Push factor in Google's pullout threat

• Source: Global Times
• [01:21 January 19 2010]
• Comments

When the Internet technology becomes a political tool, high-tech strength is transformed into "smart power."

To China, the real challenge in Google's threat to go lies not in its exit as much as in its power play. The technology giant has made its survival in China a political issue.

With China's market potential and booming economy, none of the nearly 700,000 foreign enterprises in the country can afford to hold out a threat, like Google, to pack up and go. The reason is simple: Competition would make sure that any vacated space is occupied swiftly by others.

Now Google, as a New Economy techno-power, views itself as irreplaceable among millions of users.

And it tried to prove itself an exception to the rule that applies to so many brick-and-mortar industries enterprises.

Despite Google's overestimation of its prowess, there is no denying that it has a distinct competitive edge as the world's top search engine. Through technological advances and creative innovations, it has brought much convenience to Chinese users and won itself a huge market share.

There is also no denying that the US administration is using the innovative technology to tilt the global balance of power politics, promote Western values and reinforce Western dominance on these new frontiers.

In the era when cyber technology transcends a country's physical borders, strategic thinking extends to safeguarding electronic borders as well.