How has the governance of platforms evolved between the United States and China in recent years? There is already an abundance of literature written about the governance of platforms pertaining to each country respectively. Despite this, a dual‐track accounting of the governance of platforms in the United States and China in tandem is still lacking. This paper argues that with the historic turbulence of the United States–China relationship and the escalating challenges that governance activities have encountered, the governance of platforms of these two countries are actually more similar than they seem, and have been moving towards a “middle ground,” characterized by multiple governance subjects, more pragmatic and balanced goals, as well as a full range and tit‐for‐tat governance measures. To prove this trend, this paper uses documentary research and a comparative approach to analyze changes in the subjects, objectives and means of governance of platforms for the United States and China. Following that, this paper explains the motivation behind the trend towards the “middle ground” governance of platforms in the context of United States–China relations.
China’s Internet governance is not immutable, nor is it dominated by the government, as portrayed by Western scholars. Based on an analysis of Beijing’s Internet governance policies and practices, this paper focuses on the evolution of China’s Internet governance from the non-governmental stage through the government control stage to the multi-actor coordination stage. In terms of governance paradigm, Beijing’s Internet governance is transitioning from one-way management to multi-dimensional governance, from offline management to online and offline integration, and from “prior control” to “panoramic governance.” In terms of governance system, Beijing’s Internet governance has evolved from an ad hoc pattern through problem-solving to a strategic planning paradigm. Internet governance in China has demonstrated three features, namely, pragmatism, state centralism, and preemption. These characteristics have paved the way for the rapid development of China’s Internet but also present many challenges.
"Cybersecurity" has become a topic of great strategic importance concerning both national and international security, especially after Edward Snowden's disclosure of the secret surveillance programs of the U.S. government. With the largest number of netizens in the world, China holds its own views, beliefs, and assumptions on this topic. To understand the current disputes over international cybersecurity and to identify challenges and opportunities presented to international cybersecurity cooperation, it is of great significance to examine "cybersecurity" in the Chinese context. This article deals with the following issues from a Chinese perspective: cyberspace and cybersecurity in general, China's vital cybersecurity interests and threatening challenges, and barriers to further progress in international cybersecurity cooperation. It is concluded that China's understanding of cybersecurity, which derives from its unique national conditions, does not limit its willingness to participate in international cybersecurity cooperation.
With the world's largest number of netizens, China has been engaged in the ever more intense global competition for cyber governance over the past decade. Based on some preliminary studies, this article discusses China's position, approach and contribution to global cyber governance, as well as the understanding gap on major issues between China and developed countries in the cyber arena. In the past decade, China has made significant contributions to the reform of global cyber governance utilizing a "patch-work" approach, and it will try to play a more active role as a constructive participant in global cyber governance while enhancing its own cyber capacity. Unlike many developed countries that advocate "Internet freedom," China will continue to uphold the principle of cyber sovereignty. Yet in the meantime, China will try to work with other countries to build a "Community of Shared Future in
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