Chinese condemn Google withdrawal

GOOGLE’s partial withdrawal from China brought swift condemnation from the government while leaving Chinese web surfers to wonder whether they would be able to access a new offshore search engine site or be blocked by censors.

Google’s decision to move most of its China-based search functions to Hong Kong opened a new phase in a two-month-long fracas pitting the world’s most powerful internet company against a government that tightly restricts the web.

A few Chinese passers-by laid flowers or chocolates on the large metal “Google” sign outside the company’s office building in northern Beijing. Many Chinese felt caught in the middle, admiring Google for taking a stand against censorship but wondering whether the government might further punish the company.

“I don’t know what the Chinese government will do to Google next,” said Zhou Shuguang, a blogger who uses the name “Zuola.” “But I welcome the move and support Google because an uncensored search engine is something that I need.”

After threatening to quit China over cyberattacks and self-censorship, Google announced yesterday that its Chinese search engine, google.cn, would automatically redirect queries to its service in Hong Kong, where Google is not legally required to censor searches.

The shift did not mean, however, that Chinese were suddenly allowed unfettered access to everything on the internet. Chinese web filters – known as the Great Firewall – automatically weed out anything considered pornographic or politically sensitive. The move shifts the responsibility for censoring from Google to the communist government.

Beijing responded swiftly, testily declaring that Google violated commitments it made to abide by China’s censorship rules when it entered the market in 2006.

“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 with the State Council Information Office, was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency.

The withdrawal makes Google the latest foreign internet company to founder in a market that is heavily regulated and prone to particular consumer tastes. Yahoo, eBay and Microsoft’s MSN have never gained the traction in the China market that homegrown rivals have.

Google’s move, however, marks only a partial retreat. It’s leaving behind a research and sales division. Its map services and a music portal still have their servers in the mainland, and its e-mail service remains available too.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said China had a right to filter content deemed harmful to society and national security and Google’s response should not harm wider relations with the US.

Initial post-move plans were broken to some of Google’s 600 staff in Beijing office, said a spokeswoman Jessica Powell. “We haven’t worked out all the details so we can’t ever rule out letting people go, but we very much want to avoid that.”