Let's recap the little which is known (I think in correct sequence):

1) Initially, go_ogle reported Chinese hack attacks; details vague, said to be serious breach, code stolen; break-in was facilitated by use of M$'s Internet Explorer; NSA is *somehow* gotten on the case...

2) go_ogle announces that it's standing up for principles of free speeech and is leaving China. Much hoopla in press, much fanboy cheering.

3) go_ogle implements re-direction through Hong Kong to supposedly get around censorship.

4) go_ogle announces internal ban on M$ OSs, surely to prevent further hacking.

5) Recently: go_ogle repeats "we're really going", then its CEO says a fix is in the works.

6) License okayed. Exactly what changed is unclear: the re-direction is still in place, yet so's the censorship.

The important points seem to be: Chinese hacking and NSA connection.

Since why the hacking requires go_ogle to leave China is *not* clear, I think that's the key. go_ogle standing against censorship is definitely sheer PR (corporation putting free speech ahead of profits!), so don't see any other conclusion than that was cover story for the Chinese becoming alarmed over increasing intrusions by the NSA through go_ogle, and deciding to eject them. (In line with how nowadays public statements are opposite of truth, it may be that NSA hacking started this flap!) But because the go_ogle corporate front is *useful* to the Chinese for both search and their own "face" in having it, they're letting it stay -- having made clear that they *know* it's a front.

Commie's these days, they're all about business you know.