Google changes its strategy in China just prior to expiration of license

The U.S. internet group Google announced Tuesday it will no longer divert Internet users to its site of Hong Kong, a day before the expiration of the government license.

After a long dispute with the Chinese government, Google, fed up with Chinese censors and cyber attacks from that country, decided in March not to censor its website in Chinese more and move to Hong Hong, diverting Internet users were connected to Chinese portal Chinese google.com.hk Google.cn to the portal.

"In the coming days, we will stop completely deflect (the Internet) and will welcome our Chinese customers on a new page," said Google vice president David Drummong, the official company blog, without specifying whether the group again be subject to censorship in China.

This new page Google.cn, which proposes a link to the Google portal Hong Kong, will allow "those who use it to search or continue to use Internet services like music Google.cn or translation without filters," said Drummond.

"This approach allows us to remain faithful to our commitment not to censor the results obtained in Google.cn and gives users access to all our services from a page," said Drummond.

This is due to end on 30 June agreed to Google's license to operate in mainland China, he said, stressing that the decision to direct Internet users to the former British colony was considered "unacceptable" for Chinese leaders.

"If we continue to divert users, our license ICP (Internet Content Provider) will not be renewed without this license (...) ICP, we can not operate a commercial site as Google.ch, which means that Google would keep the lights on in China "he added.

Contacted by AFP, a spokesman for Google China said the difference was that in future the Internet would no longer be automatically diverted to Hong Kong, but should do it manually.

"We hope to obtain renewal of the license, but we are awaiting the final decision," said Marsha Wang

"As mentioned in the blog, we resubmitted our request on the ground of this new approach," he added.

For his part, the Chinese Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Foreign Affairs was not aware of Google's decision and reaffirmed the U.S. position in this case.

"I would stress that the Chinese government encourages foreign companies to operate in China under the law," the spokesman said during a regular news briefing.