Google to Leave China This Week?

Remember January 12 when you were still nursing a two-week-long buzz from New Year’s? At that time, Google first threatened to pull out of China due to a cyberattack and issues with censorship. Well, after over two months, it looks like it may happen. According to a Financial Times article, Google is preparing to make a move from the Chinese market and an announcement may come as early as later today.

Google is likely to remove its Chinese search engine and may close down all of its operations in the country, including a research subsidiary. 600 people would lose their jobs in the process. The Times also speculates on a second scenario in which Google would keep its research operation up and running and move its Chinese operations to Google.com (from Google.cn). Chinese users could simply change the language and use Google this way.

A withdrawal action could threaten other Google-related business in the country such as the sale of Android cell phones, though analysts expect Android to continue to perform well. [via Financial Times]