IP: CHINA SUSPENDS NEW INTERNET MEMBERSHIPS

[Dave Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

CHINA SUSPENDS NEW INTERNET MEMBERSHIPS
Chinese authorities have decided to temporarily suspend new Internet
memberships, attributing the move to technical problems.  But in a meeting
last month with Premier Li Peng, officials declared it was "imperative" to
develop new Internet controls.  Industry insiders say China's future plans
include building a centrally administered Internet backbone that would allow
more oversight of e-mail and other activities.  Meanwhile, Chinese
businesses can use China Internet -- a sort of "intranet" administered by
former U.S. businessman James Chu -- to access selected Web sites and
databases, and to set up their own home pages and trade information.  (Wall
Street Journal 31 Jan 96 A1)