Description: This is
a VOA Special English Economics Report.
See text below
Text:
China says it has passed Germany and become the
world's top exporter. Exports totaled more than one
trillion dollars last year. That was down from two
thousand eight, but about thirty billion more than
Germany. China's influence in the world has
increased with its fast-growing economy. The United
States remains the largest economy. China is third
and gaining on Japan.
Manufacturing has expanded, fueling exports. But
China has not imported as much as its trade partners
would like. Its policies about valuing its currency
and its human rights record have also created
tensions.
And now there is a new dispute. China is the world's
largest Internet market, but Google says it may
leave. The company said it was targeted by a major
Internet attack launched from China in December. It
says "intellectual property" was stolen and the
attackers sought access to Gmail accounts of Chinese
human rights activists. At least twenty other large
companies in different industries were also
targeted.
Also, the company said it is no longer willing to
censor search results as required by Chinese law.
Google says it is still observing censorship laws,
but it will hold talks with the government in the
coming weeks.
Google.cn launched four years ago. Google is
estimated to have around a thirty percent share of
the search market in China. But that is only about
half the share of the Chinese search engine Baidu.
Baidu also reported an attack on its Web site in
January.
Online advertising sales in China are estimated to
bring Google only a few hundred million dollars a
year. Not much for such a big company, notes
business expert Fariborz Ghadar at Penn State
University.
He says Google has to make a decision. It can stay
in China. Or it can move out so as to protect its
name and brand because of the restrictions and cyber
attacks.
Online activity in China is closely watched and the
government tries to limit access to many sites,
including VOA.
In January, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said
"China's Internet is open" and that Chinese law bars
cyber attacks. Another government official said
China itself is the victim of a growing number of
foreign attacks.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she would
like an explanation from the Chinese about Google's
accusations. And that's the VOA Special English
Economics Report. You can find more reports about
economics at voaspecialenglish.com.
Hi. I
personally reviewed this video and found it appropriate for
the news section of English Global Group. This
is a Voice of America video which covers an interesting
topic in Special English. I would appreciate some feedback from both
students and teachers about this video. You can comment in
the window below using any of a number of different services
including Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, and Hotmail.
To post a comment:
• Click "Comment using..." in
the window below
• Click your favorite service: Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail
• Login to the service
• Click "Add a comment..."
• Post your comment in the window
Students: Please post a
comment stating what you found interesting about this video. You are
welcome to include links to your English study blogs and any
other materials you think might be useful for learning
English.
Teachers: Please post your
thoughts about this video. You are welcome to include links to
your sites, blogs, and any other materials you think might
be useful for learning English.
Hi. I
personally reviewed this video and found it appropriate for
the news section of English Global Group. This
is a Voice of America video which covers an interesting
topic in Special English. I would appreciate some feedback from both
students and teachers about this video. You can comment in
the window below using any of a number of different services
including Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, and Hotmail.
