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Google to blame for Gmail shutdown, say Chinese state media Google to blame for Gmail shutdown, say Chinese state media
(about 3 hours later)
Google’s unwillingness to obey Chinese law is to blame for the shutdown of its hugely popular email service, state-run media have said after the last easy way to access Gmail was apparently blocked.Google’s unwillingness to obey Chinese law is to blame for the shutdown of its hugely popular email service, state-run media have said after the last easy way to access Gmail was apparently blocked.
“China welcomes the company to do business on the prerequisite that it obeys Chinese law; however Google values more its reluctance to be restricted by Chinese law, resulting in conflict,” the Global Times said in an editorial.“China welcomes the company to do business on the prerequisite that it obeys Chinese law; however Google values more its reluctance to be restricted by Chinese law, resulting in conflict,” the Global Times said in an editorial.
Gmail, the world’s biggest email service, has been largely inaccessible from within China since the runup to the 25th anniversary in June of the Tiananmen Square crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators.Gmail, the world’s biggest email service, has been largely inaccessible from within China since the runup to the 25th anniversary in June of the Tiananmen Square crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators.
Users could access the service by using third-party mail applications but Jeremy Goldkorn, the founder of Danwei, a Beijing-based firm that tracks Chinese media and the internet, said that has also been barred by the government in recent days.Users could access the service by using third-party mail applications but Jeremy Goldkorn, the founder of Danwei, a Beijing-based firm that tracks Chinese media and the internet, said that has also been barred by the government in recent days.
China operates the world’s most extensive and sophisticated Internet censorship system, known as the “great firewall”. Foreign websites including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are routinely blocked and content that the ruling Communist party deems offensive is often quickly deleted. China operates the world’s most extensive and sophisticated internet censorship system, known as the “great firewall”. Foreign websites including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are routinely blocked and content that the ruling Communist party deems offensive is often quickly deleted.
Google withdrew from China in 2010 after a fallout with Beijing over censorship issues.Google withdrew from China in 2010 after a fallout with Beijing over censorship issues.
“The issue at heart is to what extent Google is willing to obey Chinese law, on which China’s attitude is steadfast,” said the Global Times, which is close to the Communist party.“The issue at heart is to what extent Google is willing to obey Chinese law, on which China’s attitude is steadfast,” said the Global Times, which is close to the Communist party.
Access problems could be “caused by the China side, by Google itself or a combination of the two”, it added.Access problems could be “caused by the China side, by Google itself or a combination of the two”, it added.
A Google spokesman said on Monday that an internal check found “nothing wrong on our end”. A Google spokesman said on Monday that an internal check had found “nothing wrong on our end”.
If China did block Gmail, the Global Times said, it “must have been prompted by newly emerged security reasons” and users should “accept the reality”.If China did block Gmail, the Global Times said, it “must have been prompted by newly emerged security reasons” and users should “accept the reality”.
“We only need to have faith that China has its own logic in terms of internet policy and it is made and runs in accordance with the country’s fundamental interests,” it added.“We only need to have faith that China has its own logic in terms of internet policy and it is made and runs in accordance with the country’s fundamental interests,” it added.
“We don’t want to be shut off, as it obviously doesn’t serve our own interests.”“We don’t want to be shut off, as it obviously doesn’t serve our own interests.”
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she was not aware of the blocking of the service when asked about the issue at a press conference on Monday.Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she was not aware of the blocking of the service when asked about the issue at a press conference on Monday.
“I would like to stress that China always welcomes and supports foreign investors’ legal business operations in China,” she said.“I would like to stress that China always welcomes and supports foreign investors’ legal business operations in China,” she said.