Chinas Cyber-StrategyNina HachigianDANGEROUS LIAISONOften restrained in its enthusiasm for Western suitors, Chinahas fallen in love with the Internet. Not only is the Chinese CommunistParty (ccp) hailing the Internet's vast commercial potential, but it isalso successfully exerting state control over the Chinese Web and itsuse. Recognizing that an unregulated network would shift powerfrom the state to citizens by providing an extensive forum for discussionand collaboration, Beijing has taken care to prevent this commercialgold mine from becoming political quicksand. But a victory over cyberspace cannot be decisive, because the Internet cannot deliver its fullcommercial benefits under strict political control.It will be some time, however, before the Internet becomes a politicalthreat in China. In the near term, the Internet may in fact strengthenthe party. The ccp's popularity now so depends on economic growththat its leaders are safer with the Internet than without it. And theirthree-part strategy for maintaining authority in a networked society?by providing economic growth and some personal freedoms, managingthe Internet's risks, and harnessing its potential?will be effective forsome time. The power shifts wrought by the Internet will surfaceclearly only during an economic or political crisis in a future Chinawhere the Internet is far more pervasive. At that time, the Internetwill fuel discontent and could be the linchpin to a successful challengeto party rule.Nina Hachigian is Senior Fellow at the Pacific Council on International Policy in Los Angeles. From 1998 to 1999 she served on the staff ofthe National Security Council and from 1999 to 2000 was a Council onForeign Relations International Affairs Fellow.[us]This content downloaded from24.84.199.36 on Thu, 04 Nov 2021 08:16:52 UTCAll use subject to
