China, Open Source Center

(U//FOUO) Open Source Center Chinese Media Use Google Incident to Press Claim for Internet ‘Sovereignty’

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This OSC product is based exclusively on the content and behavior of selected media and has not been coordinated with other US Government components.

PRC Media Use Google Incident To Press Claim for Internet ‘Sovereignty’

Open Source Center Analysis 1 February 2010

Following Secretary of State Clinton’s speech on Internet freedom and Google’s announcement that it may withdraw from China due to hacking and censorship, PRC media commentary on China’s Internet policy suggests an attempt to portray the Internet as sovereign territory and China’s policies as defending against US “Internet hegemony.” PRC authorities could use these claims to expand control over the Internet. Some commentary, however, portrayed the Google dispute as commercial rather than political, suggesting an attempt to downplay the incident. Recent PRC media reporting suggests an attempt to extend sovereignty into cyberspace.

  • State Council Information Office Director Wang Chen defined Internet security as a “national security issue.” Wang declared that “guiding public opinion” is the first task of Internet security (Renmin Ribao, 14 January). [1]
  • A 25 January article in party daily Renmin Ribao by veteran commentator He Zhenhua claimed that “national sovereignty” extends to the “information frontier.” He argued that “guiding the discourse” of public opinion on “Internet control” and “information sovereignty” has become an “important issue” in foreign policy. [2]
  • Commentator Zhong Qing described US Internet policy as “the extension of hegemony” into the “virtual world” and claimed that the United States practices “information control” as a “replica of real-world sanctions” (Zhongguo Qingnian Bao, 24 January). [3]
  • Google Announcement Triggers Mixed Signals Authoritative PRC media depicted claims to Internet “sovereignty” as defensive, portraying Google’s threat to withdraw from China as part of an alleged US plot to exploit “Internet hegemony” in order to interfere in other countries. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

In contrast, some commentary — particularly in media aimed at influencing the English-language audience — described the incident as a commercial dispute that Google inevitably will lose, suggesting an attempt to downplay the issue but also to portray multinational corporations as dependent on access to PRC markets. These mixed signals suggest that PRC authorities may have been surprised at Google’s public announcement.

  • PRC Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei stated that the “Google incident” should “not be linked to the [PRC and US] governments” and warned “all circles” not to “over interpret” the incident (Xinhua Asia-Pacific, 21 January). [12]
  • PRC media portrayed Google’s behavior as “immature” [13] and a decision to stay in the China market as inevitable, [14] claiming that China could do without Google, but Google could not do without China (Global Times, 27 January; Renmin Ribao, 26 January). [15]
  • The same articles contrasted Google’s alleged failure to “understand” the Chinese with competitors’ supposed market savvy, approvingly citing Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates’s 25 January dismissal of concerns over PRC Internet censorship. [16] [17] [18]

