Communicating Styles: Balancing specifity and diffuseness in developing China's Internet regulations

Abstract

Growth of China's Internet raises important issues in relation to the way related policies are communicated and interpreted. Recent key policy statements in 1997 and 2000 have attempted to guide the development of the Internet so it contributes to China's economic growth without jeopardising national security through losing control of this important information and communication technology tool. Policy development has been gradual, with 'newer' regulations providing more transparency to the Internet's developmental direction. To achieve this gradual movement, the Chinese Government has had to balance its inherent cultural preclusion to diffuseness (building harmony and relationships) with the need to introduce specifity (objectives and direction) into its law making to minimise ambiguity in interpretation for domestic and foreign stakeholders. However, this policy evolution continues to draw criticism from Western investors and media for its vague and ubiquitous communication style. This paper examines these interpretations and reactions by Western interests by drawing on the cross-cultural differences in communicating styles of individualistic (specifity) and collectivist (diffuseness) cultures to understand why interpretation problems continue to emerge despite efforts by the Government to make law making and policy development and implementation more transparent.