Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is Google’s public cloud infrastructure offering a suite of services for computing, storage, networking, AI/ML, data analytics, and DevOps. Key offerings include Compute Engine (VMs), App Engine (PaaS), Cloud Functions (serverless), BigQuery (analytics), Cloud Storage, Pub/Sub messaging, and managed Kubernetes via GKE. GCP is used by enterprises and startups for scalable infrastructure, machine learning models, serverless applications, and secure data pipelines. It offers granular IAM, VPC controls, global load balancing, and compliance with multiple international standards. Its deep integration with Google Workspace and AI tools makes it ideal for cloud-native applications and hybrid architectures.

Google Cloud Platform is partially available in mainland China. While its global endpoints are technically reachable in some regions, actual reliability and speed are very poor. Key services such as Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, BigQuery, and App Engine often fail to initialize or respond when accessed from within China due to DNS-level blocks and deep packet inspection affecting traffic to cloud.google.com and *.googleapis.com domains. Moreover, the GCP Console is entirely blocked, making resource management and debugging extremely difficult. This renders GCP unsuitable for hosting any China-facing services. Chinese regulatory requirements around data localization and ICP licensing further complicate its use. Enterprises needing cloud infrastructure in China must instead turn to local providers like Alibaba Cloud, Tencent Cloud, or Huawei Cloud, which offer similar PaaS/IaaS functionality. Additionally, local partners of AWS (such as Sinnet in Beijing and NWCD in Ningxia) provide limited international cloud compatibility under regulatory supervision. Developers using multi-cloud architectures must ensure China-dedicated infrastructure is regionally compliant and not reliant on GCP connectivity.

The information regarding service availability in China is provided for general reference purposes only. Due to the dynamic nature of network conditions and regulatory environments, the actual accessibility of these services may vary over time and by location. Users are advised to verify the current status independently.