1 [OSC | | in processing as CPP20100114710001 as of 1 Feb 2010 | 14 January 2010 | | 网络媒体要切实担负起维护网络安全的责任 | 16 | (U) | (U) | Beijing Renmin Ribao Online in Chinese — Online newspaper of the CPC Central Committee; url: http://www.peopledaily.com.cn]
2 [OSC | | CPP20100127702001 | 25 January 2010 | | People’s Daily Online: ‘Internet Freedom’ and ‘Smart Power’ Diplomacy | | (U) | (U) | Beijing Renmin Ribao (People’s Daily) in English — Online English newspaper of the CPC Central Committee; URL: http://english.peopledaily.com.cn]
3 [OSC | | CPP20100125710003 | 24 January 2010 | | PRC Commentator Slams US Groundless Accusations Over China’s Internet Freedom | | (U) | (U) | Beijing Zhongguo Qingnian Bao Online in Chinese — Website of the daily newspaper sponsored by the Communist Youth League of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, publishing articles on political, economic, and social issues and carrying surveys of public attitudes. URL: http://www.cyd.com.cn]
4 [OSC | | CPP20100127702006 | 27 January 2010 | | People’s Daily Online: ‘Don’t Become a Tool of Hegemony, Google!’ | | (U) | (U) | Beijing Renmin Ribao (People’s Daily) in English — Online English newspaper of the CPC
Central Committee; URL: http://english.peopledaily.com.cn]
5 [OSC | | CPP20100124074001 | 23 January 2010 | | XINHUA ‘COMMENTARY’ URGES US NOT TO IMPOSE DOUBLE STANDARDS ON INTERNET FREEDOM | | (U) | (U) | Beijing Xinhua Domestic Service in Chinese — China’s official news service (New China News Agency)]
6 [OSC | | CPP20100129052003 | 29 January 2010 | | China Daily Cites Xinhua.Net Saying Google ‘Should Not Play With Politics’ | | (U) | (U) | Beijing China Daily Online in English — Website of China’s official English-language newspaper, offering both the website of the paper and additional content; URL: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/]
7 [OSC | | CPP20100126710006 | 26 January 2010 | | RMRB Column on Clinton’s Internet Freedom Speech, American-Style Freedom | | (U) | (U) | Beijing Renmin Ribao Online in Chinese — Website of daily newspaper of the CPC Central Committee (People’s Daily). URL: http://www.peopledaily.com.cn]
8 [OSC | | CPP20100126710005 | 26 January 2010 | | RMRB Column on Google Incident, Clinton’s Internet Freedom Speech | | (U) | (U) | Beijing Renmin Ribao Online in Chinese — Website of daily newspaper of the CPC Central Committee (People’s Daily). URL: http://www.peopledaily.com.cn]
9 [OSC | | CPP20100126710007 | 26 January 2010 | | RMRB on US Tough Stance on Google Incident, Clinton’s Internet Freedom Speech | | (U) | (U) | Beijing Renmin Ribao Online in Chinese — Website of daily newspaper of
the CPC Central Committee (People’s Daily). URL: http://www.peopledaily.com.cn]
10 [OSC | | CPP20100125710002 | 24 January 2010 | | Renmin Ribao ‘Rebuts’ US Double Standards on Internet ‘Information Freedom’ | | (U) | (U) | Beijing Renmin Ribao Online in Chinese — Website of daily newspaper of the
CPC Central Committee (People’s Daily). URL: http://www.peopledaily.com.cn]
11 [OSC | | CPP20100125138002 | 24 January 2010 | | ‘INTERVIEW’ WITH STATE COUNCIL INFORMATION OFFICE SPOKESMAN ON ‘INTERNET MANAGEMENT’ | | (U) | (U) | Beijing Xinhua Domestic Service in Chinese — China’s official news service (New China News Agency)]
12 [OSC | | CPP20100121004001 | 21 January 2010 | | Xinhua: PRC Vice FM He Yafei: Do Not ‘Over-Interpret’ Google Incident | | (U) | (U) | Beijing Xinhua Asia-Pacific Service in Chinese — China’s official news service (New China News Agency) to the Asia-Pacific region, established to replace Xinhua Hong Kong Service. The new service includes material previously carried by Xinhua Hong Kong Service and additional material specific to the Asia-Pacific region]
13 [OSC | | CPP20100128722010 | 27 January 2010 | | Global Times Report: Bill Gates Bats for China | | (U) | (U) | Beijing Global Times Online in English — Online version of an English-language weekday newspaper, sponsored by Renmin Ribao (People’s Daily), that launched on 20 April 2009 and is aimed at English-language audiences; Global Times focuses on PRC international and domestic political issues and features translations from its Chinese-language sister paper, Huanqiu Shibao, as well as unique content; URL: http://en.huanqiu.com]
14 [OSC | | CPP20100128722012 | 27 January 2010 | | Experts Tell Global Times: Google Case Shouldn’t Be Political Squabble | | (U) | (U) | Beijing Global Times Online in English — Online version of an English-language weekday newspaper, sponsored by Renmin Ribao (People’s Daily), that launched on 20 April 2009 and is aimed at English-language audiences; Global Times focuses on PRC international and domestic political issues and features translations from its Chinese-language sister paper, Huanqiu Shibao, as well as unique content; URL: http://en.huanqiu.com]
15 [OSC | | CPP20100126710005 | 26 January 2010 | | RMRB Column on Google Incident, Clinton’s Internet Freedom Speech | | (U) | (U) | Beijing Renmin Ribao Online in Chinese — Website of daily newspaper of the CPC
Central Committee (People’s Daily). URL: http://www.peopledaily.com.cn]
16 [OSC | | CPP20100128722010 | 27 January 2010 | | Global Times Report: Bill Gates Bats for China | | (U) | (U) | Beijing Global Times Online in English — Online version of an English-language weekday newspaper, sponsored by Renmin Ribao (People’s Daily), that launched on 20 April 2009 and is aimed at English-language audiences; Global Times focuses on PRC international and domestic political issues and features translations from its Chinese-language sister paper, Huanqiu Shibao, as well as unique content; URL: http://en.huanqiu.com]
17 [OSC | | CPP20100126710005 | 26 January 2010 | | RMRB Column on Google Incident, Clinton’s Internet Freedom Speech | | (U) | (U) | Beijing Renmin Ribao Online in Chinese — Website of daily newspaper of the CPC Central Committee (People’s Daily). URL: http://www.peopledaily.com.cn]
18 [OSC | | CPP20100121722002 | 21 January 2010 | | Global Times Editorial: Google Spat Shows Clash of Cultures and Values | | (U) | (U) | Beijing Global Times Online in English — Online version of an English-language weekday newspaper, sponsored by Renmin Ribao (People’s Daily), that launched on 20 April 2009 and is aimed at English-language audiences; Global Times focuses on PRC international and domestic political issues and features translations from its Chinese-language sister paper, Huanqiu Shibao, as well as unique content; URL: http://en.huanqiu.com

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