Does anyone know whether there are in fact "exact requirements" at all, or whether you just have informal off the record chats with officials where you're given to understand that it would be "looked upon favourably" if this or happens or does not happen. From everything I've read about how China operates it's sort of the exact opposite in one sense from the west. In the west there are rules and there are loopholes around the rules. In China they are sort of more pragmatic - they want to protect growth & security and resist foreign interference whether cultural or religious; what's written as a rule or law or whatever isn't such a big deal; there's an understanding that you just do what you're told in that context. So they don't mind Google operating there but if Google run operations which "threaten orderliness" then it's going to have a hard time.