Mao Zedong winds up to slap Secretary of State Hillary Clinton right in the mouth

I exaggerate of course, but who would’ve thought that China hacking into millions of private e-mails stored on large American corporations’ servers could ever cause tension between the two countries? In response to Hillary Clinton’s recent criticism of  that country’s internet policies China responded with sharp words of rebuke aimed at both the Secretary of State and the country. In one interview with state-run Xinhuanet.com. Beijing Association of Online Media Chairman Min Dahong said “How China’s Internet develops and how it is managed are Chinese people’s own affairs,” He then added that  “On the Internet question, China doesn’t need any lessons from the United States on what to do or how”

I couldn’t disagree more with his first comment. How ‘China’s internet develops’ to me is like saying how China’s air or rain develops, it is inevitably linked to the larger internet-ecosystem around it. Policies shaped to serve internal political culture or needs denies China the full power and utility of the world wide web. The internet is increasingly becoming a global concern, much like diseases or climate change, it affects too many people for countries (especially one as populous and economically robust as China) to be thinking about it in insular terms. Creating isolated policies and localized practices will leave the Chinese people in their own feedback loop of information if China retreats into its own cyber island of controlled virtual space.  And as we move forward that’s the last thing I would hope to see.

The world needs an engaged and participatory China if we are to tackle the global problems we face today and future ones of tomorrow. Working to make a universally safe and open internet is an important step in that process and one that can improve relations between China and its trade partners rather than create bones of contention. Considering all the other problems causing tension between China and the US these recent hacks and the blowout from them is the last thing we all need.

I invite both sides to sit down together at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and come to terms with their differences. Now that they are no longer a smoke free Olympics both sides can stay up late chain smoking their way to a mutually beneficial resolution. I will happily mediate these discussions and will provide catering and DJ services as well.

My rate is $2,500 per hour for this kind of work, please include a list of any allergies or food sensitivities well in advance.