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Meanwhile, Google, the dominant force on the western web, is being eclipsed in China by Baidu.com, which accounts for about 60 per cent of the search market – three times as much as its US rival.

Citing the travails of other western groups, Facebook’s potential rivals in China have so far rubbished the American company’s prospects.

"We don't think Facebook will become our real threat here in China," Jack Zhang, the president and CEO of Zhanzuo.com, recently told the China Daily.

Mr Zhang, a Yale MBA graduate, added: "On the contrary, few foreign internet companies have done a great job in China up to now and we are confident of our future development."

American groups have also been fiercely criticised for agreeing to toe Beijing's strict line on issues such as censorship.

Jerry Yang, the Yahoo chief executive officer, recently apologised for his company’s role in the imprisonment of a Chinese dissident after the US company provided details that identified journalist Shi Tao to US authorities.

Speculation is growing that Facebook is preparing a foray into China, with the social network being linked to a number of possible acquisition targets in the world’s second-largest internet market.

Facebook has reportedly held talks in recent weeks with Zhanzuo.com, a Chinese social networking site that, like its American peer in its early days, is focused on college students.

According to the Chinese press, Facebook has maintained an interest in Zhanzuo despite the Chinese group rebuffing an offer of up to $100 million (£48 million).

Facebook, itself the centre of takeover speculation in recent months, has also been linked to Tianwang, a Chinese search engine, and Xiaonei.com, the leading social network in China.

Xianonei, which has an appearance similar to Facebook, claims to have 8 million active users in almost 8,000 colleges and universities in China. The site – its name means "on campus" – was acquired last year by Oak Pacific Interactive, the Chinese new media conglomerate.

A Facebook spokesperson declined to comment.

However, the company is known to have registered a Chinese internet address – Facebook.com.cn – and China, with its growing consumer class, is a key target for America’s internet giants.

It is estimated that China has some 162 million internet users, placing it second only to the US. According to a recent poll, the average Chinese user spends between 14 and 19 hours a week online, compared with between seven and ten hours in the US.

However, the burgeoning market – another 700 million rural Chinese are set to go online in coming years – is proving resistant to outsiders.

In 2005, Yahoo! announced it would merge its Chinese arm with Alibaba.com, a domestic rival, drawing a line under years of losses in the country.

EBay, the world’s largest online auction house, has struggled to compete with China’s Taobao.com, despite the American company making its entry into China through the acquisition of EachNet.com, at the time China’s largest auction site.

Meanwhile, Google, the dominant force on the western web, is being eclipsed in China by Baidu.com, which accounts for about 60 per cent of the search market – three times as much as its US rival.

Citing the travails of other western groups, Facebook’s potential rivals in China have so far rubbished the American company’s prospects.

"We don't think Facebook will become our real threat here in China," Jack Zhang, the president and CEO of Zhanzuo.com, recently told the China Daily.

Mr Zhang, a Yale MBA graduate, added: "On the contrary, few foreign internet companies have done a great job in China up to now and we are confident of our future development."

American groups have also been fiercely criticised for agreeing to toe Beijing's strict line on issues such as censorship.

Jerry Yang, the Yahoo chief executive officer, recently apologised for his company’s role in the imprisonment of a Chinese dissident after the US company provided details that identified journalist Shi Tao to US authorities.

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