of
Internet development, Chinese policymakers are also wary of the potentially crippling
effects that these changes could have on the CCP ’ s ability to contain sensitive or
threatening information.
3 As changing dynamics in China ’ s relationship with the
international community present new opportunities for increased dialogue, the CCP
has focused signifi cant energy on developing new ways of maintaining close regulation of the information accessed and disseminated within the PRC.
Since 2008, several milestones in China ’ s development, domestic politics, and
foreign relations have presented new challenges to the PRC government, and authorities have responded by launching rigorous campaigns to contain communications,
monitor and control citizens ’ activities, and outweigh public criticism through proactive counterinformation campaigns.
KEY INDICATORS
GDP per capita, PPP (constant 2005 international dollars)
6,200
Life expectancy at birth, total (years)
73
Literacy rate, adult total (percent of people age 15+)
93.7
Human Ddevelopment Index (out of 169)
89
Rule of Law (out of 5)
2.2
Voice and Accountability (out of 5)
0.8
Democracy Index (out of 167)
136 (Authoritarian regime)
Digital Opportunity Index (out of 181)
77
Internet penetration rate (percentage of population)
28.9
Source by indicator : World Bank 2009, World Bank 2008a, World Bank 2008b, UNDP 2010, World Bank
Worldwide Governance Indicators 2009, Economist Intelligence Unit 2010, ITU 2007, ITU 2009. See
Introduction to the Country Profi les, pp. 222 – 223.