

Currently released so far... 12478 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AU
ASEC
AE
AF
AORC
AEMR
AMGT
ABUD
AFFAIRS
APER
AS
AMED
AY
AG
AR
AJ
AL
AID
AM
AODE
ABLD
AMG
AFIN
ATRN
AGAO
AFU
AN
AA
ALOW
APECO
ADM
ARF
ASEAN
APEC
AMBASSADOR
AO
ASUP
AZ
AADP
ACOA
ANET
AMCHAMS
ACABQ
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APCS
AGMT
AINF
AIT
AORL
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ACBAQ
AFGHANISTAN
ADANA
ADPM
AX
ADCO
AECL
AMEX
ACAO
ASCH
AORG
AGR
AROC
ASIG
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
BL
BR
BO
BA
BD
BM
BK
BG
BU
BB
BH
BTIO
BY
BEXP
BP
BE
BRUSSELS
BF
BIDEN
BT
BX
BC
BILAT
BN
BBSR
BTIU
BWC
BMGT
CA
CASC
CVIS
CM
CH
CO
CU
CD
CWC
CI
CS
CY
CMGT
CF
CG
CR
CB
CV
CW
CE
CBW
CT
CPAS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CJAN
CODEL
CIDA
CDG
CDC
CIA
CTR
CNARC
CSW
CN
CONS
CLINTON
COE
CROS
CARICOM
CONDOLEEZZA
COUNTER
CL
COM
CICTE
CIS
CFED
COUNTRY
CJUS
CBSA
CEUDA
CLMT
CAC
COPUOS
CIC
CBE
CHR
CTM
CVR
CITEL
CLEARANCE
CACS
CAN
CITT
CARSON
CACM
CDB
CAPC
CKGR
CBC
EC
EG
EPET
ECON
ETRD
EFIN
EIND
EMIN
ENRG
EAID
EAGR
EUN
ETTC
EAIR
ENIV
ES
EU
EINV
ELAB
ECIN
EFIS
ELTN
EWWT
ECPS
ECONOMIC
ENGR
EN
EINT
EPA
ELN
ESA
EZ
ER
ET
EFTA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
EXTERNAL
EI
EUR
EK
ERNG
ENGY
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENERG
EINVEFIN
ENVR
ECA
ELECTIONS
ETC
EUREM
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EURN
ECINECONCS
EEPET
EXIM
ERD
ENVI
ETRC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ETRO
EDU
ETRN
EAIG
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
EIAR
EXBS
ECUN
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ESENV
ECONEFIN
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINVETC
IZ
IT
IR
IS
IN
IC
IAEA
IO
ICAO
IWC
ID
IV
ISRAEL
IAHRC
IQ
ICTR
IMF
IRS
IDP
IGAD
ICRC
ICTY
IMO
IL
INRA
INRO
ICJ
ITU
IBRD
INMARSAT
IIP
ITALY
IEFIN
IACI
ILO
INTELSAT
ILC
ITRA
IDA
INRB
IRC
INTERPOL
IA
IPR
IRAQI
ISRAELI
INTERNAL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IBET
INR
IEA
IZPREL
IRAJ
ITF
IF
KDEM
KU
KPAL
KNNP
KCRM
KZ
KN
KS
KJUS
KTFN
KSCA
KV
KISL
KPAO
KPKO
KIRF
KTIA
KIPR
KFLO
KFRD
KTIP
KAWC
KSUM
KCOM
KAID
KE
KTDB
KMDR
KOMC
KWBG
KDRG
KVPR
KTEX
KGIC
KWMN
KSCI
KCOR
KACT
KDDG
KHLS
KSAF
KFLU
KSEO
KMRS
KSPR
KOLY
KSEP
KVIR
KGHG
KIRC
KUNR
KIFR
KCIP
KMCA
KMPI
KBCT
KHSA
KICC
KIDE
KCRS
KMFO
KRVC
KRGY
KR
KAWK
KG
KFIN
KHIV
KBIO
KOCI
KBTR
KNEI
KPOA
KCFE
KPLS
KSTC
KHDP
KPRP
KCRCM
KLIG
KCFC
KTER
KREC
KTBT
KPRV
KSTH
KRIM
KRAD
KWAC
KWMM
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KOMS
KX
KMIG
KRCM
KVRP
KBTS
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNAR
KPWR
KNPP
KDEMAF
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KGIT
KPAI
KTLA
KFSC
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KID
KOM
KMOC
KJUST
KGCC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KO
KNSD
KHUM
KSEC
KCMR
KCHG
KICA
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KCGC
KWWMN
KPAK
KWNM
KWMNCS
KRFD
MOPS
MCAP
MPOS
MARR
MO
MNUC
MX
MASS
MG
MY
MU
ML
MR
MILITARY
MTCRE
MT
MEPP
MA
MDC
MP
MAR
MASSMNUC
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MD
MI
MEETINGS
MK
MCC
MEPN
MRCRE
MAS
MIL
MASC
MC
MV
MTCR
MIK
MUCN
MEDIA
MERCOSUR
MW
