The sophistication and determination of this attack actually makes Google's actions more plausible.<p>By walking in and trying to take what it viewed as Google's most valuable assets, the Chinese state <i>signaled that Google would never win in China</i>. The playing field wasn't just rigged by one or another forms of low-level favoritism. The state at a fairly high level had decided it was going to 'p0wn' all the competition. So at that point, it was pretty obvious Google had nothing to lose by leaving China and perhaps even more intellectual property to lose by staying.