Obama Pushes Open Internet In China

AMBASSADOR HUNTSMAN: That's right. And not surprisingly, "in a country with 350 million Internet users and 60 million bloggers, do you know of the firewall?" And second, "should we be able to use Twitter freely" -- is the question.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, first of all, let me say that I have never used Twitter. I noticed that young people -- they're very busy with all these electronics. My thumbs are too clumsy to type in things on the phone. But I am a big believer in technology and I'm a big believer in openness when it comes to the flow of information. I think that the more freely information flows, the stronger the society becomes, because then citizens of countries around the world can hold their own governments accountable. They can begin to think for themselves. That generates new ideas. It encourages creativity.

And so I've always been a strong supporter of open Internet use. I'm a big supporter of non-censorship. This is part of the tradition of the United States that I discussed before, and I recognize that different countries have different traditions. I can tell you that in the United States, the fact that we have free Internet -- or unrestricted Internet access is a source of strength, and I think should be encouraged.

Now, I should tell you, I should be honest, as President of the United States, there are times where I wish information didn't flow so freely because then I wouldn't have to listen to people criticizing me all the time. I think people naturally are -- when they're in positions of power sometimes thinks, oh, how could that person say that about me, or that's irresponsible, or -- but the truth is that because in the United States information is free, and I have a lot of critics in the United States who can say all kinds of things about me, I actually think that that makes our democracy stronger and it makes me a better leader because it forces me to hear opinions that I don't want to hear. It forces me to examine what I'm doing on a day-to-day basis to see, am I ...

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Obama
• internet
• twitter
• china
• chinese
• asia
• net
• neutrality
• open
• firewall

[YulunHe]

Im a Chinese and to be honest I think the main reason that our internet is not that open is that our government doesn't want companies like fb and twitter to destroy our companies like Tencent. Because China is still a developing country and our technology is not good enough yet.

[SCRIPPSCAST2007]

@UpTakeVideo Open Internet in China!?!? Not if SOPA and PIPA are passed in the United States!!!

[smokenbudesq]

yes we have lots to say about leaders in north america the rob you blind

ask the guy who is gonna change that good old ron paul as the next president

then canada can boot harper once and for all the leach

born canadian patriot

obama you want to let us in on your next blunder here before you screw with every country on the planet you idiot

[smokenbudesq]

obama ( captain kaos) wants to increase presents in asia

does he mean get ready for war????????

wtf is going on its getting pretty stupid on planet earth if you ask me

[Escort9473]

I personally assumed that Mr Obama was not at his top-form! If you do the same presentation in USA, you must be the one-time President!

All of the questions seemed like to be arranged by the CCP before, and every students seemed like very nervous, only one question from Mr ambassador was quite of interesting, but Mr President did not want to push himself into the Corner....

Please do not arrange such a terrible questions and answers meeting again!

[edwardtang1977]

@DiabloMercy Also, I don't feel it is for the good of Taiwan's future to be against China. We do everything else together..we have the same blood...speak the same language and share the same culture . Many in Taiwan deny they are Chinese due to education . We were taught they were monsters , uneducated, and poor. These are all changing and they weren't true to begin with. Politicians have brainwashed the masses and divided us when we should unite.

[edwardtang1977]

@DiabloMercy me? I grew up abroad in many countries and i feel our political leaders have mislead us into beleiving "independence" would be a good idea. Taiwan is being used by both the US and China. Personally, I don't mind China's unification with Taiwan as long as they don't interfer with our democracy. China doesn't have any interest in changing the way we are. Being is like Hong Kong is fine for me. Sadly, this is not how many Taiwanese feel.

[DiabloMercy]

@edwardtang1977 what is your view on taiwanese people? jus curious?

[edwardtang1977]

@DiabloMercy oh no problem. I understand how you feel. I have the same problem seeing things from both sides. And I understand how you could have misunderstood me.

[DiabloMercy]

@edwardtang1977 my apologies. P.S. i have given up hope arguing with any Americans on their perspectives