Institutional Checks and Balances in Global Digital Governance: An Analysis of China's Behavior Based on IPv6 Institutional Rule Gambling

Abstract

This article explores the macro-power-micro-institutional dynamics of current global digital governance, using China's engagement in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) over specific rules and regulations for IPv6 ( Internet Protocol Version 6 ) as a case study. Drawing on the theory of "institutional checks and balances," the author argues that China's engagement transcends purely technical discussions and instead represents a strategic effort to balance the digital monopoly of major Western countries by competing for regulatory power within the existing international system. By retrospectively analyzing the impact of this engagement on specific IPv6 rules, the article aims to shed light on the major power politics underlying global digital rule-making and provide insights and insights for contemporary global digital governance.