Recently, Google has decided to come out swinging over what it says was a highly sophisticated concern – Chinese hacking into its computer systems. This incident has led many to be concerned about China’s business environment as far less hospitable than any place in the world. Since it made a surprise announcement, technology companies such as Adobe Systems, Rackspace Hosting and Juniper Networks has seconded motion that their security systems had also been breached.
Google has approached other victims to get the thing publicize but had been frustrated by their reluctance to come forward. In another report, Intel said that it cannot participate in the censorship of information by government as they have no evidence of a broad based attack on its systems.
But still, the American Chamber of Commerce in China is not stepping back. In a recent announcement, the Chamber reported that member companies are “optimistic, but concerned about China” – worried about the security of commercial correspondence, data, networks and the free flow of information, protection of intellectual property rights and uniform application of the laws.
The worries goes beyond information security. As a matter of fact, the Chamber reported that government edicts requiring local governments to buy Chinese products whenever possible. But despite the concerns, the Chinese market is still too huge to be ignored.
Statistically speaking, direct foreign investment in China doubled in December to 12.1 billion dollars. The Commerce Ministry of China has announced not so long ago that growth is up and the economy is booming. As such, that Google brouhaha is hardly a surprised.
But relationship is not so huge a concern as what spokesman Yao Jian said, “any decision by Google to withdraw from China will not affect Sino-US Trade Relations.” At least we have a reason to be relieved.