Edward Snowden’s claims about the snooping and hacking habits of the US security services have compelled governments to speak out – Washington to defend itself, and the EU to express serious concern.
But the country that could feel the biggest long-term impact from Mr Snowden’s whistleblowing remains silent: China. Asked for comment on the Snowden case yesterday, the foreign ministry would say no more than that the government had “noticed the related media reports”.
Silence has long been China’s strategy in dealing with trouble. Where other governments try to keep global public opinion on their side by arguing their case publicly and through background briefings and targeted leaks to the media, Beijing rarely offers more than a set of well-worn generalities.