Google's plan to quit China strains Sino-US relations

Google has threatened to pull out of China following data theft by China-based hackers

Following the disclosure that China-based hackers stole important corporate secrets from its computer systems, Google has threatened to pull out of China. The decision could come as a setback to United Sates’ efforts to built closer ties with China.

Effects on the diplomatic cauldron
The pullout is likely to complicate an already delicate diplomatic mesh. The U.S. requires China’s help to pressurize Iran and North Korea on nuclear issues.

The Obama administration would also like China to improve its human rights situation along with restructuring its economy to ensure that the people buy more than they export.

However, some experts are of the opinion that Google’s announcement about putting a check on filtering Internet searches through its site in China could give the U.S. administration a chance to bring up sensitive issues like human rights and cyber-espionage.

The nature of this attack on Google and another 33 firms including Adobe, Yahoo, Symantec, and Dow will also intensify the issue of cyber attacks in China.

Till now, the United States has not included cyber attacks in its diplomatic agenda, but this move may soon be on the cards. Susan Shirk, an expert on China at the University of California at San Diego, said, "Increasingly, this is more and more difficult to do. So it's definitely complicating foreign policy relations in that sense."

Different opinions
Rob Knake, an expert on cyber security with the Council on Foreign Relations, said, “Reluctance to bring up the issue of Internet censorship with China is no longer a tenable position."

Senior adviser for innovation to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Alec Ross said, “The administration has frequently made clear to the Chinese our views on the importance of unrestricted Internet use, as well as cybersecurity. We look to the Chinese for an explanation."

Jiang Yu, a spokesman of China’s Foreign Ministry, said, “The Chinese law proscribes any form of hacking activity and China's Internet is open and the Chinese government encourages development of the Internet."

However, in contradiction to Yu’s statement, a statement posted by cabinet spokesman Wang Chen on the Website of the State Council Information Office supported government’s decision to regulate content posted on the Internet.

"Maintaining the safe operation of the Internet and the secure flow of information is a fundamental requirement for guaranteeing state security and people's fundamental interests, promoting economic development and cultural prosperity and maintaining a harmonious and stable society," Wang said.