I believe that government is a reflection of culture, and as China's culture becomes more globalized its government may become more open.
In other words, the vast majority of Chinese are still fine with this type of censorship, because they truly believe the government is protecting them and creating a better life for them. Surely an American can understand this, too (post-9/11 National Security brainwashing).
Until most Chinese start believing their government is evil, and that there is a much better, more free way to live, not much will change.
Is their government evil? It seems to me that their government has been hugely successful in bringing about economic growth and spreading that wealth effectively. There is corruption within the government and the equivalent of a dynasty going on at the leadership level, but evil seems an incorrect assessment.
Also is there an example of a much better more free way to live (that continues to work at China's scale)?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiananmen_Square_protests_of_19...
I suppose people can argue about how things are different now compared to the past, but I once worked with a man who was the sole survivor in his village. The rest of his family and village were starved to death. The cleanup crew found that he was still barely alive and nursed him back to health. He eventually smuggles himself to the U.S. It is one thing to hear about abstract atrocities in far-away lands, that happened a long time ago, but it is quite another thing to look someone in the face who has suffered from them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Chinese_Famine
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/01/china-great-fam...