If Google Really Leaves China

Published in Zaobao (Morning News)
(Singapore) on 17 January 2010
by Li Xiaobing (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Lauren Christopher. Edited by Alex Brewer.
Google will withdraw from the Chinese market, which, according to Chinese people, is just an issue of economics or technology and of constitutionality in the age of the internet. As countries’ strength and sophisticated technology increase day by day, creating inseparable links, questions of constitutionality have been skirted.

The people of the internet era demand regulation and the protection of law. As a result, there is a need for legal protection that follows the fundamental spirit of the constitution when dealing with the dissemination of information. These laws should recognize that both state power and civil rights have doubled. However, laws have never touched on such fundamental concerns before. A basic prerequisite for a country guided by the rule of law is that boundaries of state power are clearly spelled out. If the boundaries of state power and civil rights are not clarified, the country will sooner or later turn into something unrecognizable and will finally sink into a lawless, godless state.

The internet is both a virtual space and a projection of actual society. At the same time that technology progresses and matures, other “double-edged sword” effects are increasingly brought to the forefront. While China’s technological elites have brought prosperity and dignity to the country, the use of technology may be threatening the environment in which the Chinese people exist. Countrywide in China, people are overwhelmed and terrified by rules and regulations. The manner in which the government operates makes it even more difficult for people to completely understand what is going on. This undoubtedly will make people feel a greater sense of vulnerability and fear. “2013” is really not just a novel about a fictitious society; it could be a completely realistic transformation of society. This golden age in China demonstrates to people its enormity and prosperity, illustrating that it is not narrow-minded and destitute.

Google’s existence in China is not only a symbol of the health of China’s internet market, but also a symbol of the openness and tolerance of the Chinese government. It is an embodiment of China’s movement toward maturation and self-confidence. “Regardless of whether the waves of the wind and water hit, it is better to endure them than to walk the world with leisure and a false sense of confidence.” This proverb refers to being free, loose and happy under a closed-off government. Today, conversely, in its era of openness, China must create and utilize other kinds of boundaries and limits in facing this brilliant and varied world. Its hesitance to develop is difficult to escape, and China’s “two steps forward, three steps back” way of blocking or wiping out development will never work. We need a focus on development, but one cannot set this up behind closed doors. We can allow Google to avoid problems by running away from them, but the curiosity in the hearts of the people always prevails. In the age of the internet, how China’s outside challengers (like Google) think defies all of the government’s unwavering edicts, causing people additional ineffable anxiety. Are the regulations enacted by the governments still reasonable? Google has left — now what?

Using an open mind to survey the world, China already has a strong foothold in capital. However, the information era is still unfolding on a long, windy, bumpy road. We can only say that this is China. In regards to Google leaving China, people need to make a fundamental decision within their hearts. While the internet and technology have infiltrated and encompassed our lives, the inseparable closeness of state power and advanced technology makes up the basic picture of our lives today. If the Green Dam censorship software can shift at any time to a “Green Law” reinforced with criminal penalties, Google really must leave China.

The youth of China, the loveliness of China, the dreams of China, the internet age of China! Born and raised in Singapore, we tread upon this land with our two legs, for the time being, toting an optimistic, simple-minded attitude and unfettered imagination about the future. However, the ups and downs of the stock market, the current difficult political situation, the treacherous rivers and lakes: The heart always conceals these private worries. In our ears, this always reverberates: Our greatest fear is fear itself! Now, if Google leaves, what do we have left? Could it be that all we have left is ourselves?


网路时代的宪法事件——如果Google真的退出中国

Google将要退出中国市场,这对于国人来说不仅仅是一个经济或技术的问题,这也是互联网时代的宪法事件。在国家权力与高精尖技术日益紧密结合的今天,我们已经无法回避网路时代的宪法问题。

 网路时代的公民对于资讯的接受和传播需要法律的规范和保障,法律的限制性条款必须和宪法的基本精神相一致。网路时代的法律一个显着的特徵就是国家权力和公民权利双双被放大,但法治之精神与内涵并未发生根本的触动,一个法治国家的基本条件就是:国家权力的界限必须精确地界定,如果国家权力与公民权利的界限不能够加以明确,那么法治国家迟早会幻化为一个不伦不类的“法治”,最终沦落为一个无法无天的“法治”!

