The Great Firewall of China
Breakpoint
Colson Center
4.8 • 2.8K Ratings
🗓️ 30 June 2022
⏱️ 3 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
"For many years, the internet in China was seen as a channel for new thinking, or at least greater openness," writes Human Rights Watch researcher Yaqiu Wang. "Online discussions were relatively free and open, and users, especially younger ones, had an eager appetite for learning and debating big ideas about political systems and how China should be governed."
That changed when Xi Jinping took power. Explaining what's known as China's "Great Firewall," Wang notes, "the government got savvier, and more aggressive about using its own technology." For example, dissidents, journalists, and public figures disappear frequently, sometimes often for minor infractions like logging onto Twitter.
The state's actions have created "a generational split," says Wang. "[T]hose who experienced a relatively free internet as young people—many strongly resent the Great Firewall. Among people who started college after Xi took power, however, there is a strong impulse to defend it."
It's an extreme example of how tools intended and used for good can also be harnessed for evil. The same resource that can promote flourishing can also promote tyranny. That's true everywhere, not just China.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This isn't just true in China, it's true here too. For the Colston Center, I'm John Stone Street with the point. |
| 0:05.2 | For many years, the Internet in China was seen as a channel for new thinking, greater openness, |
| 0:09.6 | writes human rights watch researcher Yacho Wang. Online discussions were relatively free and open. |
| 0:14.9 | Users, especially younger ones, had an eager appetite for learning and debating big ideas about political systems and how China should |
| 0:21.3 | be governed. |
| 0:22.3 | Well, that changed when Xi Jinping took power, explaining what's known as China's great |
| 0:26.1 | firewall, Wang then notes, the government got savier, more aggressive about using its own |
| 0:30.5 | technology. |
| 0:31.5 | So, dissidents, journalists, and public figures would disappear frequently, sometimes from |
| 0:35.7 | minor infractions like simply logging onto Twitter. |
| 0:38.3 | And the state's actions have now created a generational split, says Wang. |
| 0:42.3 | Those who experienced a relatively free internet as young people mostly strongly resent the Great Firewall. |
| 0:48.3 | But among people who started college after Xi took power, there's a strong impulse to defend it. |
| 0:53.3 | Look, this is just an extreme example |
| 0:55.0 | of how tools that are intended and used for good can also be harnessed for evil. The same |
| 0:59.1 | resource that can promote flourishing can promote tyranny. And that's true everywhere, not just in China. |
| 1:05.1 | For the Colson Center, I'm John Stone Street with The Point. |
| 1:10.1 | Hi, I'm Emily Colson, Chuck Colson's daughter. |
| 1:13.6 | My dad has been home of the Lord 10 years now, but his legacy lives on. |
| 1:19.6 | He would be so proud of the Colson Center and how it's flourishing. |
| 1:24.6 | Breakpoint commentary continues to bring clarity and discernment in this cultural moment. |
| 1:31.6 | New ministries have begun, podcasts, online courses, regional events, and of course, my dad would |
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