China is to soon become the world's largest Internet and information economy, according to Edward Tian, the president of one of the Chinese government's two main telecommunications companies. Whereas now it's a market for Western technology companies, he thinks future investment will focus more on the software side and service sector, possibly for export to the West. We shall see.

Meanwhile, the Economist argues that instead of undermining repressive regimes like China's, the internet might strengthen them. Tactics the Chinese have used include blocking or partially blocking access to some sites, monitoring of e-mail traffic and chatrooms, hacking attacks and viruses aimed at hostile websites, and encouragement of self-censorship among internet service providers, content companies and users. And so far, it seems to be working.