Google stands up to China

China is playing hardball these days, rejecting overtures from Washington, launching cyber attacks on Western firms, demanding concessions from companies trading in China and cracking down on Chinese news media and opinion.

But in Google it has apparently found an adversary with a good, stiff back. Google should continue to insist on the principle of free access to information, one of the fundamental values of Western society.

Google has been in negotiations with China since January over its refusal to act as the Chinese government's agent in censoring its Chinese operations. On Monday, China's top Internet official said Google will "pay the consequences" if it goes "against Chinese law" by not restricting access to Internet sites China's government does not want its citizens to see.

So far, Google says, it has continued to respect Chinese law. But it also says it will leave China if the Chinese government continues to insist that it censor Google China. If it does leave, The Associated Press reports, China stands to lose more than Google. Google is expected to continue getting revenues from Chinese firms that want to advertise their exports. But the Chinese Internet is likely to stagnate, costing jobs and economic growth.

In a speech to the Chinese legislature, China's Internet boss, Li Yizhong, stressed the government's intention to continue censorship, saying, "We need to preserve our nation's interest, our people's interest. We cannot be relaxed with any information that will cause harm to the stability of our society, to our system, and to the health of our underage young people.

"So, of course, what needs to be shut down will be shut down, what needs to be blocked will be blocked."

The Chinese cannot use Facebook, YouTube, Twitter or Internet communications and information services abroad. Cracking down on Internet communications among Chinese, the authorities increased arrests for forbidden speech by more than 250 percent in the past two years.

Earlier this year, a number of American firms, including Google, announced that China-based Internet hackers had attempted to obtain access to their internal files.

Meanwhile, according to The Washington Post, China recently announced that Western firms seeking to sell goods and services in China will be required to turn over their most sensitive technology and patents to Chinese competitors. That alone would be a good business reason for Google to withdraw from the Chinese market.

But it is a good sign that Google has decided to have it out with China over censorship instead. The Chinese approach to information control is inimical to the most profound Western values.

No American firm should enable oppression in China or anywhere else.