China Warns Google
A Chinese minister made the government’s strongest statement yet on Google Inc.’s (GOOG) future in the country, warning that the U.S. Internet company “will have to bear the consequences” if it follows through on its pledge to stop censoring its Chinese search site.
Google said on Jan. 12 that it intended to stop following government requirements that it filter certain content from the results of its Chinese search engine, Google.cn. The company has been in talks in recent weeks with Chinese agencies about whether it can continue to operate Google.cn unfiltered–and if not, whether other parts of its Chinese operation would be affected.
At a press conference Friday, Li Yizhong, Minister of Industry and Information Technology, was asked by a reporter how China would react if Google does stop censoring Google.cn. “I hope Google can respect Chinese rules and regulations,” responded Mr. Li, whose ministry is one of several that regulates China’s Internet.
