VOA慢速英语2010年-Economics Report - Google May Leave Fa

This is the VOA Special English Economics Report.

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 remains¹ the largest economy. China is third and gaining on Japan.

A Chinese flag waves beside Google headquarters in Beijing

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 last month by a major Internet attack launched from China.

It says "intellectual property" was stolen and the attackers sought access to Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists². At least twenty other large companies in different industries were also targeted.

Also, the company said it is no longer willing to censor³ 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 this month. 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 earlier this week.

Online advertising⁴ 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.

FARIBORZ GHADAR: "Google has to make a decision whether they want to basically deviate⁵ from their vision mission statement that they 'do no harm' and stay in China. Or whether they have just had enough and they don't like the restrictions⁶, and they don't like the cyber attacks, and they're going to move out so as to preserve their name and brand."

Online activity in China is closely watched and the government tries to limit access to many sites, including VOA.

On Thursday a Foreign Ministry⁷ 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 accusations⁸. She is giving a speech next week about Internet freedom.

And that's the VOA Special English Economics Report, written by Mario Ritter. I'm Steve Ember.

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 censor   

n./vt.审查，审查员；删改

参考例句：

• The film has not been viewed by the censor.这部影片还未经审查人员审查。
• The play was banned by the censor.该剧本被查禁了。

4 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

5 deviate   

v.(from)背离，偏离

参考例句：

• Don't deviate from major issues.不要偏离主要问题。
• I will never deviate from what I believe to be right.我绝不背离我自信正确的道路。

6 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

7 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

8 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。