China internet users soar to 384 million

The estimated number of internet users in China soared to 384 million at the end of last year, a rise of almost 30 per cent from the end of 2008, DPA reported.

A total of 233 million of China's 700 million mobile telephone subscribers also accessed the internet, the state-run China Internet Information Centre reported.

Most urban residents among China's 1.3 billion people now use the internet, despite strict government controls.

News of the latest strong growth in the Chinese market comes amid a standoff over hacking and censorship between the Chinese government and US internet giant Google.

When asked about Google's threat to withdraw from China following a "highly sophisticated and targeted" cyber attack originating from China, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Friday repeated China's defence of its position.

At a joint press conference with visiting German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, Yang said the internet in China was "open" but all service providers must follow the law and prevent "harm to society."

Yang said China "opposes any cyber attacks."

China's "great firewall" prevents the country's internet users from accessing hundreds of websites that are deemed politically sensitive, pornographic or otherwise problematic.

The government issues strict rules for "self-regulation" of internet service providers and employs thousands of people to monitor online activity.