Two days after Google threatened to stop doing business in China, the nation’s leadership is not budging. A senior Chinese government official left little reason to believe Google can find a compromise with the communist country.
Wang Chen, the minister of the State Council Information Office, did not address the Google incident directly. Rather, his statement was posted on an official government web site and in state-controlled media.
“China’s Internet is entering an important stage of development, confronting both rare opportunities and severe challenges. The Internet is bringing massive changes to social life, as well as making life much more convenient for many, but at the same time problems with Internet security are increasingly stark,” said Chen, noting a severe threat to the physical and mental health of minors from Internet pornography.
China: Internet Should Nurture
As Chen sees it, ensuring the secure operation of the Internet and its information flow ensures national security and the fundamental interests of the people.
In some sense, he said, the greater the reach and influence of Internet media, the greater are the demands for security and reliability, and the greater the responsibilities officials shoulder for Internet security. He said the Internet must fully grasp the major significance of ensuring security and constantly enhance its sense of responsibility, urgency and mission.
“We must make truly improving our capacity to guide opinion on the Internet a major measure for protecting Internet security. Our country is at a crucial stage of reform and development, and this is a period of marked social conflicts. … Properly guiding Internet opinion is a major measure for protecting Internet information security,” Chen said.
Chen added that Internet media need to make nurturing positive, progressive mainstream opinion an important duty. Currently, he added, the Internet allows spreading rumors, issuing false information, and other actions that diminish confidence, and…