The question, then, for Western companies, as much as for Western governments, is to decide whose side they are on: the Chinese officials who like to define their culture in a paternalistic, authoritarian way, or the large number of Chinese who have their own ideas about freedom.

Another quote →

Source, in full

Battling the Information Barbarians China often views the ideas of foreigners, from missionaries in the 17th century to 21st-century Internet entrepreneurs, as subversive imports. The tumultuous history behind the clash with Google.

More quotes by Ian Buruma

All Ian Buruma quotes →

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Ian Buruma (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.