Microsoft has confirmed it has no plans to follow Google out of China despite US government criticism over its willingness to accept censorship in its search results.
Google began diverting Chinese search requests to its Hong Kong servers earlier this week in response to China's refusal to consider relaxing its practice of filtering results a move a Chinese government official branded "totally wrong".
For its past, Google said it hoped China would respect its decision, and called on other firms to follow its lead. Its decision to stand firm on censorship was praised by a bipartisan US Congressional panel this week as a "remarkable, historic and welcomed action".
"China wants to participate in the marketplace of goods but keep the marketplace of ideas outside their country," Senator Byron Dorgan commented. "Only when China respects human rights and allows the free flow of ideas... only then will they be treated as a full member of the international community."
Republican congressman Chris Smith, meanwhile, said of Microsoft: "They need to get on the right side of human rights rather than enabling tyranny, which they're doing right now."
His remarks echoed those of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, who said earlier in the week that he was disappointed the Redmond-based firm wasn't willing to follow Google's lead.
"As I understand, it [Microsoft] has effectively no market share so they essentially spoke against freedom of speech and human rights simply in order to contradict Google," he said.
However, a Microsoft spokesperson responded that while Brin was entitled to his opinion, Microsoft had its own methods of engaging with foreign governments on political issues.
"At Microsoft, we remain committed to advancing free expression through active engagement in over 100 countries, even as we comply with the laws in every country in which we operate," the spokesperson said. "We have done business in China for more than 20 years and we intend to continue our business there."
The spokesperson concluded: "We also regularly communicate with governments, including the Chinese, to advocate for free expression, transparency, and the rule of law. We will continue to do so."
Cisco has also confirmed its intention to continue operations in China. The company, which provides the network equipment the Chinese government uses to filter web content through its so-called 'Great Firewall of China,' has described the conflict between Google and the country's government as "natural give and take".
"I'm very much the optimist that the issues will be worked out regardless of differences," chief executive John Chambers told delegates at a technology summit in Saudi Arabia.
"I have been doing business in China for 25 years. I have a lot of confidence in the Chinese leadership and I have a lot of confidence in the internet, and I have a lot of confidence in the American leadership."
