It’s now day two of Google’s proposed pull-out from China. Already, there has been a huge outpouring of support from China’s web community.

The Irish Times reports that defiant online messages have been posted and bouquets of flowers have been left at the company’s headquarters in Beijing. Attached to one bouquet was a note that read, “Google – a real man.” Security at Science Park, where the bouquets were left, declared the act “illegal flower donation.”

China, of course, could not flourish without the internet. It provides a sources of information flow without which the country’s economy might flounder.

Many are doubtful that China’s government will bend to Google’s demands. This means it’s very likely that Google will have to follow through on its threat to pull out of the world’s largest internet markets.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, for her part, issued a statement about the very serious turn of events: “We have been briefed by Google on these allegations, which raise very serious concerns and questions. We look to the Chinese government for an explanation. The ability to operate with confidence in cyberspace is critical in a modern society and economy.” She added that next week, she will be giving an address on the centrality of internet freedom in the 21st century.

China expert James Fallows writes that Google’s potential pull-out will be “potentially very significant for China’s relations with the rest of the world.” Interestingly though, he says that the decision will not likely affect information flow to China in the least: “Anybody inside China who really wants to get to Google.com — or BBC or whatever site may be blocked for the moment — can still do so easily, by using a proxy server or buying (for under $1 per week) a VPN service.” Fallows goes further to say that the Chinese government’s unwillingness to address Google’s concerns and complaints shows that China is on a path that courts resistance around the world.

TechCrunch writer Sarah Lacy says that the move is mostly about business. Google’s business wasn’t doing so well in China, struggling to get a hold on the Chinese search market that was hugely dominated by Chinese-made search giant Baidu. Google currently only holds one-third of the Chinese market.

Some commentators believe Google may be bluffing. CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets wrote in a research note that they believe Google will stay in China, since it is such a vital market. They also pointed out that China could face some international pressure should Google actually end ties with the country.

Former Microsoft CEO Tang Jun commented that the decision for Google to pull out would be “the most foolish decision in Google’s history. To give up China means to give up half the world.”

Kaila Krayewski

Kaila Krayewski is a freelance journalist with a passion for all things internet. Having worked for nearly two years as the public relations manager for an internation search engine optimization company, and publishing hundreds of articles (how-to, informational, and otherwise) on SEO, she knows a thing or two about the field. Furthermore, having just started up her own website blondetraveler.com, she is doing her best to keep one step ahead of the search engines in order to keep the traffic flowing. 

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