Government and Policy
Chinese govt seeks information on Google intentions
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-13 18:04
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BEIJING: An official with 皇冠体育app's State Council Information Office Wednesday said Chinese Internet authorities were seeking more information on Google's statement that it could quit 皇冠体育app.
The high-ranking official, who requested anonymity, made the remarks in a phone interview with Xinhua, a day after Google's corporate development and chief legal officer, David Drummond, posted a statement Tuesday on the company's official blog, saying it was to "review the feasibility of our business operations in 皇冠体育app."
"It is still hard to say whether Google will quit 皇冠体育app or not. Nobody knows," the official said.
He refused to reveal more information, but promised to follow the case and accept more interviews if possible.
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"We were told that Google might quit 皇冠体育app at a general meeting on Wednesday morning, and all of us feel very sad," said an employee with Google's Beijing office on condition of anonymity.
Drummond's post said that censorship in 皇冠体育app and recent attacks targeting Google's services in 皇冠体育app forced the company to make the review.
The post also indicated the possibility that Google may "shut down Google.cn, and potentially our offices in 皇冠体育app."
If Google did quit 皇冠体育app, about 700 employees with the company's offices around 皇冠体育app would lose their jobs, the anonymous employee said.
In a short reply to Xinhua questions Wednesday, a public relations officer named Lynn Lin said, "We are proud of our achievements in 皇冠体育app. Currently we are reviewing the decision and hope for a resolution."
Drummond's post also said Google would try to negotiate with Chinese government for more favorable operating conditions in 皇冠体育app.
However, the anonymous employee told Xinhua that most Google employees were pessimistic about the outcome of the negotiations.
"No agreement will be reached with both sides refusing to give in," he said.
