Don't impose double standards

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in a recent bold speech, criticized China's policies on Internet administration and insinuated that China restricts Internet freedom.

Clinton's statement, which were inconsistent with the facts, is clearly yet another example of the double standards that the United States applies.

As is widely recognized, freedom is always relative, and such is also the case with Internet freedom. Through years of development, the Internet has been closely connected with people, bringing both convenience and threats. The threats include Internet-based crimes and pornography.

It is common practice for countries, including the United States, to take necessary measures to administer the Internet according to their own laws and regulations.

The Internet is also restricted in the United States when it comes to information concerning terrorism, porn, racial discrimination and other threats to society.

Shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the U.S. Congress approved the Patriot Act to grant its security agencies the right to search telephone and e-mail communications in the name of anti-terrorism. The move aroused a great deal of controversy far and wide.

U.S. authorities have also taken measures, such as installing supervision software and imposing grave punishments, to curb Internet child porn, a serious crime in the country.

The United States often gossips about other countries' policies on administering the Internet, but at the same time it takes similar measures to minimize the spread of illegal information. That shows that the United States takes a strict line with other countries, but not with itself.

Clinton in her speech also talked of Google's threat to quit China due to what the company said were "cyber attacks of varying degrees on a regular basis."

As a matter of fact, the U.S. was the first country to introduce the concept of cyber warfare and then put it into practice. The country also developed a new type of troops -- cyber troops.

The Pentagon has adopted several measures to beef up the military's cyber warfare capacity, according to American media reports last year. In June, Defense Secretary Robert Gates issued an order to establish a new military cyber command dedicated to coordinating the Pentagon's efforts to defend its networks and conduct cyber warfare. The command was expected to be fully operational by October this year.

So, it is quite hypocritical to point one's finger at others without proper justification while managing to strengthen one's own cyber warfare capacity.

Necessary regulation of the Internet is a consensus of the entire international community for the sake of healthy development of the Internet. No responsible country takes a laissez-faire attitude towards the use of the Internet.

It is an operational norm observable by all foreign-funded enterprises to respect and comply with laws and regulations as well as public interests and the cultural tradition of the host country.

Noting that most countries exert some sort of control over information,Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said Friday his company must comply with the laws and customs of any country where it does business.

The U.S. move to make Internet freedom an issue just indicates its continued application of double standards. People just wish that the United States will respect facts and treat others equally. It is not acceptable for someone to assume for themselves the high moral ground and arbitrarily make baseless charges against others.
 
Many thanks for your welcome.

The Chinese constitution protects the citizens' freedom of speech, and it is a consistent policy of the Chinese government to promote the development of Internet.

China urges the United States to respect facts and stop unreasonable accusations on China in the name of so-called Internet freedom.

U.S. criticizes China's policies on Internet administration, alluding that China restricts Internet freedom. We firmly oppose such words and deeds, which were against the facts and harm the China-US relations.

China's Internet is open, and the country has witnessed the most active development of Internet in the world. By the end of last year, the number of Chinese cyber citizens has reached 384 million with 3.68 million websites and 180 million blogs.

China has its own domestic situation and cultural tradition, and it accords with the world's common practice that China administers the Internet according to its laws and policies.
 
Maybe now YP will be more careful about the kinds of information he leaves on the hardrives at his frat house, so the cops don't raid and confiscate what he needs to get online...
 
The Chinese constitution protects the citizens' freedom of speech, and it is a consistent policy of the Chinese government to promote the development of Internet.

so long as it isn't used to do anything illegal like criticize the government or express an idea freely.....
 
Certain protections are in place in keeping with China’s national conditions and cultural traditions.

Foreign companies should respect the laws and regulations, respect the public interest of Chinese people and China's culture and customs and shoulder due social responsibilities.
 
Certain protections are in place in keeping with China’s national conditions and cultural traditions.

Foreign companies should respect the laws and regulations, respect the public interest of Chinese people and China's culture and customs and shoulder due social responsibilities.

Tell that to all of the social networking site-deprived Chinese subjects...
 
China follows its own course and its reluctance to copy the Internet control and supervision mode of the USA is understandable. China must have its own plan on how to regulate the Internet and should not and will not follow orders from USA.

Chinese society has generally less information bearing capacity than developed countries such as the USA, which is an objective reality that no one can deny.

China will certainly and gradually change this reality, but the starting point of the change should be in the interests of the entire Chinese society instead of for the convenience or desire of a small group of people.

In fact, both western politicians and media leaders understand this; those who do not understand this are either unwilling to understand due to arrogance or pretend not to know it.

In fact, world countries including the USA. do not permit the existence of a laissez-faire Internet world either.

Chinese government will never violate the rules of the market and laws for the sake of any commercial company, let alone give up its political bottom line and diplomatic principles.

It is a lie to claim that the Internet is an absolutely free space without regulations. The truth is that it is the extension of the real world. Therefore, implementing monitoring according to a country's national context is what any government has to do.
 
All Chinese, even those critical of the government, are passionate about maintaining the country's integrity. All websites operate in China under the same regulations.

Chinese netizens with good English and technological skills, and access to proxy servers and/or virtual private networks can access any content or site. VPNs and proxy servers won't be shut down because all major business in China use them to operate.
 
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