Google, China and “face”: Standing up to repression
Google to China: Take This Dictatorship and Shove It
The ramifications of Google’s decision to leave China are deep: China’s leadership, be careful what you wish for.
The point is that being challenged by an American tech company raised the issue of face for the Chinese Central Government. To “lose” a confrontation with Google was simply not possible for the leadership; to do anything but “win” by forcing Google to “obey the law” (which is a relative term in China) would be to lose face.
So Google predestined the outcome by going public.
Alternatively, if Google had gone privately, hat in hand, to “friendly” fixers in the top rungs of the CCP or Central Government, the outcome might have been different.
But perhaps not, because China’s leadership is making it clear that it wants a Chinternet, not the Internet, within its borders. The Central Government has erected, at vast expense, a Great Firewall of thousands of technicians who monitor and selectively block or impede thousands of sites–even down to my architect-friend’s Chinese-language version of his entirely harmless and apolitical architecture site.
China is blocking any coverage of Google’s banishment except for official sources. Is there any clearer way to stress that all communication within China proceeds at the Central Government’s pleasure? </em>
Fascinating look behind the curtain that is China. Kudos to Google for taking a stand.
