On our side of the hemisphere, we might think of it as an unstoppable force meeting immovable object. The far side seems to have a different perception.

Google is 99.9% sure that it's leaving China.  The company wants to stop censoring its search results and the Chinese government has threatened due punishment if it does.  Many reports have noted the contradicting philosophies of the powerful Communist government and the massively successful American company whose core business is facilitating the free flow of information.  Some have delved deeper into the cultural and ideological differences that underlie this standoff and the picture that develops is complex.

This writer talked to several Chinese investors and entrepreneurs and their attitudes seem to indicate that the tech industry isn't overly concerned.  It also doesn't seem like there is or will be a tidal wave of disappointment, fear, or abandonment anxiety sweeping China if Google makes good on its promise to shut down google.cn and leave the country. To describe the situation somewhat simplistically, it seems that Google is a benign but nonintegral aspect of Chinese society, kind of like the uncle that married into your family who you say hello to at reunions and never really speak with.  This seems like a jarring situation for a company that has achieved unique prominence in the Western world, one that is treated like the star quarterback who gets all the girls.  It's fascinating to watch this multinational corporation figure out if staying true to its core principles are worth relinquishing its 30% - and growing - market share in the world's largest - and growing - national market.

What should Google do?