I've found that in China, sometimes the alternate reality is the operant reality, and often we in the West will miss the mark in using our frame of reference to make judgments on their society.

But. Ultimately I agree with the criticism of Google's acquiescence to filtering politically subversive search results. Any ground they gained in holding back the US Government, they lost in the China decision. Carpundit puts it well: 'Don't be evil' but it's OK to cooperate with evil?