Chinese President Hu Jintao called on Saturday for stricter government management of the Internet. He said this during a meeting of the top of the communist party.
He expressed that the government should establish a more tighter grip on the “virtual society” in order to maintain the firm control which China is imposing on its 450 million Internet users.
At the same time, Chinese citizens were trying to organize protest in several large Chinese cities. These protests are supposed to be inspired in what has become known as the Jasmine revolution which is currently still ongoing in the Middle East.
The calls underscored why China’s government, ruling the world’s biggest Internet-using population, is wary of loosening controls on online expression.
After what is called the “The Great Chinese Firewall”, it seems that free speech and free internet is not yet for tomorrow in China.
About Danny Bisaerts
