Efforts to restrict information on the Internet and other media reflect the Chinese government's fear of unrest among people left behind by China's economic boom, a DukeUniversity expert on the Chinese media says.
As resentment grows among the lower class over the widening gap between the rich and poor, the leadership is more likely to choose censorship over economic reform, said Kang Liu, director of Duke's Program in Chinese Media and Communication Studies.
Four American Internet and technology companies -- Google, Yahoo, Microsoft and Cisco -- were accused Wednesday of doing business in China at the expense of human rights, during a hearing before the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations.
Although attention is now focused on these companies, it's important to understand the broader political context, Liu said.
"It's a crucial moment for the leadership. It's not exactly conservative vs. liberal," he said. "The leadership is under increasing pressure to de-emphasize the business growth aspect of reform and pay a lot more attention to social justice and equity as the resentment grows. The government is always fearful, always on the alert, as to whether this kind of resentment would lead to unrest."
He also noted that the Chinese government, while welcoming multinational investment in the financial and service sectors, has always been ambivalent about multinationals' role in media and information sectors.
"It's not only Yahoo and Google that are affected. It's the other multinational media as well," he said.