Can China live without Google?
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I'm not sure if Google knows that its arrogance can easily remind the Chinese people of the "big powers" who cracked open China's door by warships and cannons in the 19th century. The reason those invaders could make the Qing government sign unfair treaties is that they owned advance weapons that China didn't have. The Washington Post refuted such association by claiming that it was just an unfriendly propaganda by the Chinese government. The reporter of the Post or even Google didn't understand that they had been on the road of the big powers again. The only difference was military weapons in the past and Internet service today. The Post has very likely gotten to the nerves of the Chinese government.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao once talked about China's foreign policies when answering questions from Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao. Wen said the Chinese people have suffered a lot in the past 500 years, and that's why they have such strong feelings for their country's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
China's top leaders have a constant policy that stresses opening up to the world. But Google has challenged the Chinese government's sovereignty by demanding the government accept Google's presumed definition on "opening up". China has always been in a developing mode that shows no signs of stopping.
Ed Burnette, a columnist from adnet.com under the Columbia Broadcasting System Corp (CBS) says it was "a pity and an avoidable mistake" for Google to retreat from China. And he also says it's "arrogant thinking to assume that we know what's best for China, and our values can still work well in that very different culture; and it's an ignorant idea to believe threats and ultimatums can bring positive results, especially from such proud and sufficient people."
The current "China Threat" theory shows Western countries are actually in fear of being dominated by China one day. The same goes for Google, who is insinuating a "you can't do without me" message to China. I was wondering whether Google is waiting for China to cater to it or trying get away from it.
(The comment was first published in Hong Kong's Chinese newspaper Sing Tao Daily)
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