Blow to Google as executive defects to Baidu

A key research executive has defected from Google China to Baidu, the country's online search market leader, in a sign that the US Internet company's dispute with the Chinese government over censorship is starting to affect its staff in the country.

Baidu said Wang Jing had joined the company as a vice-president in charge of engineering. Google said Mr Wang quit as engineering director earlier this month. The move - the first ever switch by a senior Google employee to its local rival - follows the US group's decision on March 23 to move its Chinese web search to its Hong Kong website, where it is not required to self-censor results.