No need for silly hypotheticals, China is a WTO member that has been globally recognized and normalized, doing business there isn't taboo, at least not for everyone else.
Additionally, your flippant dismissal of "silly hypotheticals" is particularly misplaced. Maybe read about some of the things they've done to the Falun Gong and what occurred at Tiananmen square. These aren't small abuses that can be overlooked, and no American company should be complicit in helping the Chinese government keep these things quiet.
Search is their business and they won't be allowed to conduct it there without censorship.
The vast majority of search queries have little to do with the conduct of the Chinese government, and if you hadn't noticed Google's absence from china didn't liberate the Chinese people.
Right. Nor should they if that is the cost of doing business. Sometimes there are lines that shouldn't be crossed.
> if you hadn't noticed Google's absence from china didn't liberate the Chinese people.
"I haven't been helping any thieves for the last decade, but robberies still keep happening. I might as well get in on it and make some money."
Sorry, but I have a hard time taking your arguments seriously. You seem to be working very hard to miss the point.
You're making Habitue's argument for them.