'China is actively advancing the development of the Internet and extending its benefit to the 1.3 billion Chinese people.'

On April 23 and 24, diplomats and tech firm honchos locked horns with grizzly-haired academics and geeks in bermudas at a glitzy hotel.

"When any government decides to use a resource like the internet in ways that erodes the public trust, it is very regrettable," says Chehad...