On Tuesday morning, the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China released a white paper outlining the “facts of the internet situation in China” and “basic policies on the internet”.   While the report discusses the total number of Internet users in China reaching 384 million (28.9% of the total population) and the unequal distribution of Internet users (most Internet users are found in the wealthier coastal cities), the really interesting part falls under the section devoted to “Guaranteeing Citizens’ Freedom of Speech on the Internet”. 

This section is a wonderland of caveats.  By ending sentences with “in accordance with the law,” they can make excerpt-ready claims like “…guarantees the citizens’ freedom of speech on the Internet as well as the public’s right to know, to participate, to be heard and to oversee...” with impunity.  For those unfamiliar with the unique legal situation in China, it’s important to note the stipulations about the Internet in the Chinese legal system.  Specifically, “While exercising such freedom and rights, citizens are not allowed to infringe upon state, social and collective interests or the legitimate freedom and rights and other citizens.”  So in the times when the Chinese netizens are exercising their freedoms and rights, they are only free to do so in a way that does not offend the state on the websites which have been pre-approved by the state.  And with a report from Radio Free Asia detailing China’s new plan to beef up the “Great Firewall” again (this time through a contest), despite all of the claims to freedom of speech, the freedom to be censored is still the most commonly seen.