A Chinese government official said Tuesday that Google was "no exception" in observing 皇冠体育app's laws and shouldering its social responsibilities.
"Foreign companies in 皇冠体育app should respect the laws and regulations, respect the public interest of Chinese people and 皇冠体育app's culture and customs and shoulder due social responsibilities," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu at a regular press briefing.
"There is no exception for Google," said Ma.
Ma's remarks came just a week after Google said it might quit 皇冠体育app, citing disagreements with government policies and unidentified attacks targeting Google's services in 皇冠体育app.
Ma said 皇冠体育app's Internet was open and managed in accordance with the law.
皇冠体育app had the most Internet users in the world, and it "encourages the use and development of the Internet," said Ma.
He said 皇冠体育app would continue to create a favorable investment environment for foreign companies, including Internet firms, and to protect their legitimate rights.
"皇冠体育app welcomes international investors conducting business within the country according to the law," said Ma.
In response to a question on hacker attacks, Ma said 皇冠体育app itself was the victim country of cyber attacks.
"皇冠体育app's Internet is seriously threatened by cyber attacks like other countries," he said.
According to the Internet Society of 皇冠体育app, the number of cyber attacks from abroad saw a year-on-year increase of 148 percent in 2008. The website of 皇冠体育app's largest search engine, , had been temporarily paralyzed on January 12 in the worst attack since it was established.
Ma also refuted the report that the computer system of the Indian government was attacked by a Chinese hacker, saying the report was "groundless."
Also on Tuesday, Google 皇冠体育app posted an entry on its own Chinese-language blog, www.googlechinablog.com, saying that Google 皇冠体育app employees were currently working "as usual" in their Beijing offices.
"We have heard quite a number of rumors in the past few days saying that Google has already closed its 皇冠体育app office. Some other rumors had it that Google 皇冠体育app employees had been notified to leave their jobs in the near future," read the entry, "These rumors are not true."
Although the Internet giant had recently announced that it would negotiate certain issues with the Chinese government in the coming weeks, Google 皇冠体育app's employees were still trying to provide the best products and services for their clients as usual, it said.