Ten things you can't say about China

Ten truisms about China that usually upset my fellow Americans...and others.

1. China is not a democracy because the Chinese don't want one. Not yet.

2. The human rights situation in China is steadily improving.

3. The Falun Gong is a genuinely dangerous fringe group and should be controlled, even supressed.

4. Tibet is better off a part of China than independent.

5. The Communist Party is China's best shot at this time.

6. Most foreign companies who fail in China do so more from incompetence than anything else.

7. The Sino-Foreign joint venture in its classical form is the worst business structure imaginable from a management point of view. Just because some very bright people have made it work does not make this point less valid.

8. What we think China's real problems are, and what they think they are, are different. Neither side is completely right.

9. IPR issues in China cannot be solved by legal processes alone, or even as a primary focus of effort.

10. Localization is a good thing as long as you dont take it too far. There are some things foreigners still do better than locals.

Comments

[bert]

"Ten truisms about China that usually upset my fellow Americans...and others."

You sure about that?

[David]

About which? That these are truisms? Or that they usually upset my fellow Americans and others?

[Ling]

You applying for a job with the CCP or something? This reads like "top ten things you like about China and why you think you deserve this job" type of question and answer form.

[David]

Ling, thank you very much for proving my point.

[Eric Rhodes]

I would add "The Chinese have been right to ignore Western advice on currency and financial regulation".

I'm not 100% supportive of the IPR point (depends on what you mean by "legal processes"...).

To those commenting above, I'd point out that the author is identifying 10 truisms that "usually upset my fellow Americans", not saying that these are the ONLY 10 truisms about China... it's a complex society with complex problems. Just like the USA.

You could also add a truism about the family planning policy.

[Two Comments]

About democracy, it appears some do, some don't, but most people in China don't really care. In addition, I find it difficult to take individualism-based western democracy too seriously. The SUVs and mega-mansions are driving us human beings to extinction.

I appreciate your objective observation that "The Communist Party is China's best shot at this time". I believe, in fact, it is not only the best shot for China, but China under the current regime is good for peace and prosperity in our global village.

[NB]

@ Two Comments:
I think you're right that most Chinese people don't care, but I think your reasoning that individualism-based western democracy= the extinction of humans is precisely the image of democracy promoted byt the current Chinese leadership, who of course have vested interests in the matter. It is an incorrect conclusion, there are other forms of democracy than the US style, and they don't all lead to everyone buying an SUV. And by the way - Chinese industries dumping toxic waste in the rivers while corrupt officials look the other won't drive human beings to extinction?

I also belive that the CCP might be China's best shot right now, but try making the peace and prosperity point to the citizens of Taiwan huddling under PRC missile threat, or to ordinary citizens being beaten in Chinese jails for making legitimate complaints.