The Internet is Vital to Future Reforms

Since reform and opening up started 34 years ago, China has experienced astonishing economic growth accompanied by gradually improving public governance. However, the recent rise of the Internet as an outlet of public opinion has magnified an increasingly pressing array of social issues.

On September 15 and 16, under the banner of patriotism stirred by the Diaoyu Islands incident, anti-Japanese protests were held across the country.  Both domestic and international observers were stunned as the protests turned violent and large-scale destruction and vandalism of Japanese cars and Japanese-funded shopping malls spread in many cities.