Opposing View: Google’s Big Mistake
Shaun Rein of the China Market Research Group submits:
This Op-Ed originally appeared in USA Today.
Ballmer was right: Remaining in China helps Microsoft provide Chinese consumers with more product choice and gives him a seat at the table to help push for reform. Google’s standing up so publicly and stridently is counterproductive — hurting those who want to reform China’s approach to the Internet more than it helps them.Microsoft (MSFT) Chief Executive Steve Ballmer made clear in January that Microsoft would not follow Google (GOOG) out of China: "I don’t understand how that helps us, and I don’t understand how that helps China."