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTRE
MEPI
MQADHAFI
MAPS
NO
NATO
NL
NP
NZ
NSF
NI
NH
NG
NAFTA
NU
NASA
NR
NATOPREL
NSSP
NSG
NA
NT
NW
NK
NPT
NPA
NATIONAL
NPG
NSFO
NS
NSC
NE
NGO
NDP
NIPP
NRR
NEW
NZUS
NC
NAR
NV
NORAD
OTRA
OPCW
OVIP
OAS
OREP
OPIC
OIIP
OPRC
ODIP
OEXC
OPDC
OSCE
OIC
OSCI
OECD
OFDP
OFDA
OMIG
OPAD
OFFICIALS
OVP
OIE
OHUM
OCS
OBSP
OTR
OSAC
ON
OCII
OES
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PTER
PINS
PINR
PREF
PK
PROP
PA
PARM
PBTS
PMAR
PM
PGIV
PE
PRAM
PHUH
PHSA
PL
PNAT
PO
PLN
PAO
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PF
PEL
PBIO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PAS
POL
PREO
PAHO
PMIL
POGOV
POV
PAK
PNR
PRL
PG
PREFA
PSI
PINL
PU
PARMS
PRGOV
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POSTS
PROG
PORG
PTBS
PUNE
POLICY
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PP
PS
PY
PTERE
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PRELP
PSEPC
PGOVE
PINF
PNG
PGOC
PFOR
PCUL
POLINT
PGGV
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PGOVLO
PHUS
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RELATIONS
RW
RO
RM
RP
ROOD
RICE
RUPREL
RSO
RCMP
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RIGHTS
RF
RFE
RSP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
SU
SCUL
SNAR
SOCI
SF
SA
SHUM
SENV
SP
SR
SY
SANC
SC
SMIG
SZ
SARS
SW
SEVN
SO
SEN
SL
SNARCS
SNARN
SI
SG
SN
SH
SYR
SAARC
SPCE
SHI
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SYRIA
SWE
STEINBERG
SIPRS
ST
SNARIZ
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SIPDIS
SAN
TC
TI
TBIO
TH
TSPL
TRGY
TSPA
TPHY
TU
TW
TS
TAGS
TK
TX
TNGD
TZ
TF
TL
TV
TN
TD
TIP
TR
TP
TO
TT
TFIN
THPY
TERRORISM
TINT
TRSY
TURKEY
TBID
US
UK
UNGA
UP
UZ
UNMIK
USTR
UNO
UNSC
UN
UNESCO
UNAUS
UNHRC
UY
UG
UNHCR
UNCND
USOAS
USEU
UNICEF
UNEP
UV
UNPUOS
UNCSD
USUN
UNCHR
UNDC
USNC
UE
UNDP
UNC
USPS
USAID
UNVIE
UAE
UNFICYP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNCHC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 10BEIJING247, GOOGLE UPDATE: CHINA TECH BUSINESS COMMUNITY
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #10BEIJING247.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
10BEIJING247 | 2010-01-29 12:10 | 2010-12-04 21:30 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Beijing |
VZCZCXRO1384
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH
DE RUEHBJ #0247/01 0291210
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 291210Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7843
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 3671
RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/FBI WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 000247
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR S, P, D, EAP/CM, EEB, AND H
NSC FOR BADER, MEDEIROS, AND LOI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2030
TAGS: ECON EINV PGOV PREL CH
SUBJECT: GOOGLE UPDATE: CHINA TECH BUSINESS COMMUNITY
SPECULATES AND EVALUATES
REF: BEIJING 183
Classified By: Economic Minister Counselor Weinstein for reasons: 1.4(B), (D)
¶1. (C) Summary. Despite media reports quoting Google
officials in the U.S. as saying Google is in talks with
China, a Ministry of Commerce official told a visiting U.S.
