Rising power and most populous country in the world China has been invaded by an American force: The Walt Disney Company.

　　Through an agreement with China's biggest operator of online games, Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd., Disney characters will appear in a new game operated by Shanda. Although Disney will lend its images and characters to the game, the game will be created and operated by the Shanghai-based game company, which already runs 12 other online games in China.

　　Disney has yet to leave its mark in the country of 1.3 billion with its movies, television shows, or theme parks. It is currently negotiating with government officials to bring a theme park in Shanghai and a Disney-themed China-based TV station. The government regulates all media in the country, including online video games.

　　But Disney hopes to find an audience with a new "online casual game," which Shanda says reaches out to more women and young children than a typical massively multiplayer online role-playing game does.

　　"The market for online games in China is large and growing, and it was important for us to find the right partner. We're pleased to have found that in Shanda," said Mark Handler, executive vice president and managing director, International, Walt Disney Internet Group.

　　China's online games industry, which pulled in $455 million in 2005, is bigger than the country's box office sales. Telecommunications research firm BDA China Ltd. estimates that figure will rise to $655 million in 2006, and then to $1.8 billion in 2010, according to The Wall Street Journal.

　　"China is a priority for the entire company," said Stanley Cheung, managing director at the Walt Disney Company (China), "and this announcement is part of our strategy to expand our presence here."

　　Open beta for the new and still untitled game will begin in the spring of 2007.