Big news today… Google announced that it would stop self-censoring its Google.cn search engine and that if it could not come to terms with the Chinese government, it will consider shutting down the site and leave China altogether.

Having gone about it this way, I’d agree with anyone who thinks reconciliation with the govevernment is highly unlikely. So if they follow through with the plan to stop self-censoring, they are as good as gone from China.

Read their official announcement here (you’ll need VPN to access it, if you’re inside China).

I’m sure many people will read about this one way or another. However, I’m not sure enough people will truly understand the significance and impact of what has happened. And people on the outside may never really know all the forces that led to their decision now. I’d say I’m sadden and stressed out by this new development.