ABSTRACT
This chapter gives a voice to Chinese officials and constructs the narrative of internet addiction and public health through Chinese eyes. It considers the Confucian emphasis on restoring balance and harmony in the body itself, and in the relationship between the body and its environment. The chapter also considers whether the establishment of a diagnosis of an 'unhealthy dependence on technology' may vary cross-culturally. It discuses cultural differences in the area of treatment, particular on the principles of patient autonomy. It lay out the differences between prevention, surveillance and caretaking. The chapter focuses on the risks related to the loosening of traditional social bonds in Chinese society by arguing that many behavioral practices which do not seem real or threatening in an American context may be much more significant to a Chinese citizen and the Chinese government. Western human rights organizations, the media and politicians have frequently characterized Chinese internet addiction treatment practices as harsh and punitive.
