"since Google doesn't operate in China, they don't really have to respect Chinese laws" Well, they buy the data from one of the few blessed Chinese companies,

"since Google doesn't operate in China, they don't really have to respect Chinese laws" Well, they buy the data from one of the few blessed Chinese companies, which is a form of doing business, and regardless what Chinese law says Google has most likely a contractual obligation not to convert the data. In other words, if they did convert the data they'd probably not get updates anymore.