If you haven’t been reading the news recently about the stuff that is going on between Google and China, basically China cut off Google from being accessed by its mainland citizens.  This is in response to google not censoring their search result, as required by Chinese laws. And THAT is in response to Google being hacked by hackers allegedly hacked by the Chinese government.

What strikes me in this situation, is that Google is using this as a chance to argue its right in free speech in an attempt to change Chinese government policies, gaining popularity as a righteous fighter against oppressive authorities and supporter of free-speech intellectuals. The fight is ideological, and its fighting for an progressive ideology that has its fundamental roots in the ideological foundation of the United States.

But I want to talk about things other than ideological evil and good, I want to talk about the other aspects. Let’s throw away the argument of free speech or not, and look at the position of both entities in a cold-businesslike way.

Google also has logistical difficulties operating its business under an authoritarian rule rather than a open one.  By limiting the infinite internet(remember its name, google counts for 1 followed by 100 zeros), its effectively limiting google’s field of operations.  Although google has many innovative services under its belt, its income powerhouse is still its ad revenue from its search engine.  And if there is a cap on that, it also limits google’s revenue.  Google is trying to change the information environment of China to a one that is closer to its native environment. (I’m not trying to paint google as a scheming company here- they need to balance its ideology and its business, after all)

China is defending its authority in two ways.  On the surface, the government dosen’t want people to access not-so-positive history such as the Tiananmen Square. However, the bigger stake for China, is that it cannot possible have such historical information exposed OFFICIALLY by a FOREIGN force.  ESPECIALLY by an American company.

China cannot set the precedent of a capitalist American company directly influencing major Chinese policies, and change its market environment while its at it.  This is especially when Google is regarded as the “not-evil” company and painted usually in benevolent and good light. China can’t play the “fair and reasonable guy” game that google is playing.  Google is a company that needs consumers on their side.  China is a government with authority it must protect. If China bows to Google’s demands, then it will set a precedent for other large foreign industries or powers to sway China’s policies and the market, which puts China at a disadvantage indefinitely in the global capitalism game.

The fight is on. Who would have expected that the follow-up to WWII would be more W’s and less I’s…