BEIJING: China said yesterday that Google’s threat to stop operating in the country would not affect Sino-US trade ties, after Washington pressed for an explanation of China-based cyberattacks on the Internet giant.However, China insisted that Google must obey its laws, after the company said it would no longer bow to the communist country’s army of Internet censors by filtering search results available on Google.cn.
The US firm — whose unofficial motto is “Don’t Be Evil” — said it could abandon its Chinese search engine, and perhaps shut its offices in the world’s largest online market by users, over theft of its intellectual property.
“No matter what decision Google makes, it will not affect overall trade and economic relations between China and the United States,” commerce ministry spokesman Yao Jian said.
“The two countries have multiple communication channels. We are confident in the healthy development of economic and trade relations between China and the United States.”
In Beijing’s first official reaction Thursday, a foreign ministry spokeswoman insisted China’s Internet was “open” but defended its censorship system and said foreign firms must abide by the law.
Yao echoed those remarks, saying foreign firms operating in China should “respect the laws, public interest, culture and traditions in host countries, and take on social responsibilities accordingly”.
“China is transferring from a traditional planned economy to a socialist market economy. Stability and development are our top priorities at the current stage,” the commerce ministry spokesman said.
He said Google should “make the right choice” about its future, noting that China’s development would benefit both the country itself and companies doing business there.
Google said the cyberattacks were likely aimed at gaining access to the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists, but has said it does not believe that goal was achieved.
The row has threatened to rattle ties between Washington and Beijing — already frayed over a number of issues, from the Copenhagen climate change debacle to the value of the Chinese yuan and a number of other trade disputes.
Earlier this week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton demanded answers from China over the Google case. On Thursday, State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said Chinese embassy and US officials had met in Washington.
Crowley said the issue “raises questions about both Internet freedom and the security of the Internet in China” — home to more than 380 million web users according to latest Chinese government figures. — AFP