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This article examines the role of the military in the structure and process of PRC policy formulation on Taiwan through a case study of the military's involvement in, and influence on, Beijing's policymaking in the Taiwan Strait crisis of 1995-1996. The military has its own vital interests in Taiwan policy, which are embodied in three aspects: preservation of the military's political privilege, military build-up for modernisation drives, and more budgetary resources for defence. This article proposes that the PRC leadership succession problem together with the military's leverage accounted for the outbreak of the crisis. Under pressure, Jiang Zemin had to accept the plan of physically intimidating Taiwan to gain the military's support in consolidating his position as Deng Xiaoping's successor. (J Contemp China/DÜI)

Bi examines the expanding role of the Internet in the People's Republic of China, looking at the developments of China's computer market & its significance for traditional forms of communist control. It is argued that China's Internet revolution has impacts on, & poses an overall challenge to, existing politics & society. Bi states that the Chinese Communist Party is maintained by two pillars: the coercive measures enforced by army, police, & judicial institutions; & press censorship. The Internet allows the spread of unapproved news, which enables the Chinese to obtain information quickly & makes it more difficult for the communist regime to monopolize news sources. Bi notes that while restricted areas of freedom of expression & assembly remain unchanged, the Internet means that users can hold a rally at a chat room or form groups through e-mail. It is stated that the digital divide may deepen the gap between rich & poor, ultimately promoting social instability. However, Bi concludes that the Internet provides a basis for a revolution to realize democratization & modernization. J. Backman