Dec 6: China is worried over the images of its key defence and nuclear sites on Google Earth fearing that terrorists might use them and sought US help in getting the image resolution reduced, according to a diplomatic cable. China had in 2006 warned of "grave consequences" if terrorists used the high resolution imageries available on the online mapping site, and relayed its concern to the US.
At a meeting, a Chinese official told the American Deputy Chief of Mission that Google Earth is providing high resolution images of sensitive Chinese facilities over the Internet, thereby endangering its national security, a cable released by WikiLeaks said. "China wants the United States Government to take action to get Google to reduce the resolution of the Google Earth images of China's military, nuclear, space, energy and other sensitive government agency installations in order to deprive terrorists of potentially dangerous information, XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX told the DCM on XXXXXXXXXXXX," says a confidential cable issued by the US Embassy in Beijing.
It said the Beijing request was based on possible "grave consequences" if terrorists exploit the information to harm China. The American diplomat reminded that Google Earth is a private company, but the the Chinese official was noncommittal on whether China would directly contact Google or the European imagery providers and the other sources of high resolution imagery on the Internet. "Other countries have shared similar concerns with China, XXXXXXXXXXXX said, but he refused to divulge country names," the cable said. The United States, which has charged the WikiLeaks of indulging in a criminal act by stealing and releasing these cables, has neither confirmed nor denied the authenticity of these documents. The sensitive facilities, the official said, include military installations, nuclear test sites, satellite launch sites, oil production facilities, power generating plants and important government departments. The resolution is one meter for most of China, and is as fine as 0.6 meters in Beijing and Shanghai, allowing anyone with Internet access to view these facilities in great detail.
"Moreover, Google Earth allows users to post information about specific locations, XXXXXXXXXXXX continued, which means information about important Chinese agencies and sensitive installations is effectively being published on the Internet," the cable said. "XXXXXXXXXXXX said China is extremely concerned that terrorist organisations could access the high resolution imagery and posted information and present a grave threat to PRC national security.