Indian Discussion Forum

China today hit back at leading internet search engine Google, saying its move to stop censoring web content in the country violated its written undertaking and warned it against violating rules.

Saying the decision whether to stay or leave China was Google's own, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang made it clear that if the US company wanted to stay in the world's largest internet market it would have to follow the country's laws and international practices.

"Whether to stay or leave it is Google's own business and own decision. If it decides to stay it has to abide by China's laws and regulations and if it decides to go it will have to follow China's laws and international practices," Qin told a media briefing here.