PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Harwit, Eric TI - The Rise and Influence of <em>Weibo</em> (Microblogs) in China AID - 10.1525/as.2014.54.6.1059 DP - 2014 Dec 01 TA - Asian Survey PG - 1059--1087 VI - 54 IP - 6 4099 - http://as.ucpress.edu/content/54/6/1059.short 4100 - http://as.ucpress.edu/content/54/6/1059.full AB - China’s weibo community numbered more than 300 million users in 2013. This article assesses the rise and influence of microblogs from political, social, and commercial aspects. It examines ways the Chinese government has controlled microblogs, considers newer competing forms of communication, and assesses trends in Chinese digital discourse.