Chinese state media have launched a publicity offensive against Google and other US technology companies in recent days as a spat with the US over cyber espionage deepens.
Google’s traffic has slowed in China since Monday, while a number of other US tech groups face sanctions and boycotts because of perceived security risks following revelations last year by Edward Snowden, the US National Security Agency contractor.
Beijing’s media offensive coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. Every year the government beefs up security ahead of the June 4 anniversary to discourage any commemoration of the events of 1989.