Alibaba Slams Yahoo Over Google Stance

(AP)  China's e-commerce giant Alibaba turned on major shareholder Yahoo Inc. on Saturday, calling the American company's support of Google in its standoff with China "reckless."

Google has promised to stop censoring its search results in China, threatening to pull out of the country altogether if it can't operate an unfiltered search engine. Yahoo has said it was "aligned" with Google's position, though it's not clear what that means.

"Alibaba Group has communicated to Yahoo! that Yahoo's statement that it is 'aligned' with the position Google took last week was reckless given the lack of facts in evidence," Alibaba spokesman John Spelich said Saturday. "Alibaba doesn't share this view."

Yahoo closed its own offices in China several years ago when it sold much of its business there to the Alibaba Group. Yahoo retains a 39 percent stake in Alibaba that represents one of Yahoo's most valuable assets.

Yahoo spokeswoman Nina Blackwell has declined to say whether the company would consider selling its holdings.

Google hopes it can persuade the Chinese government to agree to changes that would enable its China-based Google.cn site to show uncensored search results.

A Google spokeswoman, Jessica Powell, said by e-mail Saturday that Google has not closed its offices in China and that "it's business as usual."

[ToolMangler1]

"Google hopes it can persuade the Chinese government to agree to changes that would enable its China-based Google.cn site to show uncensored search results."



Ultimately this would be the best thing for China. It would mean some rough times as the current "Masters" learn how to govern 2.5 billion people without killing them for asking questions. I guesstimate it will take 30 years to smooth out the rough spots but once it is done, China will be the unquestioned dominant power on Earth.
Aren't you people glad that China won't listen to common sense.

[ToolMangler1]

Does anybody give a flip what 'Alibaba' has to say????
That is very unwise for them to say that, Yahoo is its Major Shareholder. That is like calling 'your' boss, stupid!!!

[ToolMangler1]

by scooby-doodo January 16, 2010 10:33 PM EST
"Does anybody give a SH**T about google. Remember dip sh**t, Alibaba generates decent $$$ for Yahoo. Yeah, it's OK to call you Bonehead Boss "STUPID"."


Not if you are in China, You jumped me and called names, you can do that here and because I don't know where you live yet, nothing will happen to you that is caused by 'Me'..
If Yahoo fails because of Googles actions, that means they had nothing to start with..

[lawyertom1]

Again demonstrating that in totalitarian China there is no real difference between the state and large companies. What has not gotten much publicity is that there have been e-attacks on a) a lawfirm suing the PRC, and b)an organization supporting freedom for Tibet. Gosh, Mr. Wizard, is there a pattern here?

[brianbwb-2009]

Oh yes, and it is all too familiar, it happens in the US everyday.

[sjc_1]

This would be like the U.S. saying that you can not give any information on Hurricane Katrina or the prison abuses in Iraq, because those are unpleasant and the government does not want you to know about them or even think about them.

[TheStarryMessenger]

China must end censorship...China's history points to this reason why it has fallen behind the entire planet and have kept its citizens not only misinformed, but ignorant of the world around them.
Just look, Europe and America has steamed through the industrial revolution and the silicon revolution which china now aspires to control.
What they didn't count on was the information revolution taking place all over the planet which enpowers the individual, by education, entertainment, and news of the world which China's government seeks to restrain.

[scooby-doodo]

YES, AMERICA needs to end censorship.

[thesevenveils]

Free China!
Free Tibet!
Start by FREEING THE TRUTH ABOUT THE DECEPTIONS AND LIES PROPAGATED BY THE CORRUPT AND DESPOTIC CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY!

[brianbwb-2009]

When the time is right, the Chinese and the Tibetans will free themselves, and no matter what time it is, it is their business, and none of ours.

Even more than despotic governments, what the world needs less of is uneducated, ignorant right wingers trying to force their world view upon everyone else.

[brianbwb-2009]

When the time is right, the Chinese and the Tibetans will free themselves, and no matter what time it is, it is their business, and none of ours.

Even more than despotic governments, what the world needs less of is uneducated, ignorant right wingers trying to force their world view upon everyone else.