China response 'took Google by surprise' - 0 views
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The situation leaves Google’s other businesses in mainland China under threat, despite claims that it would stick by its research facilities, phone manufacturing and sales operations in the country.
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A number of businesses are said to be considering their links with the company, including those run by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing, who owns Britain’s mobile phone network 3 and runs Tom Online, one of China’s most popular web portals.
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Faced with events yesterday, Tom has dropped Google as a partner and instead switched to Chinese rival Baidu - which self-censors - in order to provide its users with search results.
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Other companies could follow suit, and it has been previously reported that popular sites including Sina.com and Ganji.com have been pressured to end their relationship with the internet’s most powerful company.
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Experts suggest the move could cost the Californian company as much as $4bn over the next five years, and the affair will leave the Californian technology giant