Monthly Archives: January 2010

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Were Google‘s warning noises about withdrawing  from communist China, following hacked accounts and a  string of cyberattacks against foreign corrspondents, a genuine ethical response? Had the internet giant arisen from its slumber to make a stand against censorship and covert-espionage, areas of activity which China’s regime specializes in, or was its public condemnation based more on economic performance in China, where it seems to have been overtaken by Chinese competitors? Then we had Hillary Clinton’s rather muted and dilute reaction.  The Secretary-of-State essentially kicked-the matter into the long-grass and carefully avoided any open critique of the Chinese authorities, issuing appeals about Beijing conducting a transparent  investigation (like requesting the Apartheid Government of South Africa to chair an inquiry into allegations of prejudice and racism against black people!)  We may never of course establish a detailed and definitive answer to these questions, but comments made today by Google‘s CEO provide a troubling insight.

Speaking (Friday January 29)  at the World Economic Forum Eric Schmidt is reported to have used the occasion to reassure Beijing of Google’s willingness and desire to remain operating in China, despite the cyber-attacks.  According to a newswire report Schmidt commentating on the controversy stated that: “We just don’t like censorship,” but claimed also that his corporation was positive about generating change from within (how many times must we hear  apologist reasoning excusing China’s odious activities, without any evidence that such collaboration brings any moderation).

Insisting that Google would  “very much like to stay in China.” he went on to say that his corporation would  “very much like the censorship we oppose to improve in China,” . Echoing comments made by Hillary Clinton the Google CEO said he feels his company can  “apply some pressure to make things better for the Chinese people.” . Critics may wonder if economic considerations, not human rights, are taxing his mind at present? As Schmidt remarked in the Wall Street Journal:  “We like what China is doing in terms of growth, we just don’t like censorship.”.

Meanwhile, we are left to speculate if the demands of realpolitic and US-Sino relations may have been brought to bear upon the Google CEO? Has Hillary been explaining a bigger political picture to Google, or was the company’s outrage at being the target of cyber attack an empty threat all along? Whatever the motivation,  one fact is certain the censorship, oppression and injustices will continue in China with little prospect of such issues being available on China’s internet.

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According to a newswire report Communist China sentenced four more people to death Tuesday January 26, for  participating in protests in Urumchi, East Turkestan, on July 5, 2009. The four appear to be Uyghurs. The sentence reached by what was little more than a show trial, in which the accused are denied any fair and independent legal process, brings the number of death sentences linked to the Urumchi demonstrations to 26. Nine executions have already taken place.  A report by communist China’s mouthpiece, Xinhua said another person was given the death penalty with a reprive of two-years  (normally commuted to a life sentence). A further eight people receivev a range prison sentences. Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman for the exiled World Uyghur Congress condemned the sentences: “Since July 5, China hasn’t stopped using these heartless methods to raise the pressure on Uighurs, we think that these trials respond to a political need in China.”

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Secretary of State Clinton yesterday issued a timorous response to communist China’s censorship and violation of internet and privacy rights, rather bizarrely inviting the Chinese Regime to investigate its own covert violations. She also called for a transparent response. Well Hillary here’s Beijing’s reaction, issued today via its Foreign Ministry

“The U.S. has criticised China’s policies to administer the Internet and insinuated that China restricts Internet freedom,” said spokesman Ma Zhaoxu. “This runs contrary to the facts and is harmful to China-U.S. relations. We urge the United States to respect the facts and cease using so-called Internet freedom to make groundless accusations against China,”  http://www.businessandleadership.com/news/article/19314/technology/china-hits-back-at-clintons-call-for-internet-freedom

This issue has exposed the limitations and inherent weakness of US policy on China, which vacillates between an advocation of so-called constructive engagement (itself a bankrupt concept and a decayed fig leaf concealing a profits- before-rights approach) and hand-wringing condemnation on human rights.

Having appeased and compromised what now Madame Secretary?

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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ‘s response to China’s latest campaign of cyber-war intrusion and censorship proved predictably muted. http://mashable.com/2010/01/21/hillary-clinton-google-china/ As the private email accounts of foregn correspondents and individual citizens remain hacked and abused by Beijing’s thought-police, Hillary missed an opportunity to make a call for truth, justice and individual freedom. by attributing responsibility for such a crass violation of personal privacy and free-speech. to the very regime which orders such covert aggression. Instead she allowed Beijing plenty of room for saving face through a timid invitation that China  investigate the cyber-attacks on Google. Rather like appealing to the Khymer Rouge to investigate reports of massacres of innocent Cambodians!  We surely must ask what response she expects from the communist regime, her hope for transparency and forthrightness seem a little optimistic and naive. Observing Mrs Clinton’s speech brought to mind the question, what would be the tone and content of her comments had it been the Iranian Regime which had assaulted Google? Answers please to the State Department Washington DC.

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China continues its cyber-attacks against journalists, with reports that once again Google, and individual GMail accounts have been targetted. A report received from the Committee to Protect Journalists January 19, revealed that foreign correspondents  in Beijing had informed the CPJ of recent attempts to compromise journalists email  accounts, and noted that reporters have operated under the suspicion that their internet/communication activities are vulnerable to cyber-attack and covert monitoring. According to the CPJ:

“A  Monday posting on the Foreign Correspondents Club of China Web site, “Foreign correspondents in a few bureaus in Beijing have recently discovered that their Gmail accounts had been hijacked.” In its posting, the FCCC said e-mails in the affected accounts were being forwarded to strangers’ addresses. Google spokesman Scott Rubin told CPJ today he had no comment on the FCCC posting.

 On January 13, CPJ expressed concern after Google, which owns Gmail, said it had uncovered evidence of cyber attacks from China targeting its own and other companies’ infrastructures, as well as individual Gmail accounts. CPJ welcomed Google’s statement that it was no longer willing to censor its Chinese search engine, google.cn, in light of the discovery.

 “E-mail security is a major concern in China. Although attacks like these have not been directly linked to the government, the timing of these new assaults is worrisome given the dispute surrounding Google in China,” said Bob Dietz, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator.  “E-mail security is always a problem in China. There was surveillance around the Olympics; we assume that during times like the Tibet riots [in 2008] or during big party conferences that we’ll be more closely watched,” a longtime correspondent for a large U.S. news organization told CPJ. “Surveillance and attacks like this are part of the reality when you work in China,” a freelance reporter told CPJ.”

Report ends

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