delegation on January 28 that "it would be better if Google
stopped telling the media that it is in negotiations with
China, since it is not." However, a Foreign Ministry
official told Poloff earlier this week there is going to be a
"meeting in Davos" that China hopes "will resolve everything
in an extremely low-key and quiet manner." Separately,
several U.S.-China dialogues related to IT issues were
unexpectedly postponed by China this week due to the
purported unavailability of key officials who had previously
confirmed to attend. It is unclear, however, whether the
postponements are related. Google remained the hot topic
this week among our contacts in China,s information
technology (IT) industry, with those in foreign firms
generally supportive and appreciative of the Secretary,s
speech on internet freedom. Expat executives said that while
they expect the USG's highlighting of internet freedom and
requests for an investigation of Google's allegations will
lead to frictions with China, they welcomed the intervention
in what they see as an increasingly difficult operating
environment. End summary.
GOOGLE REMAINS HOT
------------------
¶2. (C) Google's decision to potentially walk away from
China's market of nearly 400 million internet users continues
to spark extensive discussion on a range of important related
issues: censorship and information flow; principled versus
bottom-line decision-making; protection of corporate
proprietary information and intellectual property; and how
companies can effect positive change from within a foreign
economy. Secretary Clinton's January 21 speech on Internet
freedom touched a nerve in China's leadership (reftel), and
rightly so according to our local business contacts who
regularly cite the increasingly challenging business climate
in China. Locally-based western businessmen and consultants
are viewing Google's confrontation with the Chinese
authorities with a fascinated mix of admiration and caution,
though few are willing to bet on the ultimate outcome.
¶3. (C) Western companies Chinese employees are, not
surprisingly, sometimes more sympathetic to the PRC,s
position. XXXXXXXXXXXX commented that Google
has played matters badly, suggesting it should have tried to
help PRC authorities understand what Google provides "is
good for China." Xiao stated he thinks Google approache
the problem incorrectly, citing Bill Gates' position that
companies must "follow the laws of the country in which
they operate." Xiao also intimated that, as a Chinese citizen,
he could empathize with the Chinese government’s fears that
Google's services could be used by Dalai Lama supporters to
publicize their views throughout China. Liu Tao, Government
Affairs Manager for Caterpillar,
notes that the parties involved in the Google issue should
discuss the issue without "being so emotional." Liu, a
Chinese citizen, said that the Chinese government was "not
acting emotionally" over this issue.
