Webmaster: Google has finally withdrawn from China... Of course, we can still use it, although support for Chinese might not be as good in the future. However, it is worth considering: is this a matter of Google’s RP (reputation/character), or a matter of China’s policy?
At 3:03 AM Beijing time on March 23, David Drummond, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Google, published a statement in a blog post announcing the cessation of "filtering and censorship" for Google China’s search services and the relocation of search services from mainland China to Hong Kong.
He stated that mainland Chinese users accessing google.cn will be automatically redirected to the Google Hong Kong page, where they can use uncensored services including Google Search, Google News, and Google Images, with servers located in Hong Kong.
The statement also indicated that Google does not intend to completely withdraw from mainland China. It will maintain its sales and research and development operations in China and keep services such as the uncensored Google Maps. The future of Google’s 600 employees in China remains undecided, though they may be reassigned.
According to reports from Xinhua News Agency, an official from the Internet Bureau of the State Council Information Office issued a statement regarding this matter early this morning.
The official pointed out that foreign companies operating in China must abide by Chinese laws. Google has violated the written commitment it made when entering the Chinese market by stopping the filtering of its search services and by making insinuations and accusations against China regarding hacker attacks. This is entirely wrong. We resolutely oppose the politicization of commercial issues and express our dissatisfaction and indignation at Google’s unreasonable accusations and practices.
The official said that on January 12, Google publicly issued a statement without prior communication with relevant government departments, claiming it had suffered hacker attacks supported by the Chinese government, expressing unwillingness to operate a "censored internet search engine" in China, and "considering withdrawing from the Chinese market." At Google’s repeated request, and to hear their true thoughts in person while demonstrating China’s sincerity, officials from relevant Chinese government departments met with Google representatives twice, on January 29 and February 25. They provided patient and detailed explanations regarding the issues raised, emphasizing that foreign companies in China should follow Chinese law. If Google is willing to abide by Chinese law, we still welcome its operation and development in China; if Google insists on withdrawing its search services from the Google China website, that is Google’s own business, but it must responsibly handle the aftermath in accordance with Chinese law and international practice.
The official noted that the Chinese government encourages the development and popularization of the internet and promotes its opening to the outside world. Communication and speech on the Chinese internet are very active, and e-commerce is developing rapidly. Facts have proven that China’s investment and development environment for the internet is good. China will unswervingly adhere to the policy of opening up, welcome foreign enterprises to participate in the development of China’s internet, and provide good services for foreign businesses to operate and develop in China. China’s internet will continue to maintain its momentum of rapid development.
Source: http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2010-03-23/080117259661s.shtml
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