Google's cold war with China (and the hackers hit back)

[Skud]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/wo...agewanted=1&hp

I'll throw my support behind their decision to back out under such conditions.

The later cyber attacks/hacks, related or otherwise, into businesses even in the Silicon Valley, are a bit concerning, for many reasons...when one looks at competition, national security or whatnot...though I'm sure they'd have happened (and do happen) eventually anyway.

[Hammy]

Not trying to start an arguement, but the company that surveils everything you do with its' search engine is a little uneasy about the Bejing Govt doing the same thing they do every day?

I realize that only a portion of everyone in here will have lived inside the software industry like I have for the last 15 years, but here is what is really happening:

The Chinese Govt is giving Baidu free reign and Google is on a leash.
The business practices in China are similar to the way the US Government was until about 1965, where we frowned on foreign investment on domestic soil. Google is allowed to be there, but the Chinese govt makes it very difficult for them to live there because, frankly, the Chinese do not want Google there. They do not want my company there. They do not wany anyone that is not incorporated in China building a business in China.

I think that the story behind the story, or between the lines, for me when I read this is that Google is realizing that it is very expensive, risky, and difficult to do business on Chinese soil.

[Rand{CLR}]

I don't know that I would said Baidu has free reign. As a Chinese company, they have to kowtow and agree to restrict freedoms of press and expression. They just won't speak out against it like a non-Chinese firm.

-Rand

[mapes]

The Chinese Govt is giving Baidu free reign and Google is on a leash.
The business practices in China are similar to the way the US Government was until about 1965, where we frowned on foreign investment on domestic soil. Google is allowed to be there, but the Chinese govt makes it very difficult for them to live there because, frankly, the Chinese do not want Google there. They do not want my company there. They do not wany anyone that is not incorporated in China building a business in China.

Maybe in IT tech that might be true however China has been doing joint ventures with a couple of other companies. Mostly in order to learn the tech...

[Pumpkin_Jack]

They do not wany anyone that is not incorporated in China building a business in China.

Is Wal-Mart incorporated in china?