PREDICTIONS FOR A RESOLUTION
----------------------------
¶4. (C) A visiting London-based XXXXXXXXXXXX executive
believes the Google matter was a "good shaking of the tree
for China issues needing greater visibility. Although he predicted
impact from Google would not necessarily change the game for
European interests here, he noted that Google has established
close relations with UK Conservatives, and predicted a
potential future Conservative government would be very
supportive of the tenets in Secretary Clinton's recent
speech. Another Beijing-based XXXXXXXXXXXX consultant
compared Google,s experience to Intel, which in 2003
threatened to withdraw from China after Chinese authorities
sought to impose technological modifications to its encryption-
enabled products. The Chinese government ultimately backed down,
but our local contact believes Chinese payback continues today
and is one reason China insists that homegrown technology be
BEIJING 00000247 002 OF 003
co-installed in any WI-FI-enabled phones/communication
devices. The latter local contact further suggested Google
could pursue resolution of its current impasse by lobbying
technologically-enlightened senior statesmen, especially more
pro-business ones, who might sway China's leadership to
address Google's censorship issues more moderately.
¶5. (C) Many contacts have opined that it appears Google will
likely remain in China, albeit with a more limited presence,
i.e., without a search engine service. Although Google has
firmly positioned itself on censorship matters and hence will
likely have little choice but to take down its Google.cn
search site, they believe Google executives' public
statements and vested interests still coincide with
maintaining at least some presence in China.
LONG TERM OUTLOOK POSITIVE, SHORT TERM FALLOUT
--------------------------------------------- -
¶6. (C) Another IT association representative told Econoff
that interest in the Google case "highlights the growing
number of Chinese measures and policy goals that diminish the
investment environment in China... part of a troubling
pattern that is making it increasingly difficult for foreign
firms to do business." Business contacts told ConGen
Shanghai that they "welcome a more assertive voice on behalf
of the U.S. While it may not be good for U.S.-China
relations in the short term, it will be better in the long
term. We need to stand for what we believe in." Injecting a
more cautionary note, however, another Shanghai businessmen
warns that "America will not advance its objectives with
regard to the bilateral relationship by telling the Chinese
government that it is working to put new internet
technologies into the hands of dissidents. In this particular
face-off, at least, the Chinese are 'spinning' the issue far
more effectively than the Americans."
¶7. (C) Fallout beyond China's borders continues. Two
governmental dialogues (the U.S. China ICT Consultations,
previously scheduled for February 9, 2010, and the
DOC-Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on
February 2, 2010 - both in Washington DC) were postponed this
week due to purported unavailability of key officials who had
previously confirmed to attend. Congen Shanghai has found
many IPR-related meetings cancelled this week.
Interestingly, officials from the Swedish Embassy were
summoned to the MFA to receive a protest of statements made
by the Swedish FM supportive of Secretary Clinton's speech on
Internet Freedom. According to our Swedish contacts, the MFA
charged the Swedes with damaging ties during the 60th
anniversary of Chinese-Swedish diplomatic relationship.
WHAT'S DRIVING CHINA
--------------------
¶8. (C) According to another well-respected tech sector
analyst here, a number of historical, cultural, and
technological factors have coalesced to put China in a
technologically-aggressive state-of-mind. One contributing
factor was Microsoft's flubbed 2004 "black screen" strategy
to deter intellectual property theft by darkening computer
monitors running unlicensed Windows operating software. This
consultant believes that example of U.S. technology
effectively wielding power over China's personal computers
helped spur China's aggressive campaign for source codes and
its own technology. This, combined with growing Chinese
pride, economic clout and influence, and the "weakened"
position of the U.S. and its allies after the global economic
downturn, are emboldening the Chinese to take ever more
aggressive positions in advancing its innovative industries
at the expense of foreign ones.
¶9. (C) A local Microsoft executive applauds the Secretary's
speech and the Administration's commitment "to organize
sustained, targeted, persistent engagement on the full range
of Internet-related issues" with China. This executive said
the Secretary's remarks were "right on point," particularly
for companies who "desperately need the help of the USG" in
the face of "harassment, threats and actual shutdowns of
service, threats of licenses being revoked, resistance to
provide legal authority, mandates to place servers in China,
etc." Our local APCO contact described the Google issue as a
"stirring of the beehive," but says the kind of harassment
Microsoft describes is a fact of worsening life here which
BEIJING 00000247 003 OF 003
the Google incident only helps spotlight.
HUNTSMAN