Chinese politics of the internet:Control and anti‐control

This article examines how the recent development of the Internet in China has had an impact on political control on the mainland. It argues that for China the Internet is a double‐edged sword, indispensable to economic modernisation but also confronting the authorities with unprecedented challenges. While the government has so far implemented powerful measures to control the Internet, the new media appears to be uncontrollable. As a consequence, Chinese politics has ventured into new and uncharted waters with both the state and dissident groups vying for on‐line power. With the prospect of joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO), China will find it even harder to address the challenges of the global communications revolution unilaterally, which could bring about a long‐term change in the political system.