China's state-run news agency Xinhua in an editorial accused Google of being a political tool to "export culture, values and ideas," a day before the world's largest search engine is expected to announce that it would leave the country.

"Regrettably, Google's recent behaviors show that the company not just aims at expanding business in China, but is playing an active role in exporting culture, value and ideas," Xinhua said.

Two months ago, Google said it had discovered a "sophisticated and targeted attack on our corporate infrastructure originating from China," along with 31 other companies. It also said also said it could be forced to withdraw from China over Internet censorship concerns.

"It is unfair for Google to impose its own value and yardsticks on Internet regulation to China, which has its own time-honored tradition, culture and value," the editorial said.

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has earlier issued a statement denying any links to the attacks on Google and other companies.

The China Business News reported on Friday that the search engine might make an official announcement on its withdrawal on Monday.

"Whether it [Google] leaves or not, the Chinese government will keep its Internet regulation principles unchanged. One company's ambition to change China's Internet rules and legal system will only prove to be ridiculous," the agency said.

Relations between China and the U.S. have been marred by a recent U.S. decision to sell $6.4 billion worth of weapons to de facto independent Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory. China has threatened to suspend military ties with the U.S. and impose sanctions against the arms exporters.

MOSCOW, March 22 (RIA Novosti)