Wikipedia unblocked in China after year-long ban

The popular user produced web encyclopedia, Wikipedia has been unblocked in China.   The move was hailed  by the free media group, Reporters Without Borders. Here is the link to the article: http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/internet/11/16/china.internet.reut/index.html

The main page of the Chinese Wikipedia page is up and running and searches for apolitical terms come up.  Searches for  “Tiananmen Square” are still blocked along with other anti-government material.  The Chinese Communist regime routinely blocks anti-government websites and articles online and it is still unclear why Wikipedia is working again in the country.    The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not know why or acknowledge Wikipedia’s return, but did say the country backs internet usage by its people and has 123 million users, which makes it the second largest internet market in the world. 

The Communist regime regulates the content of the web according to its laws and does censor what it deems sensitive information.  Reporters Without Borders believe the revival of Wikipedia shows China’s pragmatism, because it cannot be an international trade partner and be a member of the business world without doing online business.    Even though  Wikipedia was banned,  a small group of Chinese communities could use a proxy or other items to gain access.  Analysts believe the reason the Chinese were against Wikipedia was due to its content, but more importantly its open editorial process which could quickly mobilize communities of people to create more content that could be threatening to the government.  Wikipedia is up and running again and hopefully it stays active, because China cannot suppress useful sites like Wikipedia.  China must continue to become a more free and democratic society and having sites like Wikipedia is key to this happening now and in the future.