 网路既是虚拟的空间,又是社会现实的投射。随着技术的进步和成熟,其双刃剑效应日益体现。中国的技术精英们正在为国家带来繁荣和尊严,但也可能在用技术扼杀国人生存的环境。中国的江湖规则让人望而生畏,暗箱操作的方式更是让人难以头彻底明白,这无疑会越来越让人感到巨灵的赤裸和可怕。《2013》并非完全的社会幻想小说,它完全可以转化为现实,盛世中国要示人以盛世之下的博大和繁荣,而不是狭隘与凋敝。

 Google的存在不仅仅是中国互联网市场健康的一种象徵,也是中国政治宽容的一个必要环节,更是中国走向成熟和自信的一种体现。“不管风水浪打,胜似闲庭散步”,这是在封闭的政治时代里的一种逍遥和快乐,而今,在一个开放的时代,中国则需要以另外的一种境界来面对这个精彩纷呈的世界。在发展之中的迟疑与徘徊在所难免,但是进两步退三步的封杀或清剿作为则透露出肃杀之气。我们要“一心一意谋发展”,但切不可“关起门来搞建设”。我们可以让Google一走了之,但是国人心中的好奇却总是挥之不去。身处网路时代,御敌于国门之外的思维实在是有违“不折腾”的上谕,更是让国人感受到一种莫名的焦躁与不安。我们是否还能保有一个生存和生活的基本底线?Google走了,下一个该是什么??

 以开放的心态放眼世界,中国已有自信立足之资本和底气,然而,资讯时代却出现如此巨大的坎坷和曲折,我们只能说这就是中国。对于Google退出中国这一事件,国人心中应该有一个基本的判断,互联网和高新技术正在渗透并包围我们的生活,国家权力和高科技之间紧密结合构成了我们今天生活的基本图景,如果“绿坝”可以变幻为“绿霸”,Google真的要退出中国,那么Google的今天又怎么不可能是每一个公民的明天。

 少年之中国,可爱之中国,梦幻之中国,网路的时代之中国!生于斯,长于斯,我们的双脚就踏在这块土地上,那就暂且以乐观的心态傻呵呵地畅想未来吧,然而,股票跌涨,时局维艰,江湖险恶,心中总有一丝难以掩饰的隐忧,耳边也总有一句话在回荡:我们唯一的恐惧就是恐惧本身!那么,如果Google退出了,我们还能拥有什么?难道我们唯一的拥有就是拥有本身?!

 李晓兵 于台北,中央研究院

《联合早报网》
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

Hot this week

Germany: It’s Not Europe’s Fault

El Salvador: The Game of Chess between the US and Venezuela Continues

Austria: The US Courts Are the Last Bastion of Resistance

       

Poland: Marek Kutarba: Donald Trump Makes Promises to Karol Nawrocki. But Did He Run Them by Putin?

Austria: Donald Is Disappointed in Vladimir

Topics

Austria: The US Courts Are the Last Bastion of Resistance

       

Poland: Marek Kutarba: Donald Trump Makes Promises to Karol Nawrocki. But Did He Run Them by Putin?

El Salvador: The Game of Chess between the US and Venezuela Continues

Austria: Donald Is Disappointed in Vladimir

Austria: If This Is Madness, There is a Method to It

Germany: It’s Not Europe’s Fault

Germany: Donald Trump’s Failure

Canada: No, the Fed Was Not ‘Independent’ before Trump

Related Articles

Singapore: Trump’s America Brings More Chaos, but Not Necessarily More Danger

Singapore: No Ukraine Cease-fire – Putin Has Called Trump’s Bluff

Singapore: Lessons from the Trump-Zelenskyy Meltdown – for Friends and Foes

Singapore: In Trump and Musk’s America, Echoes of China’s Past Emerge