China says Google exit 'totally wrong'

THE CHINESE government slammed web giant Google as “totally wrong” to withdraw from China, remarks supported by some internet users but leaving others worried that China might now be isolated within the global online community.

Again there were floral tributes outside the group’s Beijing base, but Google’s decision to relocate its Chinese unit google.cn to Hong Kong (google.hk) left many users wondering whether they would be able to access the search engine or be blocked by censors.

Many internet users, especially students and younger people, said they would now investigate external servers or Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

A random series of tests in Beijing of the new service yesterday showed access to sites dealing with thorny political issues such as Tibet, Xinjiang or the June 1989 crackdown on democracy activists remained impossible. Some users could not access google.hk at all.

Those who could were delighted to see that the Chinese language was in simplified characters – mainland China uses different pictograms from Hong Kong, which uses traditional script.

The government stuck to its hard line on Google’s decision: “This is totally wrong. We’re uncompromisingly opposed to the politicisation of commercial issues, and express our discontent and indignation to Google for its unreasonable accusations and conducts,” an official at the internet bureau said.

Google is not abandoning the China market, only the search engine part, and it will leave behind a significant presence in the market – a research unit, sales division, map services and a music download portal. However, there are question marks over how long these services will be allowed to continue if the Chinese government decides Google has broken the law.

Many Chinese admired Google for taking a stand against censorship but there was a streak of fatalism in some of their comments. “Google is just an internet company. It is brave to fight against the government. But a company’s thought cannot change a government’s policy. Now, it is google.hk, not google.cn. But I don’t feel anything changed. China is a big market. I don’t think Google has the courage to just leave China,” said Gu Jun (27) who works in public relations.

Fan Fan (26), an accountant, didn’t understand the timing of Google’s departure. “China has huge potential. This isn’t a real ‘quit’, the service is the same. I just hope it doesn’t end up banned like Facebook or Twitter, it has lots of great services,” said Mr Fan.

“The Chinese government has to keep face, and will not change its policies for one company. Internet policies are not negotiable. Google has hit the Great Firewall of China. Of course it’s going to get hurt,” said Mr Fan.