Democracy News

Chinese Government Announces the Creation of State-Run Internet Search Engine
August 17, 2010
By: Randi Zung | Printer Friendly

Last week the Chinese news media reported that Xinhua, China’s official media agency, and China Mobile, China’s largest mobile telecommunications operator, had partnered in order to set up an internet search company. According to the Financial Times, this state-controlled media venture, Search Engine New Media International Communications Company, is being created as a response to the Chinese government’s ongoing tensions with Google.

Earlier this year, Google announced it was closing its mainland China offices after ongoing disagreements over the government’s internet censorship policies. In a statement from Xinhua’s deputy publisher Zhou Xisheng, the new internet search company “is an important move to serve the […] party and the state, thoroughly protect the national interest, safeguard China’s information security, strengthen the establishment of a public opinion front in the new media and broaden the domestic and overseas propaganda influence and the public opinion guidance capability of the Chinese mainstream media.” In addition, Zhou was quoted by Bloomberg Businessweek as stating the partnership of two state-controlled agencies will “safeguard [China’s] information security and push forward the robust, healthy and orderly development of China's new media industry.”