If Google has reason to suspect that these interruptions are caused by active censorship by the Chinese government and are unwilling to do so out of fear of that censorship we are all in trouble.
It's not as if the population of China is unaware of censorship. Helpful reminders of what is socially acceptable and what are not have appeared in colorful cartoon form for years online.
It's not as if the Chinese government denies controlling access to information. They see it as a fundamental good to maintain the stability and health of society.
The only place and time where this matters is where the censorship is cast is a negative light. China doesn't want to be insulted on the international stage, and it doesn't want companies promoting unrest among its people. However that criticism is exactly what must happen.
Google could describe what's going on as relating to 'sensitive' terminology. They could describe the 'restrictions' as being imposed for the good of society and apologize that non-sensitive terms are being caught up in the fight for the greater good.
OR they could grow a pair.
Corporations in power have a responsibility to fight for the rights of those people without power. They have a responsibility to do so visibly to set a good example for others, and they have a responsibility to directly and honestly criticize people, companies, and governments they see as violating those rights.
This is an active debate with no guarantee of an outcome that favors American style freedom of information. If the players who can fight this fight won't, we're* fucked.
*We being those who want American style freedom's to exist globally.