In the near term, the Internet may in fact strengthen the party. The CCP's popularity now so depends on economic growth that its leaders are safer with the Internet than without it. The power shifts wrought by the Internet will surface only during an economic or political crisis in a future China where the Internet is far more pervasive. At that time, the Internet will fuel discontent and could be the linchpin to a successful challenge to party rule. China embraced the Internet later than did most developed nations, but it is quickly catching up.
Internet cafes flourish in all the major cities.
Full speed ahead Contrary to many Western media portrayals, factions of the Chinese government at the central, provincial, and local levels are actually encouraging much of this activity. And the government practices what it preaches. The Government Online Initiative, launched in 1998, aimed to ensure that 80 percent of all government agencies, local and national, had Web sites by the end of 2000. China Telecom is also adding 2 million new lines each month to meet the surging demand for network access. Moreover, officials are encouraging the competing state-owned telecommunications providers, China Unicom , China Mobile, China Netcom, JiTong, and China Railway Telecom, to build their own networks.