US asks China to mull 'implications' of Google move

The United States has asked Beijing to consider the business "implications" of the decision by a prominent company like Google to effectively close down its mainland Chinese site.

The State Department respects but was "not party" to the decision by Google to no longer filter results on China-based Google.cn and redirect mainland Chinese users to an uncensored site in Hong Kong, department spokesman Philip Crowley said on Tuesday.

While Washington stands for internet freedom, "individual businesses will make judgments as to the investment opportunity in China," Crowley told reporters.

"We value the economic relationship between the United States and China," he said, citing massive increases in trade over nearly three decades.

"That said, were I China, I would seriously consider the implications when one of the most recognisable institutions has decided that it's too difficult to do business in China... "And that has implications, but that ultimately is for China to evaluate."