According to Mueller and Tan, the most hopeful development surrounding the Internet in China is that control of it and computer networks is about equally divided between the MPT, the MEI, and two other smaller organizations. Chapter 6 Trade and Foreign Investment Growth in the telecommunications market in China has been so strong that China is in the enviable position of being able to pick and choose foreign suitors. This has given China the ability to limit access largely whenever convenient. The most striking example of this is in the telecommunications service market. Telecommunications service markets are generally larger than equipment markets, and China, unique in the world, maintains a complete ban on foreign ownership and operation.
China is the last holdout.
While some believe that change is therefore inevitable, it is a testament to Chinese intentions to continue to regulate and control foreign participation in the domestic market. In summary, the authors emphasize that in the Chinese context, state control is the first priority. Free markets and economic growth are extremely important, but never at the risk of transforming the political structure of the country. China's rulers firmly distinguish between economic liberalization, which they may accept as a requirement of growth, and political liberalization, which they view as a threat to stability. Though the authors specifically shy away from making predications on where the Chinese are headed, they note that they believe that Hong Kong will not create any significant changes in policy or development.