China: Google Should Obey Rules When Leaving

Last week, referring to Google's plans to uncensor search results, China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology, Li Yizhong, told reporters, "If you don't respect Chinese laws, you are unfriendly and irresponsible, and the consequences will be on you." Then, on Sunday, a report citing people familiar with the situation said Google's plans to leave China were 99.9 percent certain.

Today, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce said Google should follow the rules, even if it does decide to pull out of China. "On entering the Chinese market in 2007, it clearly stated that it would respect Chinese law," Reuters quotes spokesman, Yao Jian, as saying. "We hope that whether Google Inc continues operating in China or makes other choices, it will respect Chinese legal regulations," Yao continued. "Even if it pulls out, it should handle things according to the rules and appropriately handle remaining issues," he said.

Yao went on to say that the rules he was referring to included reporting Commerce Ministry about plans to pull out. Google said yesterday it has not concluded its talks with the Chinese authorities but said it was adamant about not censoring its results.

Read Reuter's full report here.

  • tommysch
    Google should by a bunch of retired Russian ICBMs complete with warheads just in case.
    Reply
  • mavanhel
    "On entering the Chinese market in 2007, it clearly stated that it would respect Chinese law," Reuters quotes spokesman, Yao Jian, as saying.

    So should Google have known about the censorship issues before entering China? In this case Google shouldn't have even started to be involved with China if it didn't like the rules.
    Reply
  • noodlegts
    What exactly are the consequences if Google just drops its search engine into China and leaves it 100% uncensored. What exactly can China do?

    Just curious.
    Reply
  • _Cubase_
    I am sure Google will respect China's rules when the Chinese learn to respect western road rules... i.e: never.
    Reply
  • back_by_demand
    If Google pulls out of China and do not comply with their laws, what exactly could China do to Google apart from huff and puff?
    A fine? Good luck with that if they aren't there anymore.
    Shut the business down? They already left.
    All that's left is sending the triads to whack them...
    ...oh, hang on, that's actually feasible, Google should comply...
    Reply
  • drip50291
    What rules do they have to follow if they're just leaving? It seems like google is mad and they're just gonna leave and say F*** China. What laws are involved in this?
    Reply
  • JasonAkkerman
    noodlegtsWhat exactly are the consequences if Google just drops its search engine into China and leaves it 100% uncensored. What exactly can China do?Just curious.
    Block all access to google.com. That would kill all of their ad revenues, and China is a big market. Google is messing with the bull and is about to get the horns.
    Reply
  • davendork
    noodlegtsWhat exactly are the consequences if Google just drops its search engine into China and leaves it 100% uncensored. What exactly can China do?Just curious.It may take all of China's lawyers to define and put a price on free thought in order to sue Google.
    Can't we get all our plastic junk made in another developing country?
    Reply
  • viewwin
    mavanhelSo should Google have known about the censorship issues before entering China? In this case Google shouldn't have even started to be involved with China if it didn't like the rules.Because hackers from China stole their source code. It's not like they are going after hackers in China hardcore.
    Reply
  • davendork
    Google should make all Google.cn search results just return a picture of the Dictator Hu Jintao.
    Reply