An employee walks past the logo of Google in front of its former headquarters in Beijing
IN PHOTO: An employee walks past the logo of Google in front of its former headquarters, in Beijing June 2, 2011. Hackers who broke into Google's Gmail system had access to some accounts for many months and could have been planning a more serious attack, said the cyber-security expert who first publicly revealed the incident. Picture taken June 2, 2011. Reuters/Jason Lee

Google may be losing a lot in the latest move by the Chinese government to block its email service, Gmail. The nation's censorship initiatives resulted to a considerable number of Gmail addresses being cut off. According to Reuters, this follows a series of months of disruption. More importantly, a member from GreatFire.org tries to explain why the email service was down in the country: "I think the government is just trying to further eliminate Google's presence in China and even weaken its market overseas."

The user also adds: "Imagine if Gmail users might not get through to Chinese clients. Many people outside China might be forced to switch away from Gmail."

Google's Transparency Report may have foreseen this as it revealed a sharp decrease in traffic for Gmail from China. Google explained via email that they have checked their services and found nothing wrong on its offerings.

According to Re/code, Google's services have been experiences disruptions in the country starting June. Nonetheless, people were still able to access emails via networks like POP2, SMTP and IMPA until the shutdown. Because of the China's determination to take out any challenges or dissent to the governing Communist Party's leadership, users have to deal with the country's tight censorship of Internet access.

It has been well known across the globe that China imposes the most complicated Internet censorship standards in the world. This has been famously called the Great Firewall of China. Those opposing the idea say that China has been becoming more aggressive in its attempts in building an Internet framework independent from the rest of the world. The situation now poses even more challenges to companies using email as one of the primary means of communications while operating in China. However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying she is knowledgeable about the current block on Google's email services.

She explains: "China has consistently had a welcoming and supportive attitude towards foreign investors doing legitimate business here."

She also adds: "We will, as always, provide an open, transparent and good environment for foreign companies in China."