Cleverest attack yet on China's firewall

[Lemur]

This is brilliant, absolutely brilliant. The Obama administration is attacking China's vast internet censorship system as a violation of WTO free trade rules. I love it! No talk of free speech, no discussion of liberty, just an appeal to the one court China will listen to. It's nice when our government has a moment of cleverness. Details:

The administration, citing World Trade Organization rules, is demanding that China explain its censorship policies. [...] The Obama administration’s move is the first step of a long WTO process that theoretically could end up with trade restrictions imposed on Chinese exports.

“The United States is seeking detailed information on the trade impact of Chinese policies that may block U.S. companies’ websites in China, creating commercial barriers that especially hurt America’s small business,” Kirk’s office announced.

A thoughtful reaction:

[W]hile this WTO move by the Obama administration may politically represent a nuclear attack against China's Great Firewall censorship of free speech, the economics of this move is not trivial at all in the internet driven economy of the US today. For years China has systematically attacked the United States with lawfare, including attacking the US Navy indirectly through maritime environment related lawsuits. It is really nice to see the US government turning the tables and now doing the same to China for a change. I want to send a heart felt well done to someone in the State Department!

What do the Orgahs think? Clever move or a needless provocation of a sleeping giant?

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

This is brilliant, absolutely brilliant. The Obama administration is attacking China's vast internet censorship system as a violation of WTO free trade rules. I love it! No talk of free speech, no discussion of liberty, just an appeal to the one court China will listen to. It's nice when our government has a moment of cleverness. Details:

The administration, citing World Trade Organization rules, is demanding that China explain its censorship policies. [...] The Obama administration’s move is the first step of a long WTO process that theoretically could end up with trade restrictions imposed on Chinese exports.

“The United States is seeking detailed information on the trade impact of Chinese policies that may block U.S. companies’ websites in China, creating commercial barriers that especially hurt America’s small business,” Kirk’s office announced.

A thoughtful reaction:

[W]hile this WTO move by the Obama administration may politically represent a nuclear attack against China's Great Firewall censorship of free speech, the economics of this move is not trivial at all in the internet driven economy of the US today. For years China has systematically attacked the United States with lawfare, including attacking the US Navy indirectly through maritime environment related lawsuits. It is really nice to see the US government turning the tables and now doing the same to China for a change. I want to send a heart felt well done to someone in the State Department!

What do the Orgahs think? Clever move or a needless provocation of a sleeping giant?

Worthy of the Foriegn Office at the turn of the last Century.

Well done.

[Major Robert Dump]

It can be easily argued that their censorship gives them an undue advantage in global economics, as it should be because it does. It may seem like outright apples and oranges, but the Chinese state in regards to public dissent, opinion and outside influence is not unlike North Koreas. I'm actually surprised they haven't tried to stop the leakage of the video showing the little girl getting run over and ignored because it tarnishes their national image.

[Dîn-Heru]

Well done. China* needs to get its *** metaphorically kicked. By that I mean stop throwing temper tantrums and generally acting like a bully whenever they disagree with something somewhere in the world. So any non-violent act that can remind them that they are not alone in the world and put them in their place alongside (not above) the rest of the world's countries I'm all for.

* By China I mean the leadership of the country not the people. (And the above argument sadly applies to most other countries as well...)

[CountArach]

Cunningly played, Obama.

[Papewaio]

Well if they win they might not be able to do much against China... As it is essentially a political system being undercut.

But it would be funny seeing Cisco being declared an enemy of the state and Seal Team five apprehending John Chambers for being a key implementor of the Great Firewall. Seriously the biggest creators of this firewall are some of the biggest hardware makers in the world. So would the US put sanctions on the last part of their economy that is functioning that of Silicon Valley?

Might be time to buy shares in a competitor like